With the holiday season fervently approaching, buying gifts is on everyone’s minds. Every year during the weeks leading up to Christmas, the sale of retail goods skyrockets as people scramble to buy everything on their holiday shopping lists. In 2020, Black Friday pulled in around 9 billion dollars, while Cyber Monday brought in around 10.8 billion dollars. It’s no secret that online sites have become the preferred shopping method to avoid long lines and crowded stores. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the steady rise in popularity of online shopping, with many people opting to shop in the comfort of their own home. This holiday season is expected to generate record-breaking profits for online retailers like Walmart, Target and everyone’s favorite: Amazon.
Amazon’s success is understandable. Fast shipping and good deals—who wouldn’t want to use it? But these low prices come from cutting corners in ethics. The cheap online superstore is the second largest employer in the United States, second only to Walmart. Amazon warehouse workers have long been vocal about the company’s difficult working conditions. In 2019, employees protested against Amazon, citing their inability to take bathroom breaks, unattainable productivity goals, and hazardous conditions. A study conducted in 2020 found that Amazon employees were 80% more likely to be injured compared to warehouse workers for rival companies. A few years ago, an Amazon warehouse in Alabama attempted to unionize, but the workers voted it down. Amazon has been called out for union-busting, intimidating workers and holding mandatory anti-union meetings. Many workers who headed union movements were shortly fired for “unknown” reasons.
Environmental impacts are also a large component of Amazon’s problems. In 2018, Amazon emitted 44.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide. That’s more than the entire country of Switzerland. The very model of Amazon depends on consumer overconsumption. In 2021, footage was found of Amazon warehouses destroying TVs, computers and books. All of these products had previously been returned or simply not sold.
Amazon is not an ethical company. But it’s a convenient site to use, especially during a time when going out is not entirely safe. Though it’s easy to preach the importance of supporting small business, shopping sustainably can be expensive and is financially burdensome for many people. That being said, if you have the resources to pay for more sustainably produced goods, the list below provides options for shopping small this holiday season.
- Etsy
Etsy is a great way to support small businesses. There is a plethora of gifts that can be bought from jewelry to kids toys. A lot of gifts found on Etsy are handmade and well-crafted. Etsy also has specific search tools and filters, allowing customers to browse shops owned by Black artists.
- Sustainable Food, Wellness and Cleaning Online Brands
There has been a recent influx of online food and wellness delivery services such as Thrive Market, Hive Products, and Imperfect Foods. If you or someone you know is immunocompromised and going grocery shopping is not an option this holiday season, these companies provide a sustainable alternative. Grove Public and Public Good also offer sustainable cleaning supplies.
- Sustainable Clothing Brands
There are a lot of great sustainable clothing brands that are high quality. Unfortunately, a lot of the well-known ones such as Patagonia and Reformation are more expensive. Some more affordable options are Honest Basics and CHNGE. Some Black-owned sustainable brands are Hope for Flowers and Chelsea Bravo.
- Shopping Local
Small businesses took a big hit during the pandemic. This holiday season, try to support locally owned businesses where you can. Shopping locally also makes it easier to put your money in Black or women-owned businesses. If you don’t have a lot of local options in your community, there are also a lot of shipping options available. For example, this site provides a list of Black-owned bookstores in every state.
- Homemade Gifts
Homemade gifts are always a good idea. Using materials you already have is both sustainable and affordable. As your mom has probably already told you, homemade gifts come from the heart and are better appreciated by the receiver.
