Be an ethical consumer

Eco shopping is pretty easy these days.  The Internet is packed full of websites that are or claim to be ethical. You buy products that are ethically made, products made from recycled materials, you can buy second-hand and vintage, you can buy products from online charity shops and purchase ethically sourced, charity donatable flowers - the list goes on and on.  So how does the ethically minded consumer, consume and remain on the right side of ethical? Moreover, how does the ethical consumer negotiate the array of options when time is short and the money pile is even shorter?  It isn't easy.  Thus I'm sharing a little consumer map which should help the budding buyer find their way through the ethical shopping mind-field and emerge at the check-out relatively unscathed.

Buy from trusted spaces
This applies for any purchase.  Don't buy from a website that is unfamiliar, has no secure framework ie https, key encryption and / or Paypal.  You could end up giving your money away.

Check the websites About Section
What products does it sell, who are the people behind the site and what are their ethics.  Just because the website says it's ethical, doesn't mean it is.

Buy Second-hand
Buying second-hand items is obviously ethical.  Firstly, it means new manufacturing hasn't occurred - this is a good thing.  Secondly, it uses something that already exists, protecting it from being land-filled.  Second-hand also has human rights linked benefits - if something isn't newly manufactured, it hasn't been made in a sweat shop just because you want to buy it.  Admittedly, the item in question could have previously been produced under unethical circumstances - e.g. a second-hand skirt bought via a charity shop that was originally made for Primark has been made unethically, possibly by children in poor and unsafe working conditions but because the item is second-hand, you, the consumer has not contributed to the unethical production chain.  I hope that makes sense, it is rather difficult to grasp and definitely difficult to describe.

Buy items made from up-cycled, recycled, re-claimed materials
There are lots of products now that are made from recycled materials.  This is generally a very good thing but a note of caution, any new product, contributes to C02 production, is possibly linked to poor human rights and may have a direct, negative impact upon a countries' physical environment.  However, there is a stronger possibility that a company who creates a product from recycled, up-cycled or re-claimed materials will have a viable ethical framework in place.  Check the websites About section.  Check where the product has been made.  For example, products made in China are not ethical.  Even up-cycled and recycled products.  China has a history of appalling human rights, continues to persecute and control Tibet and generates a huge amount of pollution.  Although there are reports that China are making some headway with pollution.

Don't be a slave to consumption
Question purchasing decisions.  Do I need this product?  Why do I want to buy it?  Is the product durable? Is it fit for purpose? Can I fix it if it breaks? Can I afford to buy it?  It seems that people buy items in the Western world that they do not need, want long-term and, most importantly, that they cannot afford.  People are sucked into the idea that they can and indeed deserve to buy now, pay later.  The effort = reward partnership is largely obsolete in modern, Western society.  By that I mean, as a general pattern, a consumer can purchase a range of products - beyond their current financial means.  Thus the reward comes before the effort. The process of saving money then buying something to reward that effort seems all too rare.  This is shame.  It's actually much more exciting when effort = reward.  The purchased items matters more when effort has been expended to get it.  Moreover, life can and indeed should be rather wonderful without a new pair of shoes or an expensive holiday abroad.  It can be wonderfully rewarding just to stop and smell the flowers. To enjoy life.  To notice life.  Much pleasure can be gained from the smallest things, without spending a penny.  That said, the Western world is epitomised by capitalism and it is difficult to see an end consumerism.  Treats often seems to have a price tag attached.  But it does make sense to take your time and think before you buy.

Buy from friends and family
Help your loved ones out by buying products and services from them. If you know someone that has their own business - support it.  They will thank you for it and respond in kind.

Buy local
There is little point buying a recycled chair that has traveled half way around the world to get your dining room.  That said, it is also good to support Fair Trade and community projects - as doing so helps communities pull themselves out of poverty.  But the point it is, to question your decision.  Think before your buy.

Most of all consider the Butterfly Effect - the decision you make now will have consequences rippling across the globe. This sounds like an exaggeration but it isn't. This applies to all things, not just shopping.  For example, if I stop sharing the work of Oxfam and cease encouraging friends on Facebook to buy Xmas presents from Oxfam, this will mean that less people have the power to fight against poverty.  The Butterfly Effect matters and we, the people, have the power to changes things in positive ways.

xx