Shopping Sustainably

Shopping

sustainably!

by Margaret DeStefano

Birthdays, holidays, and just in general, we all buy gifts for friends and loved ones throughout the year. It's important to think about the person we're buying for and what they would like to receive. Would they buy it for themselves? As much as possible buy from local merchants. Here are some tips:

1) Think about the gifts and products you buy through a sustainable lens. What material is it made from? Where was it manufactured and how far has it traveled? 2) Research the brand you’re buying. Are they doing anything towards being sustainable? 3) If buying locally, it’s always more sustainable to walk or travel there rather than get the item delivered. 4) If you’re shopping online, try to shop from as few retailers as possible, instead of getting individual items from many different retailers so there is less packing. 5) Plan your shopping and don’t rely on next day delivery. 6) Use sustainable alternatives to wrapping paper or recyclable wrapping paper. Reusable bags are a great idea!