No matter what American store you walk into you’re guaranteed to find products with a little tag attached that says “Made in China.” A majority of American products are made internationally, as many American companies have moved their business abroad to places like China and Mexico where labor is cheaper.

However, thousands of American companies and businesses still make their products domestically. Although products made abroad may be cheaper, the ethics behind their production is sometimes questionable and the labor dollars being spent are going into foreign economies rather than employing Americans. Here are some reasons why you should buy products made in America instead of products made abroad.

Reasons to Buy Products Made in the U.S.

• Buying Domestic Creates Jobs – Spending a little extra money on products produced domestically is a proven method of promoting job creation at home, boosting the American economy. ABC World News reported that if every American spent an extra $3.33 on a domestically produced product, it could create up to 10,000 new jobs alone.

• Buying American Supports Safe and Fair Working Conditions – Several countries around the world have yet to develop the extensive labor laws that American workers enjoy. This means that workers producing some commonly purchased foreign-made products experience exhausting shifts, low pay, little to no benefits and few child labor protections. Organizations like the U.S. Department of Labor and domestic labor unions actively protect against the exploitation of workers, and seek justice when exploitation does occur to create better working conditions and safeguards.

• Buying Domestic Creates a Stronger Economy – Buying American does more than support American workers. Buying American creates a ripple effect throughout the economy. When a factory’s production increases due to more demand, they need more factories to meet the demand and hire American construction companies to expand their business. More factories means companies are more likely to hire more domestic accounting firms to handle the additional influx of money and more American energy suppliers to provide their new facilities with additional power. Local workers also take their income and spend it at other local businesses, breathing additional life into city, state and the nation’s economy.

• American Products Are Higher Quality and Much Safer Than Foreign Products – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Food and Drug Administration ensure American products are held to the highest level of scrutiny to make sure Americans are purchasing safe, high-quality products. Products made abroad aren’t always subject to the level of scrutiny American products are, resulting in some products becoming contaminated with harmful chemicals and materials such as dangerous amounts of lead in children’s toys. American companies that violate safety standards can be subjected to heavy fines, lawsuits or may even be forced to recall products and close factories, ensuring domestic companies adhere to the strict guidelines established by oversight organizations.

Support the American Economy by Buying Domestic from By the Yard

The local Minnesota manufacturing experts at By the Yard have more than 20 years of experience in plastic engineering, and partner with an American plastic lumber extrusion company who boasts more than 35 years of experience creating ultra-durable products crafted with recycled material. We offer unparalleled warranties thanks to the unprecedented durability of our plastic outdoor furniture, more than 200 styles and designs and even take some custom orders at certain times of year.

Shop our beautiful outdoor furniture or contact us for more information.