Being a Conscious Consumer
August 28, 2019
Written by Luke Whitmire
Conservation is a topic that is coming more into the limelight as we continue to realize that our actions are negatively impacting the environment around us. As the conversation continues to escalate, it naturally gravitates towards the bigger issues, such as large-scale manufacturers and consumer habits. While these conversations are important, they can often distract us, as individuals, and what we can do in order to further conservation efforts.
One way to get involved and make a difference in conservation is to change your daily habits and consumer practices in order to favor environmentally friendly pursuits. How do you decide what clothes you buy? What food you are going to eat? Every time you make a purchase, you are “voting” with your money. Just as you should be conscious in the political sphere with your vote and know what a politician stands for, you should be conscious with your money, and support businesses and purchasing practices that support values that you care about.
Here are a few things that you may want to consider:
- Buy local, in-season, organically grown produce. It increases nutrients, biodiversity, promotes a connection to food, and local farms often pursue farming habits that are more friendly to the soil, crops, insects, and your produce. Check out the documentary Sustainable.
- Animal agriculture, mainly red meat sources such as cattle, are responsible for the second most greenhouse emissions in the world, including 18% of global CO2 emissions, as well as 37% of methane emissions. Reducing your red meat intake by eating more chicken, fish, and considering plant-based protein alternatives can all help to reduce your environment impact. Check out these articles on a sustainable food future.
- Take time to research companies before you buy gear, clothing, cars, and so on. Look for companies that have green initiatives and release reports on their environmental impact and sustainability efforts. Support companies that are open about the impact they have and their vision for sustainability. Here are just a few great examples: MSR, Ford, Starbucks.
Businesses and manufacturers pay attention to your purchasing habits. Companies spent $76 billion worldwide on market research in 2017. They want to listen to what we have to say. Let us leave complacency behind and make conscious decisions to use our voices and our money to move together towards conservation and being better stewards of our beloved earth.