Shopping sustainably is just too hard.
That's what big box stores want you to believe. They spend millions on marketing to keep you overwhelmed, confused, and saying yes to the top search results.
They are afraid you’ll discover that sustainable shopping can be simple.
Hours of research are not required.
You just need to know what to look for.
This is your framework.
Three questions that change everything.
Why These Three Questions Matter
These three questions cut through the noise. They're practical. They work for everything. And they put the power back in your hands.
The 3 Questions I Always Ask
⇒ What's it made of?
⇒ Where is it made?
⇒ Who are you buying from?
1. What's It Made Of?
Why This Matters
Materials impact three things: how long something lasts, your health, and what happens when you're done with it.
Natural materials biodegrade.
Synthetics will sit in landfills for centuries.
Plastics shed microplastics that contaminate soil and waterways.
Clean nature-based ingredients are safer for your body and the planet.
You matter. The planet matters.
Asking this question addresses both.
What to Look For
Natural fibers and materials:
- Organic cotton, linen, wool, silk, hemp
- Solid wood (maple, walnut, cherry)
- Metals (brass, aluminum, steel, gold, sterling silver)
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Natural rubber, cork, vegetable-tanned leather
Clean ingredients:
- Short ingredient lists with recognizable names
- Plant-based oils and butters
- Essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance
-
Beeswax, soy wax, coconut wax
Sustainable alternatives:
- Recycled materials (post-consumer recycled cotton, reclaimed wood, recycled wool)
- Upcycled textiles (vintage materials reimagined into new pieces)
- Deadstock fabrics (unused fabric from fashion houses, saved from landfill)
-
Second hand or vintage (extends the life of existing pieces, keeps them out of landfills)
Red Flags
Vague language without specifics:
- "Eco-friendly" with no details
- "Natural" on products that aren't regulated like cleaning supplies
-
"Sustainable" without explaining how
Problematic materials:
- Polyester, acrylic, nylon (microplastics shed in your wash)
- Particle board, MDF (held together with formaldehyde)
- Paraffin wax (petroleum-based)
-
Ingredients you can't pronounce
Missing information:
- Materials not mentioned at all
-
"Proprietary blend" hiding what's actually in it
The bottom line: If a brand won't tell you what something is made of, walk away!
2. Where Is It Made?
Why This Matters
Location tells you about labor practices, environmental regulations, and shipping impact.
Some countries have better worker protections and environmental laws.
Others don't.
Some factories pay fair wages and provide safe conditions.
Many don’t.
It’s too hard to know everything about every factory.
Transparency is a good sign. Secrecy is a red flag.
What to Look For
Specific locations:
- Handmade in Baltimore
- Made in our family workshop in North Carolina
-
Small batch production in Portugal
Certifications that matter:
- Fair Trade Certified
- B-Corp certification
-
GOTS Certified
Transparent partnerships:
- Brands who name their factories
- Companies that visit and photograph the production facilities
-
Makers who can tell you exactly where and how things are made
Local and regional production:
- Reduces shipping impact
- Supports the local economy
-
Often means you can verify conditions yourself
Red Flags
No origin information:
- "Imported" with no country mention
-
Vague language like "global partnerships"
Fast fashion timelines:
- New styles every week is impossible without exploitation
-
Prices seem too good to be true, because they are!
Lack of transparency:
- No info about where the goods are made
-
No mention about the makers or the factories they work with
The bottom line: If a brand is proud to share where they make things, we like them!
3. Who Are You Buying From?
Why This Matters
This is how we rebel. Who you give your money to is your power.
Every purchase makes a statement. You cast a vote for what you want to see more of in the world.
Let’s support:
- Independent artists and creatives
- Women-owned local businesses
-
Brands who share your values
Money is energy. Make sure you exchange it with people you believe in.
What to Look For
Real founder stories:
- Authentic "about" pages with photos
- Clear origin story sharing why they started their business
-
Visible leadership who stands behind their products
Transparent values:
- Specific mission statement that resonates with you
- Honest about challenges, not just wins
-
Actions that match their words
Ownership you can support:
- Independent (not owned by a parent corporation)
- Woman-owned, BIPOC-owned, LGBTQ+-owned
- Family businesses, maker-run companies
-
Brands that pay living wages
Community connection:
- Gives back in meaningful ways
- Supports other small businesses
-
Creates jobs in their community
Red Flags
No founder story:
- About us page that leaves you with questions
- No faces, no names, no humans
-
Generic language that feels like corporate marketing
Values-washing:
- Talking sustainability without showing how
- Marketing themselves as "eco" without proof
-
Vague mission statements that feel generic
Hidden ownership:
- Small brand that's now owned by a conglomerate
- Parent company with a bad track record
-
Private equity buyouts that gut a brand's original mission
The bottom line: If it is hard to figure out who is behind a brand, chances are you won’t be happy when you find out.
Be Flexible. Because Nobody's Perfect.
You won't nail this every time. And that's okay.
This framework isn't about perfection. It's about progress.
Budget constraints are real.
You want a new handmade live edge dining room table to seat 12.
You sand and re-stain a 1980’s oak table instead.
Save up to invest in the item you really want.
Sometimes "better" is good enough.
You need to replace your moldy shower curtain liner.
The best alternative you find is “recycled polyester” so you go for it.
Choose better and keep moving.
Access matters.
The local family owned hardware store doesn’t carry the part you need.
So you gotta go to Lowe’s.
Do the best you can with where you are.
Learning takes time.
You haven't been asking these questions, but now you will!
Ask the right questions and see where it takes you.
The goal isn't to be a perfect sustainable shopper.
The goal is to be more intentional than you were yesterday.
The Bigger Picture
Your choices create demand.
When you buy organic cotton, you're telling brands people want organic cotton. When you buy from artisans, you’re saying quality matters. When you support small businesses, you're proving that model works.
Big brands respond to what consumers want.
They're watching. When sales shift toward sustainable and ethical options, they notice. Your purchase is data.
Collective impact is real.
Your choices alone won't change the world. But as a collective they absolutely will.
Join my rebellion by asking these three questions.
It’s a stealthy revolution of people who know shopping can be different.
You're not just buying stuff.
You're curating your life and voting for a world you want to live in.
Your Next Steps
- Bookmark this guide. To reference it later.
- Try it this week. Notice how deciding what to buy gets easier with practice.
- Share it with someone else who wants to shop better. The rebellion grows when we invite others to join.
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Keep going. This is a journey, not a destination.
Keep rebelling — one purchase at a time.
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