Are you a conscious consumer? Perhaps you are without even knowing it. A conscious consumer makes deliberate purchasing decisions in order to have a positive impact on our society, economy, and environment.
However, with so many sustainable products on the market, walking into a supermarket as a conscious consumer can be intimidating. More information (and misinformation) about products become available as the demand for sustainability continues to rise. Customers must be prepared to navigate it.
Producer Stories notes that conscious consumerism is frequently associated with food and produce, the concept extends across all industries. Conscious consumerism includes deciding which clothes, cleaning products, and other household items, as well as furniture, to buy based on their environmental impact or ethical manufacturing process.
Choosing a specific product or even not purchasing anything because of the environmental impact are both examples of conscious consumer choices.
According to Producer Stories, here are three ways you can be a conscious consumer.
Look for certification
As consumer interest in sustainability and conservation grows, many stores now stock a diverse range of eco-friendly products. Conscious consumerism is all about reducing our environmental impact. Product certifications are useful resources when deciding which products to buy.
Repurpose your old items & purchase preloved items
We all have clothes and other items that are no longer useful to us. Many people throw away goods that could be repurposed and reused by another person or community. Thrift stores are excellent places to donate old clothes and household items.
Avoid single use plastic bags
Reusable plastic alternatives are now widely available and reasonably priced. There is no excuse for the abundance of single-use plastic, from specific produce containers like banana leaves to general reusable containers made from hemp or bamboo. While eliminating all single-use plastic may be an unrealistic goal, we can all limit our use of it without too much difficulty.
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