I prefer to shop second-hand to avoid supporting the fast fashion industry, which is one of the most unethical and polluting industries in the world. The fashion industry takes advantage of people, especially women and children, and often doesn't pay garment workers a living wage. If you are unaware of these issues, I highly recommend watching The True Cost documentary. It does a wonderful job of revealing the harsh reality behind this deceptive industry.

I'm a freelance creative. I make videos for my YouTube channel about simple sustainability, ethical fashion, and travel, among other things. I also work as a video editor and social media manager/content creator for individuals and brands.

At the beginning of my sustainability journey, I shared online a popular concept that some people strive to achieve, which is a "zero waste" lifestyle. However, post 2020, I've found this concept performative, unattainable, and unhelpful. The truth is, it's impossible to create zero trash in our linear economy, so instead of being obsessed with the unattainable "zero," I try to shop plastic-free when I can and from brands with ethical standards. I don't rely on the recycling system too much, as most of what we put in the bin isn't actually recycled and ends up in the landfill or ocean. I compost my food scraps, support local regenerative agriculture when I can, reuse what I have, and borrow items before buying anything new. I don't support fast fashion, which is the second most polluting industry, next to the oil industry. These small habits add up, and living a sustainable lifestyle is so much more than what fits in a mason jar!

When I'm shopping for something very specific, I'll add it to my search alerts on eBay. When I save a search, eBay will email me when the item I'm looking for is listed (and I don't have to check the site every day!) I like the "saved searches" tool on eBay because it essentially forces me to pause before purchasing; at that time, I can make sure it's an item that I truly need. I buy both new and vintage items on eBay.

Poshmark and ThredUp are two other places I shop second-hand online. ThredUp is more of a thrift store setup, while Poshmark is similar to eBay (items are sold through individuals). Poshmark can be a bit pricey sometimes (sellers will try to sell their items at a higher price point because Poshmark takes a cut of their profit), but the site has fantastic customer service, and I appreciate that.

For my household essentials, I rely on the convenience of subscription services like WGAC, Branch Basics, and Dropps to ensure I never run out of my essential products.

WGAC provides plastic-free toilet paper - $10 off

Dropps offers zero-waste dishwasher pods - Alli15 for 15% off

Branch Basics Cleaning Concentrate - $10 off

I buy plastic-free bulk pantry items and groceries from Azure Standard, a Co-Op based in Oregon. I'm working on a video and blog post about them because they're great, but I know their drop sites are kind of confusing! I also like to shop online through Thrive Market for some items because they are 30-50% cheaper than other stores and offer carbon-neutral shipping. - 30% off your first Thrive Market order.

Disclaimer: Many (but not all) of the links on my website & YouTube channel are affiliate links. When you shop through my custom links, I receive a small commission for my work at no extra cost to you. If you're interested in supporting me and my content, this is an excellent way to do so, so thank you! Since beginning to create content online nearly a decade ago, I've only shared products and services that I genuinely use and love. Thank you for being part of this community and supporting my work!