silverneedle

Most of the time cheaper products are better for the environment when they're durable. A very simple whistle has hardly any parts that could fail easily and is therefore durable.

See the cost of veganism, prefab buildings or electric cars. If local production and local distribution of objects saves transport and handling expenses, which come from people expending time, keep in mind those people need to be fed and have to get to work somehow, then that is a fact.

This is incorrect, the author says that he prints whistles for 5c a pop, which is cheaper than dropshipping from China. This also implies that 3D printing whistles at home in that fashion is more productive when one doesn't live in China (or next to a whistle factory).