Hey earth muffins! Over the past few years, corporations like Amazon have seen a huge rise in business. People love websites like this because they have a ton of options (in every category), are relatively affordable, and get your items to your doorstep in a matter of days. But, is quick and convenient always the best option for the planet? I’d argue it isn’t – would you agree? Let’s get into the not-so-great aspects of the Amazon giant… And tips to avoid shopping on this website!
Why You Shouldn’t Default to Amazon
Amazon is popular for many reasons, which can make it one of your default options when shopping online. However, there are plenty of negatives to this company. For starters, when you buy from Amazon you are directly supporting a gigantic company that is often put on blast for its working conditions, price fixing, sustainability habits, etc. Not only this, shopping frequently on Amazon creates a ton of packaging waste. Most of this goes directly to the landfill. The fast, two-day shipping norm results in a ton of shipping emissions too, not to mention the impact of the Amazon vans you see making all the deliveries. The biggest issue with this corporation is that it hurts small businesses by making it almost impossible to compete with their prices, selection, and speed.
How to Avoid Shopping on Amazon
If you would rather support small, local businesses, I suggest avoiding Amazon as much as possible! Here are some great tips to do so:
- Cancel Prime right now! Once you don’t have its perks, you might stop shopping on Amazon so much.
- Go through your past orders and come up with small business alternatives. This is easy if the brand has its own website or store in your area. It might take some snooping around to find alternative options for everything, but I guarantee you will be able to do it!
- If you really must online shop, find a better (more eco-friendly) option! Grove Collaborative, Misfits Market, and Public Goods are all places you could start.
- Whenever you think about something you want to buy on Amazon, force yourself to head out to a local store instead to find a similar product. Try out local bookshops, boutiques, and even markets.
- Block the website for a bit. This might sound extreme, but after you block the site you might be surprised at how often you mindlessly go to the website! I’ve used blockers like BlockSite when I was trying to break my YouTube habit… And it is super helpful to go cold turkey for a bit.
What If You Have to Shop on Amazon?
While I would fully support you avoiding Amazon for the rest of your life, you might find yourself having to use it on occasion. If you must shop on this site, here are some tips for reducing your impact as much as possible:
- Only shop eco products – Amazon does have a decent selection of sustainable products. When you are forced to use the site, at least opt for these planet-friendly products only.
- Make sure to change your preferences to ship everything plastic free! It is easy to get your Amazon orders plastic-free, just follow this guide.
- Reuse as much of the packaging as you can. If your order doesn’t come plastic free for some reason, reuse the boxes, mailers, bubble wrap, etc. These can be super helpful when moving!
- Limit your orders and buy a bunch of products at once to reduce shipping emissions. Instead of ordering one item with Prime shipping every two weeks, get in the habit of ordering only a few times a year. Anything urgent can definitely be sourced from a local, small business!
While Amazon is convenient and easy to shop on, it definitely has its negatives. It is much better to avoid Amazon as much as possible for the environment and supporting small businesses in your area! How often do you shop on Amazon? Comment below and let me know how you support local businesses in your city!
Love,
Jenna ♥
