It’s just 20 days until Christmas is A.C.T.U.A.L.L.Y here. But if you’ve not yet finished your Christmas shopping, let alone even begun then now is the perfect time to shop ethically… because your purchase matters.
As much as shopping ethically is a global issue, it’s also very much a personal issue. Many of us think that the fast-fashion industry only negatively affects those in third-world countries, leaving us unharmed in our first world. But the truth of the matter is, the fast fashion industry affects us negatively too. Just think of the way you value goods, which in turn influences all aspects of our lives. The dollars we spend determine the kind of world we want. And right now it’s looking pretty grim.
From factory collapses in Bangladesh to unsafe work conditions, animal cruelty and environmental degradation, your shopping choices can impact not only the environment but the communities who make the products you buy.
But this Christmas can be different. You don’t have to give in to the extreme commercialisation of the holiday season. In fact, it’s not too late to make some thoughtful shopping decisions and reclaim this special holiday once again…
Shop local. Shop small.
Giving beautiful, ethically made gifts doesn’t mean spending good coin at high-end stores. Consider the “Ma + Pa” businesses in your area, explore local markets or if location is an issue, jump onto online bazaars such as Etsy to support artisans and handmaidens or websites like mine for curated collections of eco-friendly and Fairtrade products.
Shopping ethically might seem like the more expensive route because of the higher quality, but choosing items ahead of time from an ethical brand will help you avoid the chance of binge shopping at the shops for unnecessary and meaningless gifts, and in turn saving more money.
Handmade helps.
Every item we buy — be it a t-shirt, toy or towel — has a story. Where was it made? How was it made? Who made it? Where were the materials sourced? And why? When you think about it, gifts are never one-dimensional… especially if buying handmade. A thoughtful gift means you’re not only thinking of the receiver but the person who made it too. If you really want to make an impact this Christmas, go one step further and consider making gifts yourself. With three weeks until Christmas, there is still plenty of time.
Favour fair trade.
To buy Fairtrade means better terms of trade and decent production conditions for those making the product. And what some people don’t realise is the simple choice of what chocolate or coffee you buy this Christmas can mean the difference between life and death for some of the world’s poorest people.
So this Christmas, fight world poverty with your trolley. From your tree to your turkey, it’s one of the easiest ways we can show compassion and solidarity towards third world farmers while opening our eyes (and our guests) to some of the huge injustices in the world.
But if you think you’re limited to only a small range of products, think again. There are more than 2,500 Fairtrade products available. You can find a range of Fairtrade products in your supermarkets or online (including here), just look for the Fairtrade Mark.
Minimise your footprint
Shopping consciously isn’t just limited to the gifts we buy. It also encompasses the paper, sticky tape and ribbons we use to wrap them. According to TreeHugger.com, four million tonnes of wrapping paper and shopping bags is generated during the holiday season in the US alone. That’s around 30 million trees cut down just to wrap America’s gifts. In Australia, we use around 8,000 tonnes of wrapping paper equating to a more modest (but still excessive) 50,000 trees that are cut down to satisfy our Christmas wrapping needs.
We’re not saying to use boring old brown paper (though it can look very effective), but rather think about the recycling techniques you can use to wrap your gifts. Let your imagination run a little wild… Think repurposing biscuit tins, wrapping with newspaper and even using elements of nature for that final touch of embellishment. Even cereal boxes can be turned into some very funky, recycled gift bags simply by adding a little jute string for handles. Get the little ones involved too! They’ll love handing over those gifts at Christmas.
If you’re still struggling for eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas, we’ve got plenty of Pinterest inspiration for you. Oh, remember to take your own bags with you too when shopping to avoid unnecessary baggage this Christmas.
When it comes to gift giving at any time of the year, more is not more meaningful. So stick to the mantra that less is more this festive season, turn away from fast fashion bargains and cheap stocking fillers, and instead regain self-control this festive season.
Image: Blisstree.com