If there’s one thing that us girls love to do more than anything else, it’s go shopping! Are you wondering how to be a conscious consumer?
Indulging in a blow out spending spree every now and then can be a great way to unwind or treat yourself for achieving a goal or milestone in your life, but there does come a time when you have to start being a little more intelligent and savvy about the way you shop. When it comes to being a conscious consumer, the things that you need to be taking notice of are buying products that promote a more sustainable option, and stand to leave the planet in a much better condition for everyone that is going to come after you. Here's how to be a conscious consumer.
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1. Be Informed
One of the best answers for how to be a conscious consumer is to get informed. With the internet at your fingertips, it has never been easier to find out information about everything that you are planning on buying. Take some time to learn about the origins and manufacturing processes of some key products. Are they ethically sourced? Are their worker’s being treated correctly? Are there sweatshops involved? These are all things that are simple to discover and all things that should have an impact on your thinking.
2. Read Labels
Get into the habit of reading every label. A mountain of information can be gleaned from a simple label. Is the product organic? Fair trade? Locally sourced? All of these descriptors are great ones, and as much as you can, you should try to avoid vague labels that state the likes of “made in China," because you can be sure that not every part of the manufacturing process was ethically sound.
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3. Separate Wants from Needs
Perhaps it’s time to cut back a little in terms of what you want versus what you really need. If you already have two great swimsuits to choose from during the summer, do you really need to add five more to the mix? Do you really need that extra pair of heels when you haven’t even worn the ones you bought six months ago? Be smart about how much you consume - you shouldn’t be contributing more than you truly need to be. Think minimalist!
4. Go Local
Try to get involved with the purchasing of locally sourced goods as much as you can. The carbon footprint that these local goods have, compared to cheap products made in other continents, are almost nonexistent. Not only will you probably end up saving money in the end, thanks to no shipping fees and charges, but you will also find that your new local purchases are often of a much better quality.
5. Recycle and Upcycle
Recycling should be second nature to everybody these days, but something that you can also do to help be more conscious is to upcycle old possessions, rather than buying completely new ones. People can turn old junk into new treasures with a little bit of passion and vision!
