Gift sustainably this Christmas
Sustainable shopping guide – Lulu and Boo Jewellery
Christmas is fast approaching again and at this time of year it’s easy to get swept up in the maelstrom of adverts and publicity surrounding buying gifts. When it comes to consumerism, there can be many conflicting voices providing endorsements for “the best”, “the most”, or “the only” item to purchase. So how can you make an informed decision about where’s best to shop? Here are my top 5 tips on shopping sustainably this Christmas:
- Invest in pieces that last longer.
A few years ago, the ‘30 wears challenge’ was introduced in 2015 to campaign for more longevity in buying habits. This doesn’t realistically go far enough - in my opinion you need to be thinking “will I wear it hundreds of times” rather than just 30 or more. This is why I have chosen to create timeless and versatile pieces of jewellery as I want you to wear your items as much as possible!
- Shop small business.
It’s no surprise that I’m a fan of shopping small business! While on my journey as a small biz owner I’ve met some amazing people creating great quality, beautiful products. But we can sometimes get overshadowed by the big businesses who churn out mass-produced consumer goods. When you shop from a small business, your money goes directly to that business, and I can tell you we all do a happy dance every time we see an order placed! Smaller companies will most likely have higher transparency of where their products originate from, and a smaller carbon footprint attributed to them.
- Educate yourself.
Do your research when choosing a product, you can usually check the company’s eco credentials (What is their sustainability policy? Where do they source their materials etc? Do they support fairtrade? Is their packaging eco-friendly/plastic free?) by looking at their website. This is especially important now that social media marketing is so prevalent as many ads online will direct you straight to a product link and a purchase can be made with one click. In the case of jewellery – you can check if they are using plated metals or solid, if their gold/silver and gems are ethically sourced or recycled.
- Choose to buy second hand and recycled over new where you can.
When I started Lulu and Boo, I made the choice to source recycled gold and silver as it avoids the environmental cost of mining of virgin materials. Indeed, there’s a wealth of great companies using recycled materials to make great products out there. When searching for gifts online try using terms like “preloved” “vintage” “recycled” or “sustainable” to help you find sustainable companies to buy from.
- Avoid falling into the trap of “buy cheap, buy twice”.
This is a biggy! It’s always very tempting to think cheaper is better when you’re buying gifts especially, and I know that sticking to a budget is important. However, buying cheaper usually means that the quality is poor and then the product just won’t last the test of time. This takes me back to the longevity. Buy less, but better and the thought that has gone into it will be far more valuable than the product alone. I never plate and only use solid precious metals so your Lulu and Boo piece will truly last a lifetime.
If you need any assistance with gifting this Christmas, please reach out to Corinne who will be pleased to assist you with making the perfect choice. Contact here
