It's not only the thought that counts this Cyber Monday: Make sure your purchases are good for the planet too.
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If you've made it this far, it means you survived Black Friday. Whether you waited in line for hours or skipped the event all together, chances are you still have some holiday gifts that need to be made or purchased. For many of you, today, Cyber Monday, is the day to finish up those holiday gifting loose ends.
In many ways, shopping online allows us to enjoy a more relaxed, and more environmentally-conscious, experience. You have the opportunity to shop from the companies you value the most, there are no crowds, and often several legs of shipping and transport are avoided, reducing the items eventual carbon debt.
Do you have wrapping woes? Bill Nye has a solution (Video).
Still, just because you log on and buy online does not necessarily mean that you are going green. To help you simplify your Cyber Monday, and ensure it is as environmentally friendly as it possible could be, we offer the following advice:
Is Shopping Online Greener?
The short answer is yes an no. The supply chain might be a little shorter and the resources for maintaining a store eliminated, but online shopping is not always green.
So how do you keep things eco-friendly? Start by eliminating the paper trail. Tell retailers to leave the catalog out of the package and to stop sending them to your home. Then, consolidate shipping by ordering several items at once and having them mailed in the same box. Finally, eliminate the last leg of the shipping chain by having gifts mailed directly to their recipients.
Control Your Online Consumption
When you fire up the browser and click over to Amazon, a near limitless world of products opens before you. It's easy to get lost and to end up buying much more than you bargained for.
Deborah Mitchell, from the University of Michigan business school, has simple advice to avoid getting lost in the warrens of consumerism: "Before you go online, make a shopping list and set a time limit."
Hot Green Retailers for Cyber Monday
There are, of course, many different retailers online that cater to those with green tastes. Finding the one that has the right selection of products with the shipping practices you can be happy with is hard.
To get started, try these Hot Online Retailers for Amazing, Lower Footprint Shopping.
When it comes to gift giving, they say that it's the thought that counts. This Cyber Monday, think about the planet and give gifts that will lead to a greener new year.
