Unchecked consumerism is to blame for many of our modern problems such as fossil fuel reliance and plastic pollution. Hence, many consumers are trying to be more conscious about their purchasing choices. The good news is that you do not have to embrace the full breadth of a minimalist lifestyle to change your shopping habits for the better.
Think Before You Buy
One of the most important steps to becoming a conscious consumer is to be mindful and intentional with your purchases. It is easy to instinctively add items to your cart when browsing online—especially when you need a feel-good hit after a stressful day. However, not all of these items will truly bring value to your life beyond the first ten minutes of the transaction.
Indeed, we shop on impulse a lot of the time. Instead of buying on a whim, give yourself a day to cool down and consider whether you need the item. Often, the item you were about to purchase will seem less attractive when you revisit it a day later. By slowing down your shopping process, you can avoid wasting money and resources and creating clutter in your home.
Quality Over Quantity
Fast fashion is an example of the hazards of prioritizing quantity over quality. Because fast fashion products are so cheap, some people buy an item only to wear it once and throw it away. This is an incredible waste of resources. Rampant consumerism such as this damages the environment both during the production and disposal stages.
Choose instead to buy quality items that will last a long time. Quality products have a longer lifespan, which saves you money in the long run. Maintaining a curated collection of quality products also provides you with more satisfaction and less stress. If you are unsure of which companies to trust, visit resource sites such as Brand Rated that rate and review consumer brands.
Look Local First
Many of the items that we love come from thousands of miles away. Air transport uses tons of fossil fuels and generates a huge amount of harmful emissions. Buying local is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your purchase. Visit the local farmers’ market for fresh produce or the artists’ market for clothes and homewares that did not have to travel by plane.
Supporting your local community also allows the people in your region to thrive. Most local businesses are small businesses run by individuals or families. When you purchase from local companies instead of big corporations, you help to build an economy in your area that is more diverse, equitable, and sustainable.
Cheap Is Rarely Fair
Although it can be tempting to purchase from online brands that boast attractive discounts, you must consider how they can sell their goods at such low prices. Exposés of overseas factories for bargain brands have uncovered dangerous working conditions and disgracefully low wages that would not be legal in the US.
Exploitative employment practices often impact women, youth, and marginalized communities who already face discrimination in society. Conscious consumerism is about making ethical decisions that benefit not only yourself but the world at large. Therefore, while it can be difficult to say goodbye to cheap factory brands, your conscience will thank you for it.
Avoid Excessive Packaging
When you order something online, it usually arrives swaddled in layers of bubble wrap, plastic film, or polystyrene. Most of these packaging materials are single-use and cannot be recycled or composted. They will most likely end up in a landfill. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), every person generates an average of 4.9 pounds of trash per day—try not to add to this.
It can be hard to avoid packaging when ordering online, so the alternative is to purchase in person as much as possible. Many markets and stores now allow (and encourage) their customers to use their own bags. If packaging is inevitable, try to opt for more environmentally-friendly packaging choices such as cardboard boxes or paper bags instead of single-use plastic bags.
Think Circular
The current consumer economy is linear—resources are used to create items that become waste when they are discarded. A closed-loop or circular economy, where resources are reused instead of wasted, is a much more sustainable option. It is important to think about the lifecycle of the products that we own or want to purchase. How long can we use it for, and what happens when we do not want it anymore?
To participate in the circular economy, consider shopping secondhand. No additional resources are used to produce items when you buy secondhand goods and you avoid wasting items that already exist. Upcycling is another way to transform a product into an upgraded or different useable form. Better yet, repair or mend your items instead of buying new ones.
Conscious consumerism benefits everyone. It is gentler on our wallets, more sustainable for our planet, and more ethical for the people who produce these products. When you are mindful about your consumption, you find a deeper connection with the things that you own and live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.