Being a conscious consumer is of utmost importance in today’s world, as it empowers individuals to make informed choices and have a significant impact on society and the environment. Every purchase we make sends a message to businesses, signaling our support for their practices and products. By choosing to support ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible companies, we can encourage positive change and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. Being a conscious consumer means considering the entire lifecycle of a product, including its sourcing, production, and disposal, and opting for options that minimize harm and promote well-being.
The power of using our dollars wisely lies in the fact that consumer demand drives the market. When we support companies that prioritize fair labor practices, environmental sustainability, and social justice, we send a strong message to businesses that these values matter. As consumer preferences shift towards more conscious choices, companies are forced to adapt their practices to meet this demand. By voting with our wallets, we can influence corporate behavior, encourage innovation, and promote the growth of responsible businesses. Moreover, the collective impact of conscious consumerism has the potential to drive systemic change, as businesses and policymakers take notice of shifting market trends and adjust their strategies accordingly.
This is where I have to throw my hat in the ring. Research has shown that racial and ethnic minorities and lower-income groups in the U.S. are at higher risk of premature death from exposure to PM2. 5 air pollution than other population and income groups. Essentially these groups are victims of environmental racism which refers to the ways in which minority group neighborhoods—populated primarily by people of color and members of low-socioeconomic backgrounds—are burdened with disproportionate numbers of hazards including toxic waste facilitates, garbage dumps, and other sources of environmental pollution and foul odors that lower the quality of life. As an American citizen with personal ties to minority communities, I have noticed that there is a need for more advocates to champion conscious consumerism due to historical and ongoing disparities and injustices. By amplifying the voices and economic power of black and brown communities and making smarter purchases collectively, we can foster a more just and equitable society for all.
As a millennial who is on the path to inherit a small piece of a world that is on the brink of drowning in the effects of poor environmental decisions, I want to do my part in helping to change the trajectory of this world. At times I have felt that helpless in wanting to change the status quo of who we govern this earth because the issues at hand are on such a large scale. But through learning and listening to those who have tried to make a difference even before I was born, I have realized that change is gradual process initiated through small incremental actions that can influence other individual thinking and habits to also change. So join me as I embark on this road to spark change my way.