Do you ever feel like you can’t go anywhere or do anything without being confronted by some sort of advertisement encouraging you to buy something you probably don’t need? Our world is full of advertisements because the economy currently flourishes off of linear consumption. All of this had lead to serious consequences for our climate & our way of life. When millions to billions of people are purchasing the same wasteful products that are funding a continuation of the wasteful cycle, it becomes clear what a large problem this is!

This reality scares me ALL THE TIME. There are a couple of different ways I can deal with this fear. I could take the easier route in choosing to avoid those feelings, making excuses for why society is not permitting me to change, & go about my old habits. Or, I could do the research & the work to make lifestyle changes that would make me feel like I was on the right side of the fight for a sustainable future! Of course, I chose the latter because I believe that every single individual action has the power to make a difference. More importantly, I believe that if we pay more attention to the brands we are supporting & the products we are buying, then collectively, we can change the course of history!

Think of every dollar you spend like a vote. Your dollar is a vote to keep that brand or company or industry in business. Therefore, when purchasing products made by brands that aren’t cognizant of their environmental impacts is allowing that brand to continue its damaging practices. Coca-Cola has even made a statement that they will not limit their single-use plastic production because there is consumer demand for it. Consumers are literally the dictators of the market, & if we pour our money in to support sustainable alternatives, the big industries will follow suit or go out of business. Without out us, these industries would not survive, so we cannot keep choosing them over Mother Earth.

So now that you understand how important it is to be a conscious consumer, here are some ways that you can reduce your environmental footprint by changing your purchasing habits!

1. Buy organic produce & meats! Did you know that non-organic fruits & vegetables have been sprayed with pesticides & herbicides that are killing pollinators like bees? Without bees, we would be unable to fertilize over 50% of the produce that we rely on for nutrition. Additionally, these toxic chemicals leach into the soil & groundwater. Due to this, the soil is unable to grow more produce & contaminated waterways carry these toxins to human water supplies. Non-organic meat also has negative consequences for the planet. These animals are pumped with antibiotics that increase the evolution of dangerous superbugs. These animals are crammed together in small spaces that are not sanitary. The close approximation of different animal species can lead to viral & bacterial mutations in the animals’ DNA which lead to viral outbreaks like the SARS outbreak in 2003.

2. Transition to sustainable products! Bathroom products can be some of the most wasteful because they are often packaged in & made of plastics! Instead invest in a bamboo toothbrush, a stainless steel razor, compostable loofas, & shampoo & conditioner bars!

3. Reduce food waste! Did you know that over 20% of the average municipal landfill is comprised of food waste that could have been composted? When food decomposes in an oxygen-free landfill, it releases methane into the atmosphere. Methane is much more potent than carbon dioxide. If you invest in a compost bin for your kitchen, you can easily avoid sending food to the landfill! This way, your leftover food will give its nutrients back to the soil, which will serve to grow more food down the line!

The moral of the story is that consumers have a responsibility to understand the ramifications of their purchasing decisions. Once we are armed with knowledge, we have the power to make changes in our daily lives that will trickle out into the rest of society.