Eco-Shopping Game

History of the Eco-Shopping Game

The Eco-Shopping game is a game local to the North Central Texas region and was originally created by TXU Electric and Gas in 1997. The purpose of the game is to help educate the consumer on three aspects of product packaging:

  1. recyclability of the package,
  2. reducing the amount of packaging waste going into the landfill by buying products with less packaging, and
  3. giving preference to a packaging made with recycled content materials.

Even though it is important to evaluate how environmentally friendly the product is, the game only focuses on how environmentally friendly the packaging is rather than the actual product. The game was originally developed using handheld computer scanners that allowed the player to select 5 grocery store items that would give them the highest score based on the 3 guidelines above. The game helps you recognize that grocery stores usually provide many different options for each product and you have the ability to select the items that have the least impact to the environment as possible. It helps you learn how to read labels and look for those products with recycled content packaging or packaging that can be recycled and then you can make an educated decision on which product you should buy.

At this point there are only 5 Eco-Shopping games that have been purchased by local governments through grant funds from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The City of Irving and North Richland Hills were the only communities that had this game however the City of Irving has recently given it’s games to the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Schools and educational groups are allowed to check out the game for special events or just to use it as an educational resource. If you are interested in checking out an Eco-Shopping game please email NCTCOG Staff at EandD@nctcog.org

Eco-Shopping Game CD and Web Game
In order for the entire North Central Texas region to benefit from this game, the NCTCOG and the Metroplex Recycling Coordinators Roundtable (MRCR) received funding to turn the handheld Eco-Shopping game into an on-line and CD version. You can learn the same concepts by playing this game on your computer. The computer and CD versions of the game also have 2 additional recycling and reuse games to help you learn how to reuse and recycle items in your home. There is also a teacher activity book and a kid’s coloring book to go along with the game.

Click Here to Play the Game
This will open a new window so you may need to adjust your settings to allow it. Turn on your PC speakers as well. The use of sound will enhance the ability to use and enjoy the game.