What are Some Good Amazon Alternatives?

Hello everyone, and welcome back to my tiny corner of the internet. I like to imagine I now have a small plant somewhere over here, growing in the sunlight. I'm glad you could make it. Your presence here is valued, and I appreciate you taking time out of your day to be here. So, again, welcome! Today's blog post is going to be about alternatives to shopping at Amazon. Amazon is a great online shopping resource. However, relying on one company undermines the free market, so it is important to spread your money around.

Okay, so why do you not like to shop from Amazon? While Amazon is an awesome feat in and of itself, it has become very large. I wouldn't have a problem with this, but the carbon footprint from purchasing from such a large online company doesn't always seem like the most environmentally ethical decision. I worry about how such a large corporation like Amazon impacts the environment, especially because they use semi-trucks, vans, train cars, and airplanes to deliver their goods. I have not seen anything about Amazon trying to offset their carbon emissions, let alone go carbon neutral or carbon negative (helping pull carbon from the air). Things like this make me hesitant to purchase items from them, so I am here to provide a few alternatives. Plus, rumor has it that Amazon employees aren't always treated great, and I don't like companies that do not take care of their employees. So I'm spending some of my money elsewhere.

Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/ Etsy is a large online store for numerous small business owners. Here, you can purchase large amounts of custom orders, and homemade products, and make sure that your money is going to a small business. I enjoy the personal interactions you can have with business owners on the site - I have had a few extremely pleasant conversations with them about their products, and have found the business owners to be very kind and helpful. I love the unique pieces that I can find on that site. It allows me to really customize the décor of my room, as well as find great products. Etsy is also carbon-neutral - with a pledge to offset its carbon emissions for delivery. This is something that, for a company as large as Etsy, is necessary. With the amounts of carbon lingering in our atmosphere, it is so important for consumers to support companies such as Etsy. So, instead of buying something right away from Amazon, give Esty a try. See if you can find an item you love on there, instead.

Good People Inc. - https://goodpeopleinc.store/en-us Good People Inc is a relatively new company. they have been running in the UK for a while now, but they just started selling in the USA and Canada as of July 1st. They advertise as an online store only selling from companies offering sustainable and environmentally friendly options. They have options for periods, makeup, skincare, dental products, reusable bottles, and more. I am currently looking into their website, and, so far, I like what I'm seeing. This looks like an interesting company - something we should definitely keep our eyes on.

Grove - https://www.grove.co/ Grove is a company that I have heard so many good things about, and I am looking forward to trying their products myself. The best part about Grove is that they are environmentally conscious with their products - they sell their cleaning products in glass or metal containers in order to reduce their plastic waste. They have also pledged to be 100% plastic-free by 2025. I think it is so important to be plastic-free - especially in the cleaning industry. So many companies switched to plastic because it is lighter yet still as clear as glass. People can still see the product, but it is cheaper to ship because of the weight. Grove makes up for this by selling concentrate tablets or liquids for your cleaning product. Instead of having to buy another glass container, you simply reuse it and mix more cleaning solutions when you need them. I am moving soon, and as soon as I do, I'm going to order and give you guys a review of their products. They only do cleaning products as far as I know, but it is still good to keep in mind.

Azure Standard - https://www.azurestandard.com/

Azure is a company that specializes in bulk organic - mostly - foods and other products. Some of my family purchases products from them, and so far the products seem very good. The downside is that Azure still uses plastic for some of their products, but i think those products being organic and in bulk offset the use of plastic. While some of their products can be pricey, I still think this is an excellent company to purchase goods from.

The Good Trade

If you follow this link, you will be taken to a website known as The Good Trade. See them here. I love their website, and this particular site talks about "11 Alternatives To Amazon For Online Shopping." They cover companies like Thrive Market, Grove Collaborative (which I also covered), Uncommon Goods, Bookshop, and more! Please go check them out. I subscribe to their newsletter as well, and I recommend it for many reasons. They have exposed me to numerous sustainable companies, as well as some self-care techniques and excellent recipes!

These are just a few of the options that I have come into while existing. I hope you decide to check a few of these out, especially as Good People Inc. continues to develop. There are links next to the store names for your convenience. Thanks again for joining me here! I appreciate any and all who decide to read my blogs. Thank you.

-Inspiring Green