How To Holiday Shop More Responsibly

It’s time to start holiday shopping! 🎁 And if you’re looking for a way to shop more responsibly this season — e.g. more locally, sustainably, and equitably — I’ve got some great tips for you:

✊🏾 Support BIPOC-owned businesses: ShopBIPOC is a new online marketplace that features nearly 200 Colorado businesses that identify as BIPOC-owned. Shoppers can search the directory by business name, zip code, industry, or even BIPOC identity to ensure their money is going toward closing the racial wealth gap among local entrepreneurs. (Learn more about ShopBIPOC in this profile from our friends at Westword.)

♻️ Shop certifiably green: If all the wasted plastic and carbon output of holiday gift-giving gets you down (🙋🏻‍♀️), consider making your purchases from “certifiably green” Denver businesses. Shops and entrepreneurs who receive this designation from the city have worked with expert advisors to implement realistic sustainability goals in areas like energy efficiency, water conservation, resource conservation, and alternative transportation. You can find out which businesses are Green Certified using this interactive map on the city’s website.

🏡 Keep it local: Both directories mentioned above feature exclusively Denver or Colorado businesses, but there are countless more independent entrepreneurs and artists you can support this time of year, especially at local holiday markets. Westword rounded up more than 50 to choose from. Plus, we have a few reader recommendations in the Denver Chatter section below! 👇