Shopping on Amazon is certainly convenient – you can easily buy everything you need, from makeup and clothing to food and furniture, at cheap prices with fast shipping. However, relying on Amazon for all of your shopping needs is not the most socially-conscious decision. Amazon, like many large corporations, does not operate with the environment in mind. The company contributes to increased plastic waste and emits as many tons of greenhouse gas as some small countries. Additionally, Amazon has a history of mistreating its employees, and CEO Jeff Bezos continues to hoard his own wealth, gaining over $48 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is important to acknowledge that some people may need to rely on Amazon’s wide range of products and quick shipping, it is also necessary for consumers to challenge themselves to purchase things at small businesses that function sustainably. Here are five alternatives to Amazon where you can get everything you need online.
- Makeup: The Lip Bar
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The Lip Bar is a vegan, cruelty-free, Black-owned cosmetics line. The brand works to challenge standards in the beauty industry by offering a wide range of shades in order to cater to people of all skin tones. The Lip Bar offers face, lip and eye products at reasonable prices, and includes a shade finder tool to make finding your perfect shade easy.
- Clothing: ABLE
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At ABLE, you can shop online for accessories, shoes and clothing, all of which are made ethically and sustainably. ABLE provides a living wage to all of its employees, who are mostly women, at its manufacturing facility in Nashville, TN, and its partner manufacturers in Ethiopia. The company also publishes all of the statistics on its wages, in an effort to encourage the entire fashion industry to pursue humane and fair treatment of workers and to inspire consumers to demand it.
- Home Decor: Ten Thousand Villages
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Ten Thousand Villages ethically sources home products such as decor, baskets and kitchen supplies through its artisan investment model. This fair trade model allows for creators in countries like Kenya, India and Peru to support themselves and their families by creating one-of-a-kind goods to be sold in the U.S. Ten Thousand Villages provides advance payment to these creators, allowing them to enjoy financial security and dignity while contributing to sustainable business practices. All of the proceeds from products at Ten Thousand Villages help to maintain the artisan investment model, allowing people to create goods in a “stable and non-exploitative” environment.
- Unique Gifts: Etsy
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Etsy is a global marketplace that showcases a wide variety of products from small businesses and independent artists. On Etsy, you can find handmade jewelry and accessories, vintage art, collectibles, clothes and more. Etsy even includes a section of Black-owned shops, so that you can support the BIPOC community with your purchase. The incredible selection means that you are sure to find unexpected gifts for your loved ones, while also supporting sustainable production by independent creators.
- Books: Bookshop
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As consumers have shifted to purchasing books online, Bookshop seeks to allow people to have the convenient shopping experience that Amazon provides, while also financially supporting local, independent bookstores. Consumers can choose a bookstore in their community to support with their purchase, or allow the proceeds from their purchase to enter “an earnings pool that will be evenly distributed among independent bookstores.” Bookshop staff and independent booksellers curate lists to showcase BIPOC authors, including Latinx fiction and anti-racist reading. Bookshop offers an innovative way to support your local bookstores and contribute to a thriving bookselling community!
While Amazon makes it easy to get millions of products quickly and easily, it is important to recognize the issues that the company contributes to, including climate change and wealth inequality. Try to step out of your comfort zone and shop at sustainable, ethical businesses that support independent creators.