Why it is so important to shop handmade and responsibly this holiday season?
The holidays can be stressful. And the task of buying gifts for everyone can be very overwhelming. However, it is still important to make positive and ethically responsible choices when it comes to holiday gifts.
Each year trillions (yes that’s right trillions) of dollars are spent on holiday gifts. The majority of these presents are purchased from large companies whose practices and products are damaging to the environment. Each year more and more is spent on gifts. Now imagine if this incredible purchasing power was directed not at mass-produced products from large corporations, but instead was used to support local / ethically responsible businesses (the same businesses hardest hit during the Corona crisis).
There are amazing companies and individuals who are passionate about making the world a better place. People who dedicate their time and effort to creating products that minimise the negative impact we are having on our world. I think this is a cause worth defending and supporting.
There are companies out there making amazing work using recycled, FairTrade and ethically responsible materials. Their main obstacle? Competing with big companies with a much bigger budget for marketing. But trust me these people are out there (I am one of them) – all you have to do is look.
I know there are lots of people out there who want to make the right choices – people who don’t want to see our world continue to suffer. The biggest obstacle: Where to start? Here are a few tips for those looking to have an eco-friendlier holiday season:
» Shop local and handmade – search out stores in your area that specialise in handcrafted or eco-friendly product/services. Try to avoid buying from places like Amazon or large brand names.
» Buy less, but more thoughtfully – billions of dollars are spent every year on unwanted presents! Be thoughtful with your gift selection – quantity ≠ quality
» Make your own gifts at home – get creative and use recycled or eco friendly materials to make something special.
Some might think that what they do doesn’t make a difference. Change must start somewhere and even if a small portion of people make more responsible choices this holiday, that is still amazing! It shows small and ethical businesses that there are customers out their who excited about their products. This support is so important, not only for monetary reasons, but also to help keep us motivated!
So how about you? What will you be doing this holiday to make a positive difference?
Happy Holidays Everyone!
- Robyn
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