Conscious Holiday Shopping

Conscious Holiday Shopping

Last week we wrote about our top marketing tips for the holiday season. This week we’ve been thinking about the front-facing side of marketing campaigns:?products. With Black Friday right around the corner, millions of purchases will be made and shipped out around the country. This will result in elevated CO2 emissions from shipping, and because not all companies make their products sustainably, the earth will feel the repercussions from those manufacturing choices as well.??

?Because we care about putting the planet first, we wanted to share 5 of our favorite ways to shop consciously during the holiday season:?????

#1: Buy Multiple Items from the Same Store?

Shopping online is convenient but puts a huge burden on the planet in terms of CO2 emissions from shipping and the production of new products. If you do shop online, consider buying multiple items from the same store to help reduce your carbon footprint. For example, if you buy several Christmas gifts from H&M, they’ll all come from the same distributor and arrive in the same box—if you purchase numerous gifts from Amazon, they’ll come from different distributors and likely arrive in separate boxes.????

#2: Shop Second-hand?

Not only can you find unique gifts at vintage, consignment, or second-hand stores, but you’ll be reducing your impact on the environment! The items you find won’t have to be shipped to you, and no new labor or resources will be needed to create them because the items already exist.???

#3: Shop Local

Shopping locally is our favorite way to stimulate local economies, and support small businesses and artisans. Try checking out your local farmers markets or holiday bazaars. If you want to shop locally online, read our latest?Journal post! It features 16 of our team’s favorite local artisans who also ship online.???

#4: Shop from Conscious Brands?

If you aren’t able to shop locally or simply can’t find what you’re looking for, buying from conscious brands is the next best option. We’re currently loving?Goodbuy’s anti-Amazon holiday shopping guide. It’s interactive and features hundreds of independent brands, small businesses, and boutiques.??

#5: Gift Experiences

Giving the gift of an experience instead of a material item is a creative way to show someone you’re thinking of them, plus give back to the planet. Experiences don’t require shipping or the creation of new materials. Ideas include gift cards to local restaurants,?planting trees?in someone’s name, movie tickets, theater tickets, or a trip to the spa.??

We hope this short guide has inspired you to shop as consciously as possible this holiday season. With Black Friday coming up next week, millions of dollars will go into the hands of businesses—all it takes is a little intentionality to give thoughtful gifts that give back to people?and?the planet.???

?— The Fearless team?