Conscientious buying today means more than considering price. People are becoming more conscious of the impact their buying decisions have on the planet, society, and their personal beliefs. This climate of social concern manifests in the desire to buy products that support a positive change.
Making an informed purchase can support one or more of the goals of raising awareness of a social issue, promoting sustainable buying habits or eco-friendly practices, and providing support to the socially responsible equitable and just labor marketplace.
This guide will help you to define a value(s)-based purchasing model for yourself, identify products and brands that align with your beliefs, and support positive change through everyday purchases.
1. Define Your Primary Value(s)
To adopt a value(s)-based purchasing model, the first step is to determine your primary value(s). Knowing your primary value(s) will help you identify brands that align with your value(s).
Steps to identify your values:
- Do you value the implementation of sustainable practices (waste reduction, use of sustainable materials, etc.)?
- Do you value the implementation of fair labor practices (Are workers treated with respect? Are workers paid fair wages)?
- Do you have concerns about the production animal’s welfare?
- Do you want to support businesses that contribute to charitable causes or assist their communities?
Clarifying your values will assist you in narrowing down options, making it easier to make decisions when you have several options.
2. Evaluate Brands and Products on Ethical Grounds
The next step, once you have clarified your values, is to evaluate your chosen brands and products in order to determine their ethical standards. This requires the evaluation of promotional materials and the assessment of the actual practices of the companies.
Before making a purchase, you should evaluate brands and products with the following questions in mind:
- Why, or why not, does the brand disclose the condition of the employees, and the employees’ working and living standards? How, and in what location, are the products created?
- Do the brands you are evaluating have independent certifications (especially Fair Trade, B Corps, and Organic)?
- What is the product’s impact on the environment? Is the product made with eco-friendly materials? Is the product made with the intent of being disposable, or to be used for a long time?
- Does the company give back to the community or support any charitable work?
If a company is willing to own up to their practices, they are more likely to be aligned with your company.
3. Look at the Quality and Longevity of the Goods
From an ethical and practical perspective, it is best to buy products that are of high quality and will last a long time. This will help reduce the amount of waste being thrown out and encourage other manufacturers to produce a high quality product that is made with good materials, good craftsmanship, and good sourcing practices.
To assess the quality of the product, consider the following:
- Is the item disposable or will it remain in use for many years?
- Was the item made with good sourcing practices?
- If the item is damaged, will it be in good enough condition to be repaired or will it need to be thrown out?
- Can the item be used in multiple ways or can it remain in service for many years?
In the end, it’s your focus on quality that will help reduce the amount of waste being thrown out.
4. Evaluate Your Values and the Way You Buy Things
It is true that buying things with responsibility is beneficial to the world and people. However, you must also ensure that the way you buy things is consistent with your core beliefs. Thoughtful buying is about thinking through what you actually need, and consuming less.
Here are a few ideas to help you save:
- Ask yourself: Is this a need, or a want?
- When buying items, focus on buying a smaller number of higher quality items that are built to last.
- Instead of throwing something away, consider whether or not it can be reused or recycled.
- Anytime you get the chance to buy something, consciously choose to support local and ethical shops.
You can ensure that the world is a better place by consciously buying things and improving your buying habits.
Conclusion
In order to make buying choices that are ethical and based on your values, you must determine what is most important to you, research the brands and items, and show a dedication to quality, sustainability, and thoughtful buying.
Supporting ethical business practices and purchasing fully transparent and quality products that value longevity, helps you and the world positively.
Environmentally and socially responsible purchasing, responsible consumerism, no matter the scale, helps contribute to the movement, and to the future, more responsible and more environmentally friendly.