6 Criteria for Conscious Consuming
If corporations bear the greatest blame and responsibility for the climate crisis (an interesting piece on that here: https://www.nrdc.org/experts/josh-axelrod/corporate-honesty-and-climate-change-time-own-and-act ), how do we as individuals make a difference? At the risk of sounding cynical, I think it’s fair to point out that corporations respond to one thing: their bottom line. We, as consumers, have the collective power to affect that bottom line with the choices we make on a regular basis. Our purchasing habits may be our best everyday opportunity to reduce our impact on the environment.
But how? Who has time to think about every purchase? It can be quite overwhelming, which is one of the reasons I decided to start putting these ideas in writing. I want to share the things I’ve learned and maybe save you some time and agony. But why should you listen to me? What makes me an expert? To be honest, I’m not an expert. I’m figuring most of this out as I go, just like everyone else. I don’t claim to always make the perfect choice. I’m not sure that even exists outside of just not purchasing something at all (which is often a very viable option). For every “eco-friendly” option on the market, there is someone who can tell you why it’s not the “best” choice. But that’s not an excuse to throw up our hands. As a wise friend of mine likes to say, “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” Please allow me to share my method for finding the “good” choices so you might feel empowered to do some conscious consuming all on your own.
When I buy a product (ANY product, from socks to sofas), I like to use the good old investigative “who, what, where, when, why, how” line of questioning:
1. Who made it? Were they treated well? Compensated fairly? There are certain corporations I just do not trust to deliver a product free from ethical compromise. If you can’t find these answers with a little internet sleuthing, then you probably wouldn’t like those answers. My favorite companies to patronize are the ones with transparent information on their websites about who their employees are, where they work, and how they are treated. If it matters to a company, they will usually tell you. Hint: B-Corporations are almost always a great choice, and they tend to be pretty great employers. Learn more here: https://bcorporation.net/
2. What is it? What ingredients or material make up this product, and what are the implications of that? How do those ingredients or materials affect our environment? For instance, traditional sunscreen can contain ingredients that harm our waterways and destroy coral reefs. But the zinc version is an easy swap. Also think about the packaging, especially for consumable items. Single-use plastics are the bane of our beautiful Earth, but better alternatives pop up every day. Choose those!
3. Where was it made? Products shipped overseas carry a heavy carbon footprint just for that fact alone. It is almost always better to buy close to the source. If it’s not made in your country, made on your continent is still preferable. But the very best thing you can do is buy hyper-local.
Get to your local farmers market, where you can usually meet your local soap maker, farmer, baker, and crafter. Etsy has a search by location option that can help you find what you’re looking for right in your own town. Support the makers, artists, vendors, and restauranteurs in your community and have their back in tough times. This will become all the more important as the climate situation unfolds. If you really want or need a specific product that is made overseas, find out whether they are good stewards of the planet (think material, packaging, shipping). Perhaps the company is a certified B-Corp, which always makes it an easier choice.
4. When will I need to replace this? I know you know the old adage about being “too poor to buy cheap.” You may think you’re saving money when you buy the discount winter boots. But you could end up buying 3 or 4 pairs of discount boots in the time it would take for a quality pair to even start showing wear. Spare the landfill and splurge on the buy once item. If it’s out of reach, check your second-hand options. People are always selling barely used items at a deep discount on Facebook Marketplace, ThredUp, or Mercari, just to name a few. Buying second-hand locally is a double whammy of sustainability!
5. Why am I buying this? Am I seeking retail therapy? Do I really need to replace the item I’m currently using (ahem, that perfectly-functioning-but-last-gen-iPhone)? Is this something I can borrow or ask for in my local free group? There are so many reasons we buy things, and many are valid. But often we are just consuming mindlessly and it doesn’t hurt to pause and ask this question of ourselves.
6. How was it made? Does the process of making or sourcing this product harm people, animals, or natural resources? Take Bamboo. For all of its value as a sustainable alternative to wood, most people aren’t aware that the process of turning it into fabric can be incredibly toxic to people and the environment. Also consider the sourcing of the materials. For instance, the harvesting of ingredients like palm oil is contributing to the destruction of the rainforest and animal habitats. This particular ingredient is frustratingly hard to avoid, but it’s getting easier as companies introduce alternative products (nut butters with no palm oil, for instance). If more people buy these alternative products, changes in demand will force a change.
This seems like a lot, I know. Just take it one purchase at a time and don’t aim for perfection; aim for improvement. You can do this – WE can do this. We’re in this together so please share your ideas with me on social media. I’ll be going into detail about specific types of products and practices in future posts and I’m open to suggestions for topics. Individuals can make a difference. Individuals working together can make a whole world of difference.
