Top 5 Ways to Shop Ethically for the Holidays (Without Breaking the Bank)
Deck the halls. It’s that time of year again: window-shopping with warm drinks, arms straining with bags, and that one Mariah Carey song everywhere you go. While it might seem like it to your kids on Christmas morning, those presents don’t just magically appear beneath the tree. There are dozens of hands that go into making, packing, and maybe even shipping that gift halfway around the world. With the commotion of the holidays, it’s easy to forget that each present this season will have an impact on people and the planet.
Being an ethical shopper is all about being mindful about where your money is going and the quality of the gifts you’re giving. It’s about being conscious of the social, economic, and ecological impact of your purchase, maximizing the amount of good that every gift gives. While that might sound expensive, buying ethical products can actually save you hundreds of dollars every year with quality products less likely to break (and to need replacing) and no middle men to inflate those prices. Here are our top five things to keep in mind when shopping this season (and some of our favorite gifts to go along with them).
1. Fair Trade
Fair trade refers to a movement that ensures the employees who manufacture products are being paid fairly and work in safe, supportive environments. This can be farmers, factory assemblers, traders, and more. Around the globe, marginalized communities are taken advantage of for cheap, intensive labor. Shopping fair trade ensures workers earn and live well.
Shop our fair trade holiday garlands
2. Sustainability
The health of the planet is especially relevant these days. Big corporations are often the main contributors to global pollution and climate change, so it’s important to know how the gift you’re eyeing (and even how it's shipped) might be hurting the environment. Sustainable products can be made from recycled materials, organic materials, and quality materials that reduce household waste. Additionally, sustainable companies are mindful of their carbon footprint, striving to be as eco-friendly as possible.
Shop our recycled/cotton apparel and eco-friendly holiday trees
3. Organic/Body-Safe Products
Self-care products like soaps, perfumes, and candles can make the perfect gift for anyone. Sneaky companies will often cut down on production costs with cheap, harmful ingredients that hide in plain sight on the label. By checking for organic, body-safe ingredients, you’ll ensure your giftee will only receive the best, most healthy products out there.
Shop our organic soaps and clean-beauty perfumes
4. Shop Local
As mentioned, the volume of shipped items during the holidays can have a significant strain on the environment, not to mention on the mailing service employees working hard to fulfill orders, too. Shopping locally reduces the miles a gift has to travel to get to you. On top of that, it helps pour money back into your local community and supports your neighbors, creating a connection-based shopping experience.
Read about Urban Botany's Chicago roots
5. Shop Small
Although small but mighty, independent businesses are vital for carrying out all of the topics previously mentioned; they’re often more sustainable, can prioritize the quality of their products, and often focus on the well-being of their employees (and customers too!). Small businesses uplift their communities — socially, economically, and culturally.
Shop what we're known for: live, unique, quality plants
No matter how you buy this season, don’t get overwhelmed. Small, consistent changes often have the biggest impact, and any way you can contribute to the well-being of the people around you is what the holidays are truly all about. Shop smart, shop safe, and shop sincerely. Go forth and find some good gifts out there!