Countless Black people have lately been spending some serious money on houseplants. They’re beautiful, can clean our air, and support mental health. But they can leave Africa exploited and vulnerable! How?
Unfortunately, decorating living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms with plants is negatively affecting the Motherland. Africa has a long history of being poached and exploited for its goods and natural resources – including houseplants.
To satisfy rising demand – and make a ton of money – some houseplants are being “poached” in Africa illegally. As a result, these plants could even be on their way to extinction!
But there is a simple solution we could all try.
Buying local goods is always superior – and now we need to do our absolute best to buy local plants as well. Who we give our hard-earned money to says a lot about what we value.
So instead of going to large corporations like hardware stores, or other white-owned companies, try a local, Black-owned plant shop instead! And ask if they know where their plants are sourced from.
Houseplants are a great investment, but we can get them ethically. It's really important to know where our goods are coming from, because they could be harming others if we aren’t intentional!