Top Things to Consider When Buying a Present for an Eco-conscious Friend
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveWith the
rising demand for eco-friendly products, buying a present for a friend or a
loved one is becoming a more difficult thing to get right. But with more
sustainable items being created daily, you don’t have to fret about not being
able to find something suitable.
Although
there are plenty of products to choose from, it’s still important to make sure
you know what you’re buying, where from and how it was created. To help you do
just that, we’ve put together a handy guide to making the right choice when
ensuring gifts aren’t damaging the environment.
Recycled material over single-use plastic
Single-use plastic has been a talking
point for quite some time now. With hundreds of millions of tons of plastic
produced every year, disposable plastics cause serious damage to the
environment and can’t be recycled.
The magnitude of the problem is so
vast that a ban on
single-use cotton buds, plastic straws and stirrers came into effect on 1 October 2020 – with further
crackdowns expected.
Opt for products that are re-usable.
A trendy shopping bag is a practical gift that can be used time and time again,
for example. Also, make sure that packaging is biodegradable, reused, recycled
in the form of paper rather than plastic.
Support green initiatives
One of the ways in which businesses
play their part in helping their environment is through green initiatives when
a consumer buys one of their products. A prime example of this is the planting
of a tree every time a certain item is sold.
Look out for retailers who mention
charities such as the Woodland Trust and National Forest who plant trees to
help the environment.
This is a great way to not only buy
someone a special gift but also let them know that a pledge has been made off
the back of the purchase. Win, win.
Choose an efficient supply chain
Thinking about how an item has been
delivered isn’t always the first thought on peoples’ minds when ordering
online. But when it comes to couriers picking up packages and distributing
them, things can be done to ensure it’s done as sustainable and efficient as
possible.
The use of
a plastic
pallet – where vehicle fill can increase by 40
per cent – is just one way businesses are reducing their carbon footprint. This
is beneficial at it means drivers can deliver more goods at once and limit
going back and forward to warehouses.
Carry out some research about which
businesses are taking this measure and others like this for improving
efficiency. This would be especially handy if you’re ordering online rather
than going into a store where you can cut out the need for a courier.
Support local
Shopping local is one of the best
ways to make sure you’re not harming the environment. Making sure you order
from a UK business or one as local to you as possible will help you reduce the
risk of excessive travel being required to deliver your item.
It can be tempting to order from
websites where goods can ship via international channels, but ordering from the
UK – as locally as possible – will be worth it even if there’s a cheaper option
from a more global retailer.
Don’t forget though, you won’t just
help reduce your carbon footprint, but you’ll also be supporting local
businesses who pride themselves on selling sustainably sourced products.
Use helpful websites
One of the easiest ways to know if
you’re buying from an eco-friendly seller is via their online shop. Most will
have categories such as ‘plastic-free’, ‘recycled materials’ or ‘social
contribution’. So, if you’re unfamiliar with how to shop sustainability for
someone else, be sure to look out for these labels or categories before you
make a purchase.
And that’s our list of top tips for
buying a present when it comes to an eco-conscious friend or loved one. Buying
ethically sourced products with sustainability and zero waste at the heart of
its design is a certified way to play your part in a greener future for the UK.
Sources
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54366461
https://loadhog.com/product/pally/
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Created on Nov 25th 2020 11:10. Viewed 351 times.