Where I Shop to Avoid Amazon
And Target and Wal-Mart and other mega stores.
This is an IMPERFECT list based on one person’s experience and resources. I have no formal affiliations with any of these businesses, but have included some affiliate links and labeled each one for transparency. I am merely presenting ideas for anyone who feels overwhelmed about trying to change their habits. I really do shop at all of these places with my own money.
A note about shopping locally
It feels obvious to say that you shop locally as your first resort, but chances are you may not be taking the time to read this list if you had everything you needed right now the street, however, I am routinely having conversations with people who make Amazon their first stop for everything. They have no idea what types of locally owned stores are in their own backyard. It is, sadly, worth throwing in the reminder!
A low waste company with a convenient subscription service. plus, their products are actually effective! I think their dishwasher detergent works better than many eco brands I've tried.
Toiletries: Grove Collaborative
A mix of eco brands, they carry a wide variety of household items. I use them primarily for skincare, toiletries, and vitamins but also get my compost bags, sponges, and more.
These are two very different platforms, but both are great sources of secondhand clothing. This is the primary place I look when I can't find anything at a local shop. ThredUp is more like a standard thrift experience of a treasure hunt whereas Depop allows for more targeted searches on specific brands and aesthetics. Use my ThredUp link and get 45% off your first order!
Groceries: Wegman's, Costco, or Aldi
When available, your local farmer's market is a great first stop! But if that's not an option, these are the 3 grocery stores that I regularly find on lists of most ethical grocery chains. I know these aren't all nationwide -- I didn't even know what a Wegman's was until we moved to North Carolina! But maybe do a little search on what's in your backyard.
Paper Products: Who Gives A Crap - get $10 when you shop with my link
So Many house guests have said “i have seen that brand, but i wasnt sure if it was just cute marketing. Is it actually good?” And yes! I genuinely like it and have been using them since 2019. I currently order toilet paper, trash bags, and sometimes paper towels.
Books
Physical Books: PangoBooks - use my affiliate link to get $5 off!
Ebooks: Bookshop.org
Audiobooks: Libro FM
While i do occasionally splurge at a salon, i have mostly been doing my nails at home with a kit from manicurist. The colors hold up well even on vacations that involved being at the pool!
Misc
For most other things, i try to find a brand’s direct website. if you see something you love at a large retailer, i bet that company has a website of their own and would love to be supported by keeping 100% of your sale instead!
Abstaining
Sometimes buying nothing is the best answer! Some companies really know how to manipulate us into the next trend. reflect on some recent impulse purchases and ask yourself if next time you should just avoid clicking “add to cart” at all.