Shop Green and Small on Small Business Saturday!

By Dyani West and Brooke Wright

The busiest shopping season is about to start when families and Santa Claus will spend billions of dollars on clothes, electronics, and gifts for the family and friends. As more and more consumers are choosing to shop online with big businesses, countless packages are shipped from across the world, oftentimes wrapped in plastic and Styrofoam packaging that will go straight to the landfill upon arrival.

Fortunately, there are ways that families in Santa Cruz can make a difference to help their communities and environment while enjoying a day in their community.

Shop at local Certified Green Businesses

By doing your holiday shopping at local businesses, you prevent shipping waste from filling landfills and reduce emissions and pollution too. When you combine shopping local with shopping at Certified Green Businesses, you also improve the impacts of your shopping by making sure the businesses you patronize are following the best practices in sustainability.

How do you do it?

If you haven’t already, download the free Shop Green App. Search for “Shop Green Business Search” in your device’s App Store and start searching. You can also search for businesses on greenbusinessca.org.

Shop Green on Small Business Saturday

Participate in Small Business Saturday by patronizing some of the nearly 400 businesses in Santa Cruz County that do their part for community and environmental health by adhering to the standards of the California Green Business Program. Here are some options available to you if you choose to Shop Green on Small Business Saturday:

Downtown Santa Cruz

Search the app to enjoy a cappuccino or savory scone before browsing for environmentally friendly gifts at dozens of certified retail shops. Pick up stocking stuffers and enjoy bakery and creamery sweet treats. Grab gift certificates at fitness locations, restaurants, and salons. The choices to Shop Green are truly incredible in Downton Santa Cruz!

San Lorenzo Valley

Grab a few stocking stuffers and organic deli sandwiches in Felton or Boulder Creek after finding gifts for your biking enthusiast family. Get your favorite moments from 2019 processed and framed.

West Side

From organic clothing and shoe stores to bike shops and upcycled goods, don’t miss the West Side on your shopping tour this season. End the day with a beverage at a certified Green Business brewery.

East Side

Skip the mall and tour the small shop retail neighborhoods where you can find everything from green interior decorating products to restaurants, breweries, and coffee.

Watsonville

Lock your bikes up at one of downtown Watsonville’s many bike racks and stroll the charming downtown streets to find a certified skate shop, flower shop, and more.

Go ahead, download the app and make a day of supporting your local shop owners who are doing their part for us! Oh and please let Santa know about the App too.

To learn more about the program or if you are a business owner interested in learning more, please visit greenbusinessca.org or call Brooke Wright, Green Business Program Specialist at Ecology Action at 831-515-1397.