This post was taken directly from the chapter on Conscious Consumerism from my book Easy Green Cleaning. I felt it was important to put this chapter on the blog this week as next week I am going to be doing a post on a step by step process for becoming a more conscious consumer.
One concern with writing a book full of DIY cleaning product recipes is that I believe in supporting the companies that are innovative and look for cutting-edge solutions when it comes to benefiting us and our planet.
The biggest and most influential vote you have is in how you choose to spend your dollar. That is why conscious consumerism is so important. What products, services, and companies do you choose to support? .
Not that many people are made aware or pay attention to the impact the products they regularly purchase have on our future. The world and the consumer marketplace would benefit if people started spending their money so it aligned better with their personal values.
I am not here to tell you what your values are, I am just suggesting that if more people spent their money to reflect their values, things would be very different. Do more research on the products you regularly purchase and the companies you purchase them from.
Do you want to support local businesses, cruelty-free brands, companies that have environmentally friendly practices, non-toxic chemical-free products, organic farming, local farming, fair trade, fair wages, or all the above? The list goes on and on. Pick what is most important to you and start taking steps in that direction.
This does not mean 100% of what you buy must be consciously purchased. Take more of an 80/20 approach and start with some of your regularly purchased items by learning more about the ingredients and the companies that manufacture them. Start looking for more sustainable and ethically sourced goods. When you pay just a little bit of attention, it is amazing to realize how much your buying power can accomplish to make things better.
By standing up and voting with our dollar, we force companies to change or innovate. Companies will not spend the money on research and new product development if there is not any consumer demand for it.
You may say, “I don’t have the money to spend consciously since the products are usually more expensive,” but if you spend according to your values, you will not only value your things more but spend much less on what you don’t truly need, which will ultimately save you money.
What will happen if people start spending their money to reflect their values? Big companies that have not supported the consumers’ best interest will either need to evolve to the needs and wants of the conscious consumer or flounder because business is about meeting consumer needs. New jobs will be created under companies that align with this new consumer mindset. New industries and products will be born to support this new paradigm. These companies will continue to grow and become bigger and continue to be supported if they maintain the values and needs of their customers. The key is not to take your money out of the economic system. It is about your money changing things by changing where it goes.
We as individuals have the power to help redistribute the wealth by choosing who gets our money!
-Elizabeth Hemmings
P.S. Please spread the message on the importance of conscious consumerism using the share links below.
View the next post 5 Steps to Becoming a more Conscious Consumer.
To better understand the effects consumerism has on this environment and humanity watch this 20 minute video on The Story of Stuff – Consumerism, Capitalism, & Environment in America.
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