The Power of Choice
Choice to be sustainable
Embarking on a sustainable and ethical journey
I started off with buying cruelty-free in 2014 (6 years ago, gasp!) and I am still learning and enjoying every bit of this life-long voyage. It’s exciting, rewarding and better for one’s health too!
Where I started
I’ve made improvements (‘improvements’ instead of ‘changes’ on purpose) to different aspects of everyday life slowly and one step at a time. First was the realisation of how ugly the beauty industry is by funding tests or conducting themselves on innocent animals. These tests are pointless and horrible to say the least. Animals are caged and, to put it bluntly, poisoned by testing chemicals and ultimately left to die. I did not want to be a part of this.
You’ll see plenty names on the shelves of stores — Clean & Clear, Garnier, Dove, Love Beauty & Planet, Pears, Johnson & Johnson, TRESemmé, Sunsilk, Pantene and so many more, and if you’re new to this, this may come as a surprise, but these are all products of cruel companies, namely P&G, Unilever, L’Oréal. Majority of all products found in departmental and drug stores can be traced back to these parent capitalist companies, enjoying their monopoly.
Some good news: Just last year, big names like Avon, Unilever and P&G joined the #BeCrueltyFree campaign by Humane Society International, calling for an end to all animal testing of cosmetic products globally, in the near future.
I wanted to seek alternatives that didn’t leave such a cruel trail behind. This lead me to discover the beautiful and greener side of the industry. I came across thousands of companies selling 100% natural ingredients products, proving that you don’t need to perform animal tests to bring a product to the market.
The first switch I made was of my face wash and I was absolutely ecstatic to see the leaping bunny sign (cruelty-free approved) on the back of the product from Himalaya Herbals. I get excited to see the logo even now!
The motivation
My main motivation comes from thinking about our planet’s future. We’ve been leading our lives selfishly, not thinking once about the finite resources of the planet and how many more years will this lifestyle be sustained. We’re smart consumers, we’re informed and we can clearly see what’s going on with climate change. But the companies? Completely blinded by profits. And so, we should be voicing our terms and what kind of products we want to buy, not the other way around where the companies choose to mass produce whatever suits their business plans, and we just have to settle on thoughtless formulations for skincare, for example.
From skincare to household products, to recycling, composting, fashion, period products, dairy-free alternatives, there’s so much to share! Is it a lot of work? Making all these changes? Hell, no. It’s nothing short of fun and enlightening!
Options, options and options!
The power of choice is very strong when people start exercising it. It’s just like voting. Each vote matters. By buying an unsustainable and unethical product (animal tested, for example), we’re giving a big vote to the company to make more of those products. Steadily, as the number of people becoming more morally conscious increases, companies are ultimately going to have to start re-thinking their business model. They’re going to hate losing customers and they’ll be compelled to change their ways. That’s the dream!
Wrapping up
Everyone has a different start. I do hope this inspires you to take the first step to realising an ethical and sustainable lifestyle, which is a win-win-win for you, me and the environment! And hey, many of us are on the same page.
I’m still learning new ways myself to incorporate more ethical and sustainable options into everyday life; we’re in this together. This blog aims to be an honest and open journal of what’s out there, showcasing how uncomplicated and exciting this adventure is!
