This week alone, my household and/or I have purchased: Kitty Litter, Underwear, Shampoo, and Taxes. Some of those are “normal” purchases needed to continue to try to live our best lives, one of those was necessary (you guessed it, taxes). Let’s look at the three purchases that end up having competition and we can “shop” around for to see if they qualify as sustainable shopping.
I did an extensive amount of research into each product, and the company before deciding to buy. They might not have met EVERY. SINGLE. THING. I was looking for in my purchase, but they did meet what I needed at that point in life.
Table of Contents
Personal Shopping Habits
A culmination of the research from the last decade of my life on ethical and sustainable products and purchases has spawned the creation of this entire community, Naked Sustainability. And while there are unicorn products that fit every criteria we want from ingredients to packaging, shipping, and the socio-political stances of the company—they are just that, rare and beautiful unicorns.
For example, the shampoo I purchased comes in plastic bottles. The company doesn’t send additional pumps every time shampoo is delivered, but I will still have to recycle the plastic bottles once I’ve emptied them. The packaging is all recyclable, or compostable, though; shipping is carbon neutral; and my hair was actively falling out after a stressful life event, so I made the switch away from the zero-waste shampoo bars I was using previously to get it back to super-healthy. Three out of four boxes checked—Not Bad!
I’m not trying to sit over here on a high horse and tell you that I’m perfect and that every shopping decision I make in daily life fits all of the criteria of shopping with ethical and sustainable considerations in mind; I believe in sustainability with life in mind. And sometimes all the sustainability boxes don’t get checked. THAT’S OKAY. We’re busy, we have obligations, and sometimes there are just not enough options.
I get it. Just don’t let it deter you from continuing to try to make informed, more sustainable decisions. I don’t want you to take the “That’s Okay” approach and not do anything. All little habits add up, and creating new shopping habits are no different. As we start to demand more transparency, and more environmentally friendly options and choices, there will be less boxes to check because the sustainable approach will be what’s “normal.” Until then, we can do our due-diligence and make sure we’re making informed decisions.
Definition of Sustainable Shopping
A real-life, usable definition of sustainable shopping is making conscious and informed choices when purchasing goods and services. This informed choice takes into consideration the environmental, social, and economic impacts of all the products we buy.
It involves choosing products that are produced in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner, as well as those that minimize harm to the environment, promote fair labor practices, and reduce our overall waste. Tall order, right?
Shopping in a way that is better for the environment doesn’t have to be inconvenient and it can lead to saving you a lot of money, let me show you how! By making sustainable choices while shopping, we can make a positive impact on the environment and support a more sustainable future.
Benefits of Shopping Sustainably
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the impact of human activities on the environment. Climate change, deforestation, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources are just some of the environmental problems that we face today. As consumers, we have the power to make a difference by choosing to shop sustainably. Let’s explore why shopping sustainably is important and how it can benefit the environment, society, and the economy.
Environmental Benefits
One of the main reasons why our purchasing habits are important is that they can help to reduce the negative impact of our activities on the environment. Goods and services that we shop for touch each of the environmental problems noted above, from the sourcing of materials, to manufacturing and production, to transportation, and eventual disposal.
By choosing products that are made from sustainable materials and manufactured using eco-friendly processes, we can reduce our overall negative environmental impact and limit the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Both big wins for the planet.
For example, when buying products made from recycled materials, this can help to reduce the demand for brand new resources, leading to less mining, fracking, and deforestation. Mining and refining of just metals alone takes about 7-8% of the global energy supply each year. And recycling a single aluminum can save enough energy to run your TV for two hours. Recycling also reduces the overall amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Choosing to buy products that are certified organic, meaning without the use of chemical pesticides, can help to reduce the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals that pollute our air, water, and soil. Pesticides are non-discriminatory and will kill a wide range of bugs and insects, including the beneficials bugs we need to pollinate our fruits, vegetables, and legumes. More demand for organic products will continue to drive the price of organic goods down as well, benefiting everyone. No one wants to eat pesticides or other chemicals used to grow their food.
Carbon Footprint Reduction
Shopping for sustainable alternatives can help to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the products or goods you are purchasing as well.
Look, when I see the word carbon footprint, I kind of zone out; I run a blog on sustainability and try to live my life as waste-less as possible, and “carbon footprint” really has no meaning to me.
So, in case you’re like me, let me try to explain the way my brain looks at it.
Chances are you make some kind of salary, whether it’s hourly, per project, or on a salaried basis. From your salary, you could make an approximation of how much of your energy would go into 8 hours of work. That energy required is your “carbon footprint” for that 8 hours of work.
So, a carbon footprint of a product, good, or service would be how much energy is required to make that product and get it into your hands. It’s behind-the-scenes energy, but it’s that product’s “wage.” The carbon footprint is the energy required to source the raw materials, manufacturing of the product, transportation to a store or directly to you, and eventual disposal of the product.
Since there are so many steps to a product’s cumulative carbon footprint, it’s easy to lower the energy required at one (or all) steps in the process. We can use recycled materials, which typically take a fraction the amount of energy to use instead of sourcing new materials. Companies can look for greener manufacturing like using solar or wind power instead of coal or other fossil fuel; or they can use less chemicals in production.
