Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A new project: buy nothing made in China for 1 year

This might not sound too much like a garden blog post, but it most certainly is.  Our garden- the landscaping and vegetables we grow is our attempt at living lightly.  The goal of trying to buy things more locally is an extension of that attempt.  There are many reasons for not buying things made in China, ranging from human rights concerns, to the distance the items have to travel, to supporting local businesses, and I'm not going to elaborate on them here- others have said it better.

This project of mine started a month or so ago when I needed to get a new angle grinder (a tool for the shop).  Normally, I try to buy tools used (for cost reasons, because many things have a longer life than people think, and also for the fun of it), but angle grinders are one tool that just wear out and are not a good investment used.  I started looking at the usual American brands: Milwaukee, DeWalt, Porter Cable, etc... and these were all made in China.  I kept looking, and I was surprised to eventually learn that THERE ARE NO ANGLE GRINDERS MADE IN THE USA ANYMORE!  So, I broadened my search and looked at Makita (a Japanese company)- their grinders are also made in China.  I eventually purchased a Metabo grinder (made in Germany).  Kind of shocking that was the best I was able to do!

So, I thought, I'd pay better attention to where everything I was buying was from, and for the next year, I will try to not buy anything new from China (not just tools for the shop, but anything).  I'd like to only buy stuff made in the USA, but from the grinder example, maybe that is not possible anymore.

I'll keep you posted how I do.

6 comments:

  1. I have your link on my blog roll and read your post regarding purchases made in China. Now I have referred my readers and asked them if they thought they could do this. I am certainly going to give it a try! Good idea! Lets get back to Made in America.

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    1. Thanks for your comments, Ann! It seems like it should be an easy enough goal, but I fear it could be more difficult and complicated than it seems. Nevertheless, I think it is a good challenge!

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  2. I imagine it is getting harder and harder every year to find things made in the USA. But, I agree that is is worthwhile to try and to be aware of where our products come from. (I was just ranting a little this weekend about the Made in the USA issue and about how some frozen apple juice concentrates are from China...as if we don't grow apples here?!)

    Best of luck on what I am sure will be an illuminating project.

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    1. It's going to be interesting. I just bought some screws and had to look at the package to see where they were made- kind of an after thought, but I found that one brand was made in Taiwan and another in the US- I bought the ones from the US!
      Crazy about the apple juice- I wouldn't have even thought to look on the origin on that!

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  3. So this is what I am wondering, since I also buy used. Is it okay to buy used tools and clothing from China. It seems to me that once it is used anything goes, but I'm interested in hearing other thoughts on this. It seems that once something is used in the USA and being sold as used it then is essentially supporting the US economy and not the Chinese economy anymore. However, maybe I'm totally wrong. . .

    Oh, and I'd like not to be anonymous but don't have a URL or Google acct. or any of the other options on your profile choices so how do I go about this?

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    1. In general I agree with you about used tools. The only exception (and here is where things get complicated) is that often repair parts may have to come from China, and also, many tools and other things made in the USA are made with parts from China, too! It can be pretty complicated to figure out what is truly made where and what and whose economy you are truly supporting. But having said that, used tools are probably fair game (according to my rules!), but the other issue is one of quality with Chinese tools vs those made elsewhere, and that may be another reason not to buy something from China. Anyway, I think the good thing here is for me, and you, and others to be thoughtful about what our purchases mean and who and what they support.
      Thanks for the comments!
      As far as anonymity, I don't know. You could just sign your name. Not a big deal to me. Thanks again!

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