So I Opened a POD Shop . . . Does That Make Me a Hypocrite?

As I've mentioned before, I'm interested in and trying to become more sustainable/less waste/eco friendly–whatever you want to call it. So when I was thinking through opening up shop, I was initially kinda conflicted. But using RedBubble has alleviated some of those concerns, and here are some of the reasons.

First, I wanted a Print On Demand service to begin with. That's right, it might seem like a less environmentally conscious decision at first, but my thinking is this: Less physical trash. To do it myself isn't really an option right now. I don't have the skills or resources to do it well, so I'd waste a lot of time and materials trying to learn. So I turned to getting things printed up, but then I was concerned that if I had products printed ahead of time, well . . . It is impossible to gauge what that means for numbers. Would I print too little? Would I get too much? How much would I have to store and potentially damage or lose? So for me, having the POD option seemed like a tick for Pro's column.

Secondly, I learned about RedBubble's Mission Statement, which (according to their website) is as follows: "Redbubble is creating the world’s largest marketplace for independent artists, bringing more creativity into the world. A great mission that also comes with great responsibility. To not only empower artists and foster self-expression, but do so in ethical, socially responsible ways. Which is where our printing partners (and all the words below) come in." (And no, I didn't just take their own declarations for what they were worth. I looked around and read from other's observations and experiences to get a more well-rounded idea.) If you want the details about how they go about fulfilling this mission, here's a link for their website's info on that: https://www.redbubble.com/social-responsibility/sustainability/

Lastly, I've mentioned that I put a high value to what is also sustainable for my mental health and a responsible use of my energy . . . My ability to start up the shop and maintain it with ease and peace of mind was also a big selling point. Since my practical sustainability fears were put to rest (for now, because I realize that this is a good solution, but I'm still considering if it's a perfect solution), I decided to go ahead and pursue this particular avenue. The shop may evolve and grow beyond RedBubble eventually, but as of right now, I like this option for so many reasons and I feel confident that it isn't any more or less harmful than the other options available to me currently. So if you haven't checked it out yet, visit my RedBubble shop and feel comfortable knowing that you're supporting both me and more environmentally conscious industry professionals!

www.redbubble.com/people/kianalin