Decreased Energy & Chemical Usage
Going back to the organic produce: farmers can work smarter by adopting methods to get rid of pests, instead of pesticides. Other methods could be employing crop covers, companion planting to attract beneficial insects, trap crops that pull the “pests” to them instead of the crop, or taking a super high-level approach to planting with biodiversity in mind and letting nature take care of itself. All of these reduce the carbon footprint associated with the produce grown.
Then with product transportation, having products that don’t have to travel as far to get to you, lowers their energy required. Locally produced goods and services, require less energy to make the trip into your hands, than say the product you bought from Thailand, or Europe (if you are in the United States).
See how even little changes in how your approach towards shopping can reduce waste produced, and the energy required to create the products we use? These shopping practices can help to reduce waste and promote a circular economy, while keeping conservation of natural resources and biodiversity in the forefronts of our minds.
Economic Benefits
Implementing sustainable shopping habits can also have economic benefits. By supporting companies that are committed to sustainability, we can help to create more demand for eco-friendly products and services, which drives competition from many different businesses. And competition drives innovation so that each company can stand out from the crowd. Innovation subsequently drives economic growth.
The increased demand for eco-friendly products can also help to reduce the long-term costs associated with environmental damage, such as the costs of cleaning up pollution and restoring ecosystems. All of which we, as consumers, indirectly pay for by purchasing the products. How much money was spent on cleaning up the last large oil spill? I know it’s not directly out of our pockets, but that is our money being used–just from products we have purchased.
We would never spend $16/gallon in the United States to fuel our cars, but our purchases of gasoline enabled a company to spend approximately $16 per gallon of oil removed from the ocean after one of the largest oil spills in history.
Think about it, if we suddenly all stopped purchasing single-use plastic water bottles, no water bottles would be sent to the landfill. And none would certainly land in the oceans/waterways of the world. And since there are no water bottles in the waterways, the cost of cleaning the plastic from the oceans drastically decreases (water bottles aren’t the only type of plastic to make their way to the ocean–I was just trying to provide a drastic example).
Social Benefits
Shopping sustainably can also have social benefits. By choosing products that are made by companies that treat their workers fairly and pay them a living wage, we can help to support ethical and responsible practices in the manufacturing industry. This can also help to promote social justice and reduce the exploitation of workers in developing countries. Additionally, buying products from local producers and artisans can help to support small businesses and contribute to the local economy.
Sustainable products are often made from natural materials and free from harmful chemicals, which can have health benefits for both consumers and workers involved in the production process. Putting sustainable habits in place can also can save you money, since sustainable products are typically made from high-quality materials that are designed for durability to reduce the need for frequent replacements.
Shopping sustainably involves considering the ethical implications of the products we purchase. This includes supporting fair labor practices, avoiding products that exploit workers or animals, and choosing products that are made from sustainable materials
Business Benefits
Businesses that adopt sustainable practices have the opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competitors by appealing to consumers who prioritize sustainability, giving them a competitive advantage. In some ways this has been evident with uptick in greenwashing marketing campaigns.
Greenwashing…we’ll cover that more later. Right now, let’s focus on the benefits that businesses can see if they adopt sustainable practices that allow us to implement our sustainable shopping habits
I like to think that we’re moving into an era of business transparency. Transparency about material sourcing, product development, transportation, and a commitment to keeping their products out of landfills as long as possible. Transparency in marketing: saying everything instead of only saying the things that sell a product or service.
This transparent era would result in less single-use, disposable, and cheaply made-products and be replaced with products that last longer, and are made of higher quality ingredients.
Sustainable business practices can reduce overall costs for the business as well. Not only are the businesses garnering more support with their products, they are reducing costs associate with waste management, energy consumption, and resource depletion.
Creating Brand Loyalty
Sustainable business practices can enhance a company’s reputation and improve customer loyalty. I have a deodorant company I love. And it is completely plastic-free–even packaging. And the deodorant itself works fabulously, besides being a little super scented, but that’s probably just me.
The only real issue I have with my plastic-free deodorant is that it becomes impossible to use as a stick deodorant after about 3 weeks. The cardboard deodorant container comes apart and ultimately my deodorant gets stuck inside. Admittedly, I could work on my finger and grip-strength, and that might help, but it’s not super convenient.
However, because I love the company, the ingredients in the deodorant, how well it works, and what they are TRYING to do, I’m sticking with them. And hope that their plastic-free packaging gets more life-friendly. I don’t know about you, but I always remember to put on deodorant after I’m like four minutes late and running out the door–that is not the time to be trying to shimmy your deodorant out of it’s cardboard housing.
As a Sustainable Shopper, it’s in your Hands
In conclusion, shopping sustainably is important because it can help to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment, promote social justice, and support economic growth. As consumers, we have the power to make a difference by choosing to shop sustainably and supporting companies that are committed to sustainability. By doing so, we can help to create a more sustainable and equitable world for ourselves and future generations.
Overall, sustainable shopping practices can benefit us as the consumers, businesses, and the planet by promoting a more sustainable future and minimizing the negative impact of consumerism on the environment, society, and economy. If you’re interested in honing your shopping habits with sustainability in mind, send us a message and we’ll get you on the waitlist for our upcoming course, Sustainably Minded. I’m having a blast with course creation, and learned so many new things to implement in my shopping trips.
Can’t wait to see you there!
