I’m a big believer in the power of the consumer. That’s why this website is here. I hope the content will help you uncover how you can influence the provision of better products on our shelves by what you buy.
We all need to buy stuff, that’s an irrefutable fact. We have to eat, clothe ourselves and have somewhere to live. But we consume too much. We have, as a species been extraordinarily successful but we are now becoming victims of our own success. We are using too many resources. There’s not enough for everyone in the future if we carry on this way, and I’m talking just around the corner future. How you react to this is entirely up to you.
If you’re concerned, you can make a difference by speaking to companies’ financial bottom line by demanding products that are healthier, less harmful to the planet and fair to the societies that are producing them. But this is not as easy as it sounds. An obvious issue is climate change but production of goods can be extremely complex and there are many additional factors to take into consideration each time you purchase something. So you need to be aware of what products are more ethically produced in order to send the right message through what you buy.
As a start, I’ve produced a guide on how to make ethical decisions at the supermarket. It’s the first in a series of resources to help you make better purchasing decisions.
If you’re interested to know what current issues are in sustainable development, our free daily newsletter can help you stay up to date. We live in a very interconnected and globalised world and the news includes articles that demonstrate links between what you buy and harmful impacts resulting from their production. Examples include microbeads in skincare products, unintended consequences of demand for ‘superfoods’, how tuna stocks are failing due to overfishing, and the possibility of terrible consequences from buying ultra-cheap clothes.
No matter what your view, it is undeniable that you have far reaching impacts all around the world through every product you buy. That’s heavy, I know, but you can either ignore the fact or change the world by changing the way you consume. You have consumer power. Use it for good, not evil!
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
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