Ancillary #4: Conscious Consumerism
Overall, I think the debate over conscious consumerism lies very much in a grey area. While I realize that conscious consumerism alone produces little–if any–effective change, I also believe that it does not produce negative effects. Two of the articles I read mentioned that conscious consumerism can actually be harmful, as consumption of “eco-friendly” goods increases overall spending. I disagree. No matter what, people are going to buy groceries, cleaning products, shop for clothes, and spend their money on things they need and want. While the best alternative would be to consume less, this goal is unrealistic for the global population, so people might as well get the “clean” version of whatever they were going to buy anyway. In other words, conscious consumerism is not harmful because it does not increase consumption; it instead diverts dollars that would have already been spent towards better alternatives. Although conscious consumerism has not significantly halted climate change, it more importantly has not accelerated Earth’s detriment.
As all the articles suggested, conscious consumerism is simply the first step towards protecting the environment and reversing the damage society has already done. It is vital to note that the greatest environmental impact comes from rewriting national regulations on businesses. In addition to “shopping green” and boycotting high-pollution companies, individuals must lobby for government intervention by voting for legislators that care about and provide realistic plans for saving the planet, and supporting environmental organizations that have a platform and real political presence.
Another point I want to touch on is what the articles consider the driving factor of consumer activism: the sense of moral superiority that comes from it. In many cases, the idea of conscious consumerism can be a form of performative activism. I want to differentiate the two, or at least provide insight on how to push conscious consumerism beyond that. I think the “feel good” effects of consumer activism are not a bad thing like the articles sometimes make it out to be. Most people do not regularly make conscious decisions that would make them feel like a bad person. However, consumers must not limit their efforts to simply “green” purchases. In terms of solutions to these problems, I must figure out ways to educate the greater masses about furthering their “green” efforts; how to tell people to keep consciously consuming, but also take the extra step to learn about and advocate for political action.
