There may be times when you will want to participate in the traditional shopping experience. If that is the case, there are a few steps you can take to make your in-store shopping experience as sustainable as possible.
- Choose your stores wisely. Make sure the brands and stores you support treat their employees and vendors fairly.
- Cluster your shopping trips. Go to shopping centers with multiple stores to minimize your driving time.
- Try public transportation. If you are able to bike, walk, or take a bus, the environmental advantage of online shopping becomes less significant (and depending on the packaging, online shopping may become less sustainable).
- Bring your own reusable bag. Skip the plastic backs, and bring your own containers.
Sustainability is a concept that applies to everything we do. It is not about giving up your quality of life in order to live more sustainably. Instead, let’s focus on making each of our decisions just a bit more sustainable. We think you’ll agree that more often than not, these sustainable decisions often improve your quality of life.
For the holiday shopping season, take a look at the gifts you want to buy. Which items can you buy locally? Which gifts can you make?