Within our daily lives it is difficult to avoid consumerism completely which is why becoming a mindful consumer is important. Practicing true mindful consumerism takes effort, care and sacrifice. It may seem difficult to do so at first but is worth it by aiding in many aspects ranging from the environment, the people who are trapped in cheap labor jobs, but also to yourself in having a quality product with peace of mind. There are many informational blogs and tutorials that exist online. Here for you I have gathered a wide variety of them so you can get the essence how to achieve mindful consumerism. Then, if you are interested you can delve deeper into the subject to discover more information by following the links.
Environment
Impact on the environment when mining or farming materials especially on the large scale that is needed for mass production is extremely devastating to the environment. Distruction ranges from strip mining for materials to dowsing crops in a cocktail of chemicals.
End of Life
Production is not the only aspect of negative impact on environment. When an object reaches end of life it is most of the time put in an early forced isolation. This is especially detrimental since all of these materials will be wasted in a landfill or incinerator causing more pollution through any potential chemical off gassing. The earth does not have the resources to keep up with these wasteful ways.
Social Impact
Social issues surrounding sweatshops and slave conditions of laborers is also something to keep in mind. People who are desperate for money to survive are the ones who are abused the most. Sweatshops in developing countries are all too common since laws are near non existent.
Alternatives
It is important to learn about what products to buy instead. Certain materials have less of an environmental impact than others. A bamboo table might be marked as an eco friendly choice but the environmental impact from transportation is ignored. For a truly better alternative it would be more environmentally friendly to purchase a good quality table from a thrift shop.
Research
There is a need to look deeper into the company itself. Thoroughly researching a company or product is necessary since many companies commonly lie and practice greenwashing to keep up and be trendy.
Avoid Manipulation
Also important to avoid advertisers manipulative techniques. Having that awareness for how things are marketed towards you is important for developing a critical lense in product purchasing. That want, craving or desire might be not even come from you. It could be fabricated from the bombardment of advertisements you are exposed to daily.
The key to mindful consumption does not solely exist in a 5 step tutorial. It is a mindset and lifestyle change. A critical lense and self reflection is needed. Thinking into the future and past the instant gratification that comes from a product purchase takes a shift in one’s way of thinking. Here are a few self reflection questions to ask yourself.
Purchasing power is real power.