Conscious Consumerism

Undoubtedly, there are too many arguments for the ideal economic system. I won’t touch on that. However, given the limitations of the capitalist society that we in America and most of the world live within, I feel as if we use our purchasing power to most effectively benefit our self, our local community and the world. The concept of ethical consumerism can be defined as “the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically.” However, I believe that there is a more important system than ethical consumerism, what I will refer to as “conscious consumerism”.

I agree with ethical consumerism, yet I think that there are more personal concerns to address through our consumption of goods. For instance, I recently bought a beanie from the Orchard Skateshop in Boston. Orchard Skateshop supplies the skateboarding community of Boston with the best skate goods, throws social events, made a great skate video and generally is completely down for the Boston skate scene. Not to mention, skaters own and operate the shop, of which one in particular absolutely shreds.

My initial reason for buying the hat is that I will be moving to Boston in 2 weeks and need to keep my head warm during the cold winter. The hat gives me pleasure to look at and is comfortable. Thus, it satisfies the initial need of the purchase while giving me pleasure and supporting a Boston skateshop that I’m down for, all for a completely reasonable price. I’m proud of this purchase decision and feel no qualms or buyer’s remorse over this seemingly perfect buy. (I have to admit that I do not know the manufacturing origins or processes of the hats, please excuse my ignorance)

There is no question that humans need to consume products to keep themselves alive and comfortable. If I had been approaching my need of a hat from a purely economical stance, I would’ve bought a generic hat from the store that offered it for the lowest price, most likely a national superstore. By doing this, I would be funneling my money into a business that clearly doesn’t care about me as person, only for my money. I would much rather part with a couple of extra dollars if I was circulating the money into a business that is positively effecting not only myself, but also my community.

Currently, there is not a more perfect example for conscious consumerism than the local food movement. Food is the quintessential and most necessary product that we can buy. The local food movement has the smallest environmental impact, provides the freshest food and lets us literally taste the produce of our community. Due to the specialized nature of many farms and local food producers, the food is generally tasty and healthy. Although it is generally more expensive than store-bought food, you are paying for the attention given to it and its long-term benefits, both environmental and health-related.

I believe that if we give our money to the businesses that we care for and love, the effects will be reciprocated. Local businesses allow us to maintain a sense of individuality and differentiate between our communities. Conscious consumerism causes our cities to maintain a sense of local flavor and ignites our human sense of exploration, to sample and explore the different communities of the world. So please, allow your purchases to accurately represent your beliefs, positively affect your community and support the things you care for.