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margonaut.com
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Buyer be Aware: Conscious Consumerism (appeared in the December 2005 issue of The Urban Hippie) Increasing numbers of people are choosing to be more conscious about how they spend money. This phenomenon is sometimes called "conscious consumerism" or "ethical shopping." Reasons for doing this vary. Some choose to avoid products made by specific corporations while others make buying decisions based on environmental impact or labour conditions. People who believe in karma (or, "what comes around goes around") may choose to spend with awareness for deeper reasons. A sign of the times is the acronym LOHAS, which is used in Marketing and Advertising to refer to the growing segment of the population whose purchasing patterns centre around "lifestyles of health and sustainability." Distinctions like "organic" and "fair trade" are also becoming more in demand. Whenever money is spent, there is a ripple effect in our interconnected economy. In a way, we all vote on the state of our economic reality with every purchase. Ethics are a personal issue and there is no one "correct" way to shop. That said, here are some questions to consider asking before choosing to buy something: Is this a good value in terms of quality? Sometimes going for the cheapest item available is not the best economic decision. Often, a more expensive item is actually a better value. For example, higher quality shoes can be pricey, but they're physically healthier, last longer, and are more enjoyable to wear than a cheap pair that will last two seasons before becoming garbage. Who created this product and who makes money? Stores in Europe and North America are filled with clothing and other merchandise made in Chinese and other "third world" factories where workers are cheap and labour laws are weak. These business arrangements are generally (but not always) about poor working conditions and an already rich elite getting richer. Those low, low prices may be tempting, but what are we supporting when we buy something created this way? Everything available for sale represents people that worked to get it to you. We can make choices that affect how our money circulates in the world. Many consumers choose to buy items that are made locally (or at least inside the country) whenever possible. Others choose to support local merchants, buy used items, or do their holiday shopping directly with artists and craftspeople. What is the environmental impact of this product? It is impossible to avoid leaving some kind of environmental footprint, but there are questions we can ask to minimize our impact. How much pollution was involved in the manufacture of a product? How much fuel was used getting it here? How much garbage does it create? For some, it's also worth paying a bit more for things like organic food and paper that's not made of trees. Do I really need this? Sometimes we all buy things we don't need. It's definitely good to indulge in treats and pleasures sometimes, but overconsuming creates imbalance in the world and in ourselves, especially when we spend beyond our means. Credit card debt can become a slippery slope. Many are discovering that following a path of "voluntary simplicity" (meaning owning and consuming less on purpose) can ultimately lead to a more comfortable and relaxed way of life. Choosing how to shop more ethically is a personal decision. Judging others on their choices is counterproductive. It is less about obsessing over and preaching about the origins of every object and more about becoming more aware in general that every action every individual takes has an impact on the world around us, including how we shop.
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