Why To Shop Ethically
It’s simple. You vote with your dollar. Doesn’t matter if you are buying gas, shoes, a coffee, or a burger. When you hand over your money for a product, you are saying “Yes! I support the manufacturing, selling, marketing, and advertising of this product.” This is exactly why you need to do your research. When you do a little digging, you may not agree with everything this product is offering you, your community, or the planet.
No one wants to support sweatshops, unethical pay wages, or extreme pollution, right? Well a lot of people do, unaware of the consequences they are causing. Some of the biggest corporations in the fashion industry commit all of these moral crimes and most consumers don’t even realize it! As a society we have become so disconnected to the things we wear, eat, and purchase, which is why we have to start being more proactive in researching brands before we vote yes to them. Nowadays, a lot of brands are becoming more ethical because of the rise in conscious consumers (aka you!). This increase has created a domino effect on all fronts of the manufacturing industry. Making non-GMO food, sweatshop-free fashion, and natural materials accessible to more people. It’s amazing and we are moving in the right direction for sure.
There are so many brands out there that now cater to people who want to be more ethical consumers. It’s fantastic to have options but it can definitely be overwhelming. That's why it's important to start buying locally, second hand, and from small businesses that focus on ethical and sustainable products. There are countless companies out there and I am sure you can find everything you need with a quick Google search.
One downside to buying ethical is that it is more expensive. There's no doubt about that. But it's kind of like paying more for cruelty-free makeup or higher quality, organic food. Spending a few extra bucks to support sustainable and ethical practices is valid in my opinion. If you are anything like me, once you know the dirty truth behind a business, (ex. the horrific things that go on at factory farms) you can never go back and support that industry. This how I feel about shopping sustainably. Once you see that big name brands do so much damage to our planet and the people on it, it is really hard to ever see them in a good light.
Of course completely switching over to only ethically made products is extremely hard for just about every person. It's definitely something that can happen slowly over time. And that is ok. It's just like switching over to cruelty free cosmetics. You need to learn the best brands and places to buy from to make the best choices for you. It may take some adjusting but it is worth it. There is nothing like to going to sleep at night knowing you did not support any sweatshops, unethical wages, or bad working conditions :)
