Dear Eco-Monkey: I try to shop locally when I can but sometimes it’s far easier to just buy stuff online, especially when my family’s wish list is filled with ultraspecific items. Am I causing more harm by shopping online, or is it maybe better than driving all around searching?

— Sarah

Dear Sarah: Great question — and one many of us ask this time of year. We all want to support local businesses, but sometimes the only place to find that exact hiking gadget or obscure book is online. You’re not alone: more than 2 billion packages ship across the U.S. during the holiday season. That’s a lot of generous gift-giving — and a lot of packaging waste.

The good news? With a few smart choices, you can still shop online while reducing your impact.

Shop secondhand online first. Before buying new,

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