Can Eco-Conscious Consumerism Make a Difference?

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Ever gone on a shopping spree? Whether you’re a full shopaholic, or you trek out to the mall once in a blue moon, we’ve all had a “spree” at one point or another — one of those days where you just can’t choose between all of the delightful items you’ve found; so heck, you choose them all.

Shopping entails a series of choices; eco-conscious consumerism is when those choices have moral and sustainable underpinnings.

People make eco-conscious decisions every day. An eco-friendly choice may be selecting locally grown, seasonal fruit over the bananas grown in Panama; buying one piece of clothing designed and manufactured in the U.S. rather than a dozen cheap t-shirts from a discount store; or purchasing a compact fluorescent light bulb, instead of a traditional halogen. Sometimes it’s difficult to visualize the difference that one individual consumer’s choices can make. The truth is that eco-conscious consumerism does have an impact, sometimes in the tiniest of ways, and other times in quite significant ways.

Who Is the Eco-Conscious Consumer?

Consumer trends suggest that ethical and eco-friendly products may become more popular in the coming years. Currently, 35% of shoppers are willing to spend more on products that are good for the environment; and more than half of consumers are at least slightly more likely to consider eco-friendly items, even with a higher price tag. The trends we’re seeing are very much related to who the consumers are.

Millennials — the consumer group that makes up 25% of the U.S. population — will be spending $200 billion a year by the time 2017 rolls around. These consumers aren’t blindly throwing their money around. More than any other shoppers in history, they care about the values a company presents, when they consider purchasing that company’s products. Independent advertising agency Barkley found that half of millennial shoppers make an effort to support companies whose causes align with their own values.

By putting their money where their values are, and investing in more eco-conscious companies, millennials have the spending power to persuade businesses to invest in ethically-minded products.

If millennial consumers actually follow through on the values that influence their spending — by donating to an organization, or voting for a political party, that also carries those beliefs — the world could be changed by the pattern first set by consumption.

Eco-Conscious Eating

When most people think of eco-conscious consumerism, their minds immediately picture the grocery store. Organic this, locally produced that — food products are labeled to convince shoppers they are making the right moral decision in buying that item. But what difference does eco-conscious eating actually have? It depends on the types of choices you make.

Buying local food has the benefit of supporting producers in the community. By reducing the distance food has to travel, the product has a less impactful carbon footprint. And, because local produce is more likely to be organic and GMO free, the food you’re consuming is better for your health.

Perhaps you don’t have the benefit of purchasing local produce, but you do have the option to buy in bulk. Purchasing only exactly what you need, and bringing reusable storage containers to the shop, can reduce waste and save costs. Though be wary — bulk shopping experiences like those offered by Costco or Sam’s Club can be wasteful in disguise. You’re not being eco-friendly if half your food spoils before you can eat it.

There are also eco-friendly non-food choices you can make at the grocery store. Those involve bringing reusable bags, purchasing products with minimal packaging, and reducing the amount of plastic containers you buy.

Eco-Conscious Beauty

Another eco-conscious choice can be made when it comes to the products used to clean our teeth, redden our lips, and refresh our bodies. These products have a lifespan long after they’ve been washed off.

Microbeads, for instance, are tiny particles of plastic that can be found in body scrubs, face washes, toothpastes, and more. Once washed down the drain, many escape wastewater treatment facilities and are flushed into lakes, oceans, and other water sources. In fact, it’s estimated that at least 80,000 microbeads per day make their way into bodies of water, where they’re eaten by plankton and fish. Those fish eventually land on our plates, and the unsuspecting consumer winds up eating plastic.

While microbeads may be the best known, there are many more harmful ingredients in beauty products. Talc, a powder found in makeup and deodorant, has been linked to ovarian cancer and respiratory conditions. The fragrances in shampoos, perfumes, and soaps can cause asthma, headaches, and allergic reactions. When Triclosan, an agent used in hand sanitizers, ends up in public water systems, it makes the surrounding fish sluggish and prone to being hunted by predators, disrupting the food chain.

Buying eco-friendly beauty products will not reverse the damage that’s already been done; but it will help limit future disturbances to natural systems, and our own bodies. When investing money in eco-friendly products (though even they are also not perfect), consumers make an active choice to help the Earth and their personal health — not to mention, applying pressure to those manufacturers who use the harmful ingredients in the first place.

Eco-Conscious Energy

The Earth provides everything we need to live comfortable lives — including the power we rely on for our lighting, communication, heat, and various technologies. In return, the least we can do is to be conscious about where we get that energy, and how we use it. While most of us can choose to purchase more energy efficient light bulbs, homeowners and business owners can control how their entire property receives and utilizes energy.

Solar power, for instance, is becoming more affordable than ever for the American consumer; as a result, many are choosing to power their homes — whether partially, or entirely — using the sun. Installing solar panels not only reduces the use of fossil fuels that damage the environment, but often also saves homeowners money on their monthly utility bills. Between the years 2010 and 2013, the total number of photovoltaic solar installations increased by 485%, indicating that American consumers are quickly “warming” to the idea of solar power as an eco-friendly energy source.

While water and wind generated power are more available for large-scale commercial use than residential purposes, individual consumers can still make their voices heard by supporting companies that use these and other renewable energy sources. Part of being an eco-conscious consumer is sometimes letting your dollar speak for you; millennials, as a consumer group, are already proving to be quite a force in pressuring many companies to move towards renewable energy systems, and eco-friendly production processes.

The Buy Less Stuff Movement

One of the most eco-friendly choices consumers can make is to simply buy less products. Even smart consumption can damage the environment. The Guardian argues that attitudes assuming recycling completely justifies buying new items need to change.

Not only will you have less stuff to discard down the road, but buying less will also begin to cure the attachment and reliance we’ve developed for material goods. Clutter affects our happiness levels, and getting rid of items actually triggers the part of the brain linked to physical pain. Reducing how much you buy in the first place will prevent these reactions, and can help to increase your focus and happiness.

The internet has endless resources on how to reduce your buying habits. From swap parties to upcycling to embracing a minimalist lifestyle, there are a number of ways shoppers can curb their consumer habits for the better.

How have changes to consumerism had an impact on your life? What are some of your top ways to make smart, eco-conscious consumer decisions?

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Sam Alkass is a firm believer in solar power and its valuable impact on the future of our planet. Sam helps others generate their own clean, green energy while minimizing environmental pollution. For more solar news and tips, follow his Facebook.