It may seem a little early for some people to consider holiday shopping. On the other hand, if you are more like me, you have probably been collecting gifts all year and will only be picking up last minute gifts at this point. This year I have been paying much closer attention to the sources I purchase my gifts from and I think this is an important consideration for everyone to make.
As most people are aware at this point, there is a labor shortage in the trucking industry. This means that the wait times for items to be delivered (especially if they are shipping overseas) are significantly longer than usual. This brings about an important topic for everyone to consider: where we get the majority of our goods that we use every day. The overdependence of the entire world on China producing goods has resulted in an imbalance which is dangerous if (as we are currently experiencing) China decides they no longer want to provide certain goods to certain countries. But that is enough political soapbox talk.
Consider the overall carbon footprint of the items you are purchasing, the further they are being shipped, the larger the carbon footprint of the item.
Here are a few tips that should cover even the hardest-to-please people on your shopping list:
Make your gifts. There are tons of tutorials on how to create beautiful handmade gifts for everyone on your shopping list. Try looking on Youtube for inspiration if you would like to make your own gifts.
Buy locally. Try shopping at local flea markets and craft shows to find items others have made. This takes the need for creativity out of your hands and reduces the carbon footprint of the item you are purchasing. Small, local businesses also appreciate your business much more than large companies do. Purchasing items from small businesses directly benefits your community by creating jobs and putting money into your local economy rather than a global economy.
Purchase items secondhand. Buying anything secondhand reduces the carbon footprint of the item and saves it from a landfill. Some good items to buy secondhand which also make good gifts are clothing, books, movies, and toys. Websites like Mercari have tons of options from individual sellers. Other sources to consider are used book stores and consignment stores for things like clothing, furniture, and home décor.
Check the source. If you want to make sure you get all of your gifts on time this year, make sure you are paying attention to the source, and the date you order them. If you are ordering something overseas, you can anticipate it will take significantly longer to get here this year. Even items being shipped domestically may have longer wait times, depending on which carrier is shipping them.
Wrapping. Another important thing to consider is how you are wrapping your gifts. Consider using gift baskets or holiday bags rather than traditional wrapping paper. Gift bags and baskets can be reused again and again, making them a much better option than wrapping paper which is used once before it is discarded.
This year consider making a difference with the gift-giving decisions you make. Each one can make a difference for the environment, your local community, and even your own financial well being.
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