Why I Buy American Made
About a year ago I began to put more effort towards being intentional with my purchases.
Not only does this mean I aim to buy less in general, but what I mean specifically is that I began researching information in regards to companies I was looking to purchase from. What I found is that most brands we know and love manufacture/produce outside of the United States. It’s true, this wasn’t a surprising revelation, however I was shocked nonetheless at the sheer number of such brands. I poured all of my energy into a new mission: Operation FAM (Find American Made). As the need arose for a new or replacement item I would search the far corners of the internet to find an American made option. Along my search, although there are not nearly as many choices, I have found some really great companies who can proudly stamp their products “Made in USA”. So, why do I buy American Made?
Support Our Economy— I like when my money goes to U.S. based companies who provide jobs to Americans. (What a novel idea!) Supporting small businesses promotes more opportunities for the market as well as employment. In addition, I think it’s reasonable for a country to be able to provide at minimum, basic needs for its population. In the beginning of this pandemic, we saw many shortages on basic amenities. We are still experiencing these shortages, but to a lesser degree. As we have witnessed, it can create a problem when a country becomes too heavily reliant on other countries for its necessities.
Ethical Concerns— Standards for labor practices, work environments, workers compensation and products themselves are far more regulated and stringent in the U.S. than other countries like China. We are not unfamiliar with the concept of slave labor and unhealthy, unsafe work environments. It’s difficult to determine which companies take part in such atrocities so when I buy from brands I know for certain design and produce in the states, I sleep much better at night.
Higher Quality— Because it is tough to compete with prices from companies who manufacture in places like China, American made brands are compelled to produce a higher quality product in order to attract buyers. If a higher quality item costs me more money initially, but will last me years v.s. months, I will in fact be saving myself time and money by not having to purchase replacement items when the lower quality product—albeit cheaper—inevitably fails or breaks down. I am a firm believer in quality over quantity, which leads me into my next point…
Encourage Sustainability— When we purchase fewer items, but better quality, we discourage the market from overproducing. A good quality item serves it function for much longer which helps decrease the amount of products that end up in landfills and waterways, including our oceans. Furthermore, goods made and sold here don’t have to travel as far and wide as goods produced in other countries, in effect reducing our carbon footprint. Not all American made companies use sustainable practices, but many do. For example, some brands use recycled and/or more sustainable materials, use less water during production, produce less waste or direct a portion of their profits to organizations that help clean our planet.
As I sum up this post I want to be clear that not everything I purchase is made in the U.S. I think that it is vital for separate nations to share in the exchange of goods and services, and in addition, it is just simply not possible to purchase every single want or need from one place. The beauty in technology as we live now is that we have more options and increased access to knowledge than ever before. I believe it’s important to examine your options, educate yourself and come up with the best solution for you, whatever that may be. I hope I’ve inspired you to take a closer look at the companies you give your money. Please, let me know if I’ve missed anything. I want to hear your thoughts! Have you tried looking for American made brands? What has been your experience?
P.S. If you decide to take on Operation FAM—good luck, my friend. The process can be daunting, but in the end I think it’s worth the effort.