Shopping for environmentally friendly presents

Introduction

This Christmas, why not reduce your carbon footprint by buying environmentally friendly presents.

Products labelled 'Fair Trade' should be free from child labour and bonded labour, and producers should not be forced to work for long hours, in poor conditions and for low pay.

Fair Trade products are marked with the Fairtrade logo. You can also check if a product is Fairtrade by looking on the label - it will say "Fair Trade" or "Fairly Traded". If a product is labelled as "Fair Trade", then it has been certified by an independent body to meet certain conditions, such as being free from child labour and bonded labour.

Products labelled 'Fair Trade' should be free from child labour and bonded labour, and producers should not be forced to work for long hours, in poor conditions and for low pay.

It's important to remember that Fair Trade producers have to pay a fee to participate in the scheme, while companies promoting ethical products do not necessarily charge.

You're likely to find that Fair Trade products are more expensive than other products. This is because producers have to pay a fee to participate in the scheme, while companies promoting ethical products do not necessarily charge. It's also important to remember that Fair Trade producers have to meet certain standards, which means those standards may not always be reflected in the quality of their wares. For example, some Fair Trade goods are made using child labor from countries where such practices aren't illegal; others use environmentally-destructive farming methods or don't employ direct trade relationships with small farmers (which help foster stronger communities).

So how can you be sure that your money is actually helping people if it's going towards something like a teddy bear? The answer lies in knowing exactly where your money is going and which organizations best represent your values regarding sustainable sourcing and fair labor practices—and then sticking with those brands for years at a time so that they can continue their practices well into the future!

A gift which has been made using environmentally-friendly materials takes the guilt out of giving, as well as helping you save money.

Giving a gift made from recycled materials is not only good for the environment, but it can also save you some money. In fact, most gifts that have been made using environmentally-friendly materials are cheaper than their non-recycled counterparts. This makes them a great way to reduce your carbon footprint without having to spend more money than necessary - and best of all, there are plenty of options available for every budget!

An ethically-produced gift is one which has been made without exploiting the producer.

There are many companies that exploit their workers. For example, many fashion brands have been accused of using child labor in order to produce clothes for their customers. However, there are also many brands out there who do not exploit their workers and have a positive impact on the environment as well. It is important to find out which companies you will be supporting before you buy gifts for your loved ones this holiday season!

To determine whether or not a company exploits its workers, we recommend looking at the conditions in which they work and the wages they receive for their labor. If people are working long hours without breaks in unsafe conditions for low pay (or no pay), then this is likely evidence that exploitation has occurred somewhere along the production line. On the other hand, if employees are treated fairly by management and given opportunities for advancement within their organization through education programs or job training programs, then it may be safe to conclude that no exploitation has taken place at all!

Organic gifts are environmentally friendly because they are often produced without chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

Organic gifts are environmentally friendly because they are often produced without chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Organic farming aims to be as natural and sustainable as possible, using a variety of methods to create healthy soil that can be used for many generations of crops without deterioration. This means that organic farms are better for wildlife, human health and the environment overall.

Organic produce is also considered more ethical than non-organic products because it supports small-scale farmers who may have less access to resources like water or land than large scale companies do. And lastly, organic foods use less energy during their growth cycle; this helps keep carbon levels in check while helping us stay cool!

Don't rely on claims such as 'green' or 'environmentally friendly'.

Don't rely on claims such as 'green' or 'environmentally friendly'. The best way to ensure that you're buying something that's good for the planet is to check its label. Look for the following:

Materials used. Check the label for what materials were used in making it. If you don't know what these are, look them up online or ask someone who knows about this stuff (for example, a friend with a background in chemistry). If they're made from toxic materials, don't buy it! You can also look for products such as Fair Trade-certified items that use recycled materials—this shows that companies recognize their responsibility towards workers and the environment when manufacturing their products.
Packaging contents & energy use during production (if applicable). Some products come with packaging but no actual product; others come without any packaging at all! Some types of packaging have been shown to be more taxing on the environment than others; so if possible try not buying anything if it has too much packaging (or if there isn't enough). If you do decide that your gift needs some sort of wrapping paper or bow paper then make sure there aren't any toxic chemicals inside this before putting it into contact with whatever else might come into contact with said item's surface area (like maybe someone's fingers!).

Don't get drawn in by words such as 'natural' or 'recycled' - make sure you check the context of these words, because it may be possible for a product to be made from natural or recycled materials but still not be environmentally friendly.

As you may have noticed, many products will use terms like “natural” or “recycled” – but this doesn't necessarily mean that the product is environmentally friendly. For example, if a box of tissues says it's made from recycled paper, that doesn't mean it has been produced in an environmentally friendly way. It could have been recycled into new paper by using a lot of energy and resources to do it. It's the same with food labels saying something is 'organic'. Organic doesn't always mean sustainable or ethical; some organic food can be grown using pesticides which are harmful to pollinators such as bees.

As well as looking at what materials a product is made from, look at where it comes from and how it was made - this will give you more clues about whether it's environmentally friendly or not

Buying locally-made gifts is good for both you and the environment because it saves on packaging and transportation costs - both of which are bad for the environment.

The more you buy locally, the less fuel will be used to ship your items across town or across the country. In fact, buying local can save up to 75 percent of CO2 emissions from shipping compared with overseas products!

Buying locally also means that you’ll spend less money on gas getting to a store than if you had ordered from another state or country.

This Christmas why not reduce your carbon footprint by buying environmentally friendly presents.

This Christmas why not reduce your carbon footprint by buying environmentally friendly presents. A few simple steps can help you make a difference to the environment and show that you care.

Reduce your waste: Recycle, compost or donate unwanted gifts to charity
Support local business: Buy from small businesses in your area
Support ethical business: Look for fair trade products and brands that have been certified by independent bodies like Fairtrade International and Rainforest Alliance

Conclusion

I hope this post has given you some ideas of how to find environmentally friendly presents this Christmas. It's important to remember that if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is - make sure you do your research before buying a product.