Making an Effort to Shop Green

I normally never buy much for myself. When birthdays and Christmas come around the corner, I usually opt for making something, op-shopping or buying local. Coronavirus has not only taken away travel, University and friends and family but also… op-shopping. With one of my key gift giving avenues as well as buying in local stores taken out of the picture, I’ve been trying to research and limit my online shopping. I have been pleased to find that there are numerous environmentally and ethically conscious business and products out there.

It frustrates me to see that a lot of stock on online shops says, ‘limited stock available due to high demands’. It almost seems as if the panic buying that gripped the country back in the ye ol’ early days of Coronavirus has translated into stocking up on nintendo switches, technology, clothes and anything else that will keep us checking the mail. I understand this buying craze that has emerged, I really do. We’re bored, lonely and looking for stuff to look forward to and keep our spirits up, but I believe there are more conscious ways to go about it.

There are numerous environmentally and ethically conscious brands and companies out there trying to stay afloat during this pandemic. Additionally, this is the perfect time to be buying local products if you can. Instead of buying bulk cosmetics or clothes, why don’t you shop around for local and sustainable options? Sadly, whilst this pandemic drags on, it won’t be Nike, McDonalds or JBHIFI going out of business. It will be the smaller scale, more environmentally and ethically friendly products that don’t weather this storm because we can buy more and cheaper from other sites online. We have a unique opportunity and obligation to cut down on what we normally buy during this pandemic. It is the small businesses that need our support and it is up to us to selectively research products. It’s as simple as looking up a website, finding what you want to buy and checking out their ‘about us’ section to see what they do. Maybe they are a local business, support certain charities (which you should further research to assess), or support a fair wage for production. Either way, I’m trying to convince myself and others to be the change we want to see in the world when we are all shopping online. A bit of research and conscious buying can make a world of difference.