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- Buy Local
Buying items that have been sourced or made locally means it took less travel (and thus less carbon emissions) for that product to make it into your hands. Plus, shopping local likely means you’ll have the opportunity to support small businesses, and in turn support your community!
- Thrift
Shopping secondhand is a fun way to find clothing and gifts that are unique, rather than picking up the latest hot item from a large corporation or department store. There are plenty of ways to thrift online too, with sites like ThredUp and The RealReal. Secondhand stores help cut down on an overabundance of consumer waste, especially when it comes to clothes; thus, there’s less need for large-scale production and less support for an often exploitative fashion industry.
- Reuse Shopping Bags
Bringing reusable shopping bags to the store is both eco-friendly and can save you money at shops that charge extra for providing bags. Any chance you can take to cut back on plastic is a benefit to the environment!
- Recycle Packaging
If you do find yourself using single use shopping bags or purchasing items that come with a lot of packaging, make sure you’re recycling the materials properly and whenever possible.
- Shop Online
If you can avoid a drive to and from the store, that could help cut back on your climate impact. Ordering online means that your items will likely come from a distribution center, skipping their own journey to the store altogether. Plus, delivery services are an efficient way to move a lot of packages all at once, cutting back on excess travel. Online shopping also gives you the time and space to properly research the companies you’re purchasing from, without driving around to multiple stores. And if you still want that in-person shopping experience, consider walking, biking, or public transport!
- Pay Attention to Materials
Try looking for fabrics made from recycled materials like water bottles – these types of products both support the recycling industry and cut down on plastic waste. Consider buying Fair Trade items, which contribute to sustainable development, and make sure to do your research on what something is made from and how it’s been produced.
- Seek Out Certifications
Being an informed shopper means knowing where your purchases come from. When choosing to support a brand, there are certifications that you can look for that ensure products have been made responsibly in regard to everything from a company’s supply chain to their social standards. For example, a Fair Trade certification, as mentioned above, means that a company is paying its workers at least minimum wage and that these workers are operating in a safe environment.
- Consider Gifting a Rental Subscription
Using rental platforms to update your wardrobe is a great way to make the most of resources and keep clothing items out of landfills. A subscription to brands like Nuuly or Rent the Runway is a unique gift that will give your loved ones access to designer fashion brands and start them on their own sustainable journey.
- Invest in Quality over Quantity
Cutting down on your purchases is overall the best way to reduce your effect on the environment, but that can be difficult around the holidays. This year, instead of buying lots of little stocking stuffers, consider investing in higher quality, well-made pieces that you know will last longer. Chances are that the person you’re gifting to will appreciate the effort you put into one excellent gift over a number of cheaper, less eco-friendly items.
- Gift a Donation
Tis the season for giving, and that includes making donations! Donating your unwanted items and clothes helps cut down on your own waste and could help someone else have a great holiday season as well (remember, thrifting is the way to go!). You could also consider making a donation to a loved one’s favorite charity as a gift rather than spending your money on material items.
If you’re looking to help a child or loved one start out with investing this holiday season, consider investing sustainably. Look for socially and environmentally responsible funds and stocks to put your money into.
This time of year can be stressful and magical all at the same time. If shopping sustainably is important to you, these steps will hopefully help you take some of the hassle out of the season. As sustainable shoppers, an important step is supporting brands and manufacturers doing their best for the environment and their workers.
