The Ethical Consumer

 Compared to our parents or grandparents, we live in a society where life is much more facilitated. Our needs are easily met in this world where all kinds of goods are readily available. It's not uncommon to fall into excesses and addictions. With environmental concerns becoming increasingly recognized, what should we do to be ethical consumers?

Firstly, an ethical consumer must plan how much they will spend to avoid getting into debt.

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 At least 20% of your income should go towards savings. Meanwhile, another 50% (maximum) should go toward necessities, while 30% goes toward discretionary items. ⁴ is called the 50/30/20 rule of thumb, and it provides a quick and easy way for you to budget your money.

So, we know that we can't spend everything we have, but we must maintain stable consumption, so as not to destroy the economy. What else should the ethical consumer do?

The ethical consumer must be informed and understand that when buying something, they are not just acquiring a product.

 Ethical consumption is not about depriving yourselft. It is about recognising the power that you have, as a consumer of goods and services, in influencing business to be more sustainable, ethical and accountable.

The ethical consumer should select what they buy and from whom they buy it. 

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 He consider the environmental footprint of their purchases and prioritize products with minimal impact. He prefer to purchase products manufactured with low CO2 emissions per unit produced. Currently, this is difficult due to the opening of the Chinese market and other Eastern countries, which, thanks to environmental destruction and human rights violations, can produce at very low prices, practicing unfair competition.

It is important that the consumer is informed and opts for products made by workers who are respected, have reasonable work hours, and enjoy fair working conditions and rights.

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Also, the ability to understand the information on product packaging should be a fundamental skill for the ethical consumer. Labels like Organic, Fairtrade, and Cruelty-Free are excellent indicators of ethical products. The ethical consumer should also try to avoid plastics and opt for biodegradable or made from renewable resources products.

 When buying clothing, they should choose eco-friendly fabrics, such as hemp, and clothes with Cruelty-Free label. It's preferable to buy slow-fashion, which, as Ben and William have pointed out, is much more beneficial.

 The ethical consumer uses electricity from renewable energy sources.

Of course, ethical consumption has its downsides. It is an expensive lifestyle, and certain desired products might not be available. You can also be a victim of greenwashing, which happens when a company engages in deceptive marketing, claiming to be ethical without genuine practices.

However, if there's an increasing number of ethical consumers, these problems can be more easily overcome.

 It is possible to say that, beyond the desire for a circular economy that respects Earth's resources and ecosystems, there is also a great willingness to build an ethical economy that respects not only the planet but also social causes, acting for a more ethical world.