𝕿𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖓 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍

        When politics become a topic of conflict for too long, we see an increase in people who are displeased with the system. Some people take that displeasure and turn it into the foundation of their activism, while others decide to completely give up on the system they live in. In the United States, this usually looks like citizens craving Communism. And one of the quotes that starts to get shared around a lot is that “there is no such thing as ethical consumption under Capitalism”. Today, I’d like to discuss this.
        Quite frankly, I view this opinion to be both cynical and naive. To say there is no such thing as ethical consumption under a Capitalist society implies that there is such a thing as ethical consumption in any other society. But usually, the cause of unethical consumption exists in all societies. There is practically no way to have a society without them; not in this day and age. As for cynicism, it’s been my experience that usually when people hear this quote, they decide to stop trying—to help the Earth, to build communities, pretty much everything. They just give up.
        Now, I’m not here to complain. That’s all background information about how I, personally, interpret the quote and how I’ve seen others interpret it as well. What I’m here to do is offer an alternative to giving up. In my opinion, ethical consumption can exist under a Capitalist society, especially in the day of internet. Will this fix all of the problems? No, of course not. A bunch of citizens can’t outweigh the damage caused by majour corporations. But all efforts count, and sometimes people just want to know what effort they can put in. Let’s dumpster dive in.

1. Fast Fashion: What Is It? What Can I Do Against It?

Fast Fashion refers to clothes that have been made in bulk in factories. Typically, they’re cheap and poorly made, but sometimes the quality and price are higher than one would expect. When we talk about fast fashion, people usually think of websites like Shein or Amazon. But it includes many more; including more expensive brands. Almost every article of clothing that we buy new is made in bulk in factories by people who aren’t being paid very much. New fashion will always be fast fashion unless it’s custom made. The best way to combat this issue is by buying handmade or secondhand only. If you don’t have an easily accessible thrift store, you can also look at websites like Poshmark or Mercari. Another solution would buying only what you need and what you know will be worn. Do you really need a hundred pairs of jeans? The answer is no. It takes up space, it makes it hard to find the pair you really want to wear, and it contributes to the issues fast fashion causes.

1. Overconsumption: Putting Ourselves on a Spending Diet

In the digital age of influencers, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that, for whatever reason, you need to have three of the same shirt or buy stuff that goes along with all of the current trends. But the reality is that you don’t. When we start buying a lot of stuff that we don’t need and won’t use, we start overconsuming. Overconsumption contributes not just to the rise of fast fashion, but also plastic build up all around the world and has a really bad effect on the environment. It’s better to buy things we need or that we know we’ll still want in five years rather than to buy and throw away and buy again all the time. We can combat overconsumption by identifying our own likes and interests outside of what’s trending, only buying what we need, and not throwing away items that can still be used. If there’s something you don’t see a use in, you could donate it to a thrift store or a shelter. It saves you money, guarantees that you like your belongings longer, and helps lessen waste build up.

2. DIY: Beneficial Scissoring

DIY means to “do it yourself”. From creating your own art to creating your own clothes, there’s an endless amount that you can do to limit your consumption, save yourself money, and have more items that are catered to your specific tastes and body. Depending on what you decide to make, it can become costly. But in my experience, most things that can be made with my own hands costs less than if I paid someone else to do it.

3. Home Meals: Consumption Taken Literally

And speaking of DIY, cooking is another great way of doing it. There’s nothing wrong with treating ourselves to some takeout. Some days, we just can’t bring ourselves to cook, and that’s okay. But when all we do is eat out at fast food businesses it not only takes a negative toll on our bodies but it also builds up more unnecessary waste. As previously stated, waste starts to affect the environment. The best alternatives to fast food is to either eat at home or go to a sit down restaurant instead. There’s less waste being developed that way.

4. Homesteads: Giving Back To The Earth

If you have the time, the space, the interest, and the ability, starting up your own homestead is a good idea to consider too. Instead of buying food that’s wrapped up in plastic, you can grow it yourself. If gardening isn’t quite your vibe, there’s also the option of instead raising animals such as chickens, cows, goats, and whatever else you could want. This provides you eggs and milk, as well as meat if you can bring yourself to have the animals butchered. You can even start composting, which is a great way to create soil good for gardening. This way, you get to control what kind of product you get, what that product is treated with, and you don’t have to worry as much about the contamination that occurs in food factories. Plus, it could end up saving you some money in the long run.

5. Building Communities: Commandery Over Confinement

One person alone can’t do a whole lot. But one person with ten others can change a neighbourhood. With thirty others, you could change a town. Those numbers don’t stop growing. Community is the cornerstone of success, and not just for changing things. People with friends and a support system are less depressed than the lonely. If you’re interested and able, building a community would benefit you. If you decide to push the goal of ethical consumption, you could create a dent in environmentalism together. Not to mention what else you could do for the world.

6. Recycling: Just Put The Cans in The Green Bin, Bro

I’m fortunate to live in an area that has trash pickup alongside recycling pickup. If you do too, it’s time to consider utilising your second bin. Paper, cardboard, and tin cans are almost always acceptable for donations. You want to double check the allowances for your specific area though. For instance, some places accept glass while others don’t. If you don’t have recycle pickup and there isn’t a place that you can go to, there is also the option of making smaller efforts. Examples of this are reusable toilet paper, wood utensils over plastic ‘silverware’, paper straws instead of plastic straws, and cloth rags rather than paper towels. Some of these items are able to recycled while others can be reused for long periods of time. And speaking of periods, if you opt for reusable pads, you will oftentimes notice a decrease in pain. It’s convenient all the way around!

7. Nature Days: Out of The Web And Into The World

Fresh air is good for you, but did you know it’s also good for keeping green? You can use your time outside as an alternative to entertaining yourself by use of electronics. I love TV and WIFI and all of that stuff too, but too much of it is bad for us and the planet. Most of the ways that we obtain electricity are bad for the environment. Consider gas power, which releases gas into the air and contributes to pollution. Spending some time outside is a great way to avoid the use of electricity and clears up any pollution of the mind. Take a break out of the interweb, and try to avoid spider webs too.

        Ethical consumption isn’t an easy task to succeed at in any society. With all of the corruption in the world, it’s hard to feel like what we’re doing is making a difference. And usually, when we feel like that, we start to feel like giving up. The reality is that ethical consumption will probably never exist on a societal scale, but we can always incorporate it into our households. The important thing to remember is that we don’t have to move mountains to have an impact. Even if you only do one or two items on this list, you’re still contributing to the bettering of the planet.

        And that’s pretty damn ethical in my book.