For many years, people relied on buying locally sourced products in their city or country. This began to change with the opening of trade routes, first by merchant ships, and flourished with increased use of the Internet as more people were able to access almost any item for sale from around the world.
Many countries now outsource goods and services to other countries because employment and raw material costs are cheaper than in their home country. Today there is much more of a global market as items are exported all over the world. This has allowed savvy internet shoppers to find unusual items and have them shipped directly to your home, and often for much cheaper items than they could afford locally. In other ways, it has been detrimental, with some local businesses closing down and a significant part of manufacturing being outsourced to an outside country.
As a shopper, you may want to think of your purchases as a vote for what you consider to be appropriate behavior from the store you are shopping at. If you think testing on animals is reprehensible, then I would choose to shop at a store that has ethical animal practices. If more people feel like you and stop buying these types of products, the industry will listen and your ‘vote’ will help create a greener, cleaner and friendlier shopping environment, as you can see in the number of green and organic products that start surfacing today – a good sign that consumers are moving in a positive direction!
Once you’ve established your own moral compass for shopping, you should consider adding support for local businesses to your list of requirements. If local businesses thrive, so will the local economy. Yes, buying local can cost a few extra dollars in some cases, but often the extra investment can allow you to purchase a product made from higher quality materials that will last much longer than its cheaper counterpart.
You can also consider supporting the locals when it comes to buying fruits and vegetables. This will mean only buying fruit that is in season when it is actually in season. Also, think about the cost and environmental impact of importing inputs like fruits and vegetables. If you’re buying from a local farmer, your produce has used less fuel to get to you and will often be much fresher.
Another green shopping method is to buy handmade items. They may be more labor-intensive than mass-produced imports, but this often means they’ll be of better quality, last longer, and have a longer time before they need to be replaced. Regardless, this effectively reduces the cost in the long run. For example, a craftsman spends time honing his own skills in making a handmade product. The process starts from scratch and is completed with patience and practice. Only the best materials are used and a learned craft has the knowledge of years of experience to create a lasting work of art.
Finally, try to get natural and organic products where you can. Buy clothes that are made from natural fabrics and beauty products that are organic and cruelty-free. Your purchase decision will favor slow fashion companies that use non-polluting natural fibers to manufacture their garments. By making these choices, you can cut down on poor-quality clothing (or disposable fashions) that are made from synthetic fibers, which are bad for the environment and your health.
The same goes for beauty products. There are many local companies that make organic, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free products that are much better than mass-produced ones and contain a wide range of chemical and toxic components. Organic products are great for your skin and body, are totally safe to use from every point of view, and are not tested on animals, which means you don’t have to suffer in the name of bipedal beauty. With this information in mind, we encourage you to go ahead, young grasshopper, and become a sustainable shopper!
