For holiday shoppers wanting to make shopping decisions that are also good for the planet, the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center is releasing a holiday shopping guide: Fixed for the Holidays shopping guide.

The annual guide includes tips for buying refurbished electronics, products to avoid, how to know if you are getting a good deal, and where to shop.

Buying refurbished or repaired products are good for the planet and good for consumers’ pocketbooks.

They can reduce the environmental impact of a purchase by as much as 91% (compared to buying new electronics) while consumers can enjoy savings of 20% as shoppers are very conscious of their pocketbooks in the current economy.

"For consumers who are looking for ways to help the planet while doing their holiday shopping, we want to show the magic of refurbished gift-giving,” said Belle Sherwood, Climate and Clean Energy Associate with the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center. “It’s a win-win for the planet and consumers: create less waste, shop guilt-free, and save money during the holiday season.”

This year’s guide includes advice on:

-- Recommended vendors.

-- Which devices make a good refurbished gift.

-- How to know if you are getting a good deal.

-- The risks and common pitfalls you might encounter in buying used products.

-- How to get your money back if there are issues with your purchase.

It also urges consumers to avoid new products that are designed to be thrown out, such as Apple’s AirPods 4, which like its predecessors, have glued-in disposable batteries that can’t be replaced by the user.

“Save money and the planet this holiday season by purchasing refurbished tech,” said Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), Chair of City Council's Committee on the Environment. “Consumers can rely on PennEnvironment's Fixed For The Holidays guide for the best deals and most sustainable products! Receive steep discounts when buying like-new refurbished products while also reducing the environmental impact of your purchase by up to 91%.”

In further efforts to inform consumers and reduce e-waste, the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and its national partners have launched the Designed to Last campaign to make repair scores available to shoppers before they make a purchase.

The scores are like car fuel economy stickers for repairability, providing a 1 through 10 fixability rating based on availability of spare parts, ease of disassembly and longevity of software support.

These scores are already provided in other countries by retailers such as Amazon, and the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and its partner groups are calling on Amazon to offer this same service here in America to its U.S. customers.

“It's great to give gifts to loved ones or treat ourselves in the holiday season. We shouldn't have to hurt our planet or our wallets to do that," said Sherwood. "Let's give our planet a holiday gift this year by reducing the mountains of toxic e-waste."

Click Here for a copy of the Guide.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Visit the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center website for more information on initiatives, programs, upcoming events and how you can get involved.

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[Posted: November 26, 2024]

12/2/2024