by Alison Lueders, Great Green Editing
Did you know that yesterday, November 27, was the official launch of “Green Tuesday?” Me neither.
GreenDeals.org creator Jonah Mytro announced the creation of this new annual shopping day dedicated to purchasing eco-friendly holiday gifts for family and friends. In the tradition of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Green Tuesday aims to garner some of the holiday spending that, according to IBM, has gotten off to a strong start this year.
Where can you find greener holiday gifts in Tampa Bay? Check out the directory of companies at Going Green Tampa. Categories include gifts, clothing, furnishings, bath and body products and more. How about a gift certificate for a local spa or restaurant? There are literally hundreds of local companies offering green and sustainable products, and the money you spend stays in our community.
Of course, this is all part of a much larger phenomenon. Amazon is behind the site Vine.com, which the New York Times describes as “shopping for the environmental crowd.” Its products are green, but the logistical muscle behind it is all Amazon, with the same rapid delivery and easy returns. Categories include toys, gifts for pets, holiday decor, cards and stationery, “gear and gadgets” – pretty much all the usual suspects.
So if there are still folks on your shopping list for whom a green product might do just fine – soy candles instead of petroleum-based, Fair Trade chocolates instead of Godiva – why not give it a try? That’s what sustainable practices are all about – not doing without, but doing differently, and being thoughtful about choices.
The best part: Green Tuesday lasts through December 9, 2012 – ample time to check it out.