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MONEY & ENTERTAINMENT
This article was read 944 times
Ethical Consumerism: Can You Afford It? The rate at which concerns about Big Business practices have been growing globally has not yet reached the peak that the profits that Big Business is raking in, but the trend toward ethical or conscious consumerism has been gaining popularity in the past decade. Organizations such as Ethicalconsumer.org in Britain and Adbusters magazine in Canada have been challenging their readership to start thinking about where products come from, how it gets to our doors and who or what is affected by our purchase choices.
The philosophy of ethical consumerism seems almost deceptively simple. Ethicalconsumer.org defines it as “buying things that are made ethically by companies that act ethically.” One of the criticisms of this broad definition is that it is so subjective. What are the boundaries of “ethical”? What are your limitations as a consumer? Ethicalconsumer.org defines and “ethical” product as having been produced without harm to or exploitation of humans, animals or the environment. With this definition, many organizations point to companies that support human rights violations, the arms trade, animal testing, child or slave labour, species extinction, and environmental issues. In the end, every consumer has to decide for him or herself what their standards of ethics are, and then figure out how their ethics can translate into actions, small or large.
Getting Started Increasingly, a good place to get this information is from consumer watchdog organizations. Increasingly, they are including issues of ethical business practices in their annual reports. In this regard, European consumer organizations, and the European buying community in general, have embraced ethical consumerism and pressured their governments to regulate labeling of products certified for fair trade, organic sourcing, and, increasingly, food products that are genetically modified. If your local consumer organizations are not currently reporting on ethical standards, pressure them to do so. They have the dollars and resources to do the research so that you don’t have to. Another concern, especially in North America, is the conflation of the right to consume with democracy. Many Americans feel their rights are being trampled and that it isn’t true democracy when someone is telling them what to buy, and what not to buy. If consumerism were parallel to democracy, however, very person would get one equal vote. Within a capitalist model, however, to equate consumerism with democracy would be like saying that the buying power of the poor is equivalent to that of the rich, which is just false logic. Ethical consumerism is a way to make your dollars count as a vote, however, in that business changes based on the power of your dollar. The only say that the layman has in business practice is the decision about who gets their dollars and who does not. If you make a conscious decision to withhold your dollar from a company, it is the only language many businesses understand. Somewhere along the way, we have lost the principle that says that we are the ones in control of business. The consumer decides who gets their dollar. If you make an effort to use your dollar to support a business whose practices align with your idea of what is right, then you are supporting a company, and also an ideal. By supporting a company who engages in your definition of ethical practices, you are also providing them with the means to grow and develop new ways of injecting those ideals into the world of business.
Tips and Limitations 1. Is this item made in line with my values? One of the ethical issues you may want to consider is where the product is coming from, and how its production lines up with issues of the impact of production on human life and the environment. 2. Am I supporting my local economy? Buying products that are grown or produced locally is an easy way you can shop consciously. Not only are you supporting local business, you are able to see where the product has come from, and the impact your money has by pumping it back into your community. As an added bonus, products made locally do not require shipping, which cuts back on fuel consumption and costs. 3. Are the producers of the product treated fairly and compensated fairly? Find out if a garment you wish to purchase been made with child or slave labour. Are the individuals who produced the product treated ethically and are they properly compensated? 4. Is this built to last? One thing we have lost sight of in the past decade of hyper-fast technological advancement is that we do not expect the same longevity out of our products that previous generations have. This not only leads to us spending more money on the same products year after year, it has resulted in the dumping of millions of tons of technological waste. Computer components, cell phones, portable music devices. The ones we throw out are being dumped somewhere, and at an alarming rate. If you buy for quality and longevity, you will not only reduce waste, you will save money.
Limitations It does take a commitment to your ideals to commit to buying, as much as is possible, products that align with your value system. It also takes an effort on the part of so-called “ethical” companies to get their product to you at as competitive a price as they can manage. Finally, it is your right to consume how you choose, and so pressure your local, regional and national government to help you do what you can to put your money where your mouth is and vote with your dollars.
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