Dignity in December
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, a birthday, an anniversary, or any other reason to give a gift, that season is upon us. If you are like many, you have a long list of people you would like to give a gift to, or perhaps you feel obligated to take part in an office or neighborhood gift exchange. No doubt, you have a budget and would like to be both generous and frugal.
And this isn't just something individuals do. Organizations buy gifts for staff and clients as part of a long-standing tradition. Gifts in these business scenarios are likely to be bought in bulk. With many corporate budgets suffering this year due to COVID, the corporate gift budget is likely to be tighter than usual.
As a result, we flock to cheap gifts in an effort to still be able to give a gift, without breaking the bank. I think the mentality is, better to give something, even if a cheap trinket or chocolate, than to give nothing at all.
But take a moment to consider the cost. The true cost to those who make that item. If you think a box of chocolates at a dollar store is too good to be true, that's because it is. Someone pays the cost that you do not pay. Poor and dangerous working conditions, abuse and exploitation, and economic inequalities plague many of the supply chains that enable us to stock the shelves or fill the warehouses with affordable goods.
December 10th is Human Rights Day so all the more fitting that we should take a moment to consider those who make the products that enable the gift-giving season to be one of such joy.
Here are some recommendations to ensure those who labor to bring your gift options to bear can experience dignity and justice:
Shop for Fair Trade products and food. Look for the Fair Trade label to ensure the item you are buying has been made without compromising the treatment or equity of those who grow, produce, and handle the item.
Buy Gift Certificates for websites or stores that feature Fair Trade and ethically produced items. Personally, I like to give small gift certificates to a website called Uncommon Goods. I choose an amount that entices the recipient to shop around and maybe even spend more. I accompany the gift with a note explaining how this website aligns with Astrapto's values.
Partner with a fair trade organization or social enterprise to create custom gifts. It might be a bit late for the 2020 gift giving season so start now, seek out an organization, build a relationship, and begin the collaborative process of designing the perfect expression of your gratitude and care for others. There are organizations such as Buy Social Canada or Supply Change (UK) who can help. Or search the Social Enterprise Alliance directory.
Donate to organizations dedicated to correcting the injustices which occur in key gift categories, such as Anti-slavery International or Fair Trade Certified. Supply chains with human rights violations include: clothing, flowers, chocolate, coffee, and other popular gifts (electronics, beauty supplies, and more); the situation is only exacerbated by structures conducive to churning out the cheapest options possible to meet our insatiable demand for goods and gifts.
All of this is not to say giving gifts and wanting stuff are bad, but it is to say that your purchasing power, especially if an organization (B2B) is a powerful mechanism for sending a message to global corporations that supply chain dignity matters.
Happy ….whatever you celebrate this month!
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