I like shopping, but lately my friends and I have found our heads spinning due to the injustice and bad environmental impact of, well, everything. It is overwhelming. But I also don’t appreciate it when people’s “ethical” actions appear to be just for show or the amount of judgment/ shaming involved in this topic. So I made some rules/ goals to try to minimize my negative impact on the planet and on other people. I hope it is useful and meets a variety of people where they are.
1. Try to shop less
This is really easy, actually. Ask yourself if you really need that new pair of jeans or cleaning apparatus or cell phone or whatever your vice is. You probably do need a cell phone these days, but you probably don’t need the latest iPhone. It might feel weird at first not to be on top of the latest trends, but probably no one around you will even notice, and it can be freeing to not feel like you have to be at the height of fashion. If you think you want something, put it on a list and think about it for a while, and then try to consolidate shopping trips. If you actually enter the mall (or my personal vice- TARGET) less, you will naturally buy fewer things, which will help you save the environment and your wallet simply by doing nothing.
2. Reuse, repair, buy used
Okay, so maybe you want to be at the height of fashion. Or maybe you really need a new outfit because none of yours are appropriate for an upcoming occasion. Perhaps you really want a new clutch or the strap of your favorite shoe broke. No worries, you can still look cute and be ethical.
Reuse: Reusing can be really fun because it can bring out your crafty side. If you start to think about reusing household items, you might find yourself re-purposing t-shirts into exercise tanks, making an old sweater into a scarf, or making your own purse. If you aren’t so crafty, ask your crafty friends if they can use anything you are thinking of getting rid of. Plus, hand-me-downs are cool these days. Give your old clothes to a friend or neighbor or donate them if you can’t think of a way to reuse them yourself.
Repair: A really good way not to use any new resources and still have the things you need is to fix things when they break. Sole of your shoe coming apart? Shoe Goo is your best friend. Hole in your jeans? Nothing that a patch won’t fix. If you can’t repair something yourself, consider using your money to pay someone to repair it for you. You support a local tradesperson, you don’t waste the item you already have, and you don’t have to buy something new. My favorite jeans wore at the crotch from years of use, but they were still perfect in every way, so I took them to a tailor and got a couple pairs of them patched for under twenty dollars- less expensive than getting a new pair, and no unfair labor practices involved! Plus, it is totally not pretentious to keep wearing the jeans you have always loved.
Buy used: Thrift stores are a person’s best friend. If you need new shoes or to update your wardrobe, to decorate your house, or even buy furniture you can probably find what you need- for cheap!- at a thrift store. This is a great way to cure the shopping bug if you just feel like you need something “new.” You’ll get items that are new to you, and no extra resources are involved! Plus, lots of thrift stores benefit great causes, and buying used costs less. If you want quality, buying used clothing is an awesome way to go because if it still looks nice to you after being gently used, it is likely to last a long time and wash up well- there is nothing worse than buying a new shirt only to find that it doesn’t hold up after a few washes and wears.
3. Shop from places with ethical sources. Choose the better option even if it isn’t the best.
If you follow the above rules, you should find yourself shopping a whole lot less, especially for things like clothing, shoes, accessories, and household items. However, some items, particularly items that get used up- like toiletries, cleaning supplies, and groceries- you will have to buy.
Here is where not being pretentious- and money- get tricky. I think it is a responsibility to buy items like this from places that use ethical sourcing. This can mean supporting a local farmer’s market, if one is available to you, or buying cleaning products that are better for the environment. Remember, lots of things that look ethical or sustainable really aren’t (#pretentious). Kashi is just Kellog in fancy clothing, and organic and non-GMO aren’t always better.
Generally, use your good sense, shop locally, and know that you won’t always be able to choose the best option, whether because of price or availability. Hold yourself to a high standard, but know it is okay just to do your best. Remember that your best isn’t someone else’s best- feel free and educate your friends on this new product or service you are super into or the way you always reuse your plastic bags, but strive never to judge anyone for their consumer choices.
Time and money are both scarce commodities to many, and without them, it can be difficult to shop ethically. If you are privileged enough to have them, you should hold yourself to a high standard, but try not to become morally superior or pretentious.
4. Work on consumerist attitudes.
Consumerist attitudes include thinking that buying something will make you happier or solve a problem for you. Like if you buy a bunch of makeup or clothes, it will make a “new you” or if you have the latest technology, it will help you be happier or healthier. Traditional occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and showers often create the idea that you MUST buy a present to celebrate. However, on many occasions, creating a handmade gift such as a photo album or a quilt or offering a skill, such as treating the birthday person to a spa day if you are awesome at hair and facials, doing the happy couple’s engagement photos for free or a steep discount, or cooking a meal, will be equally appreciated, if not more. Plus, these gifts require spending little money and using few new resources.
5. Mantra: wanting things makes you happier than having them.
They did a study on this or something. Say this to yourself as you walk through Target or admire the impulse buys at the end of the aisle in the clothing store. I have never regretted not purchasing that little crappy photo frame from the dollar spot or yet another scarf. If you still want it later, it will still be there. You keep your apartment free of clutter, save your money, and minimize the support you give to unfair labor practices/ environmental destruction, PLUS, you are happier in the end. If you can resist making actual purchases, window shopping is definitely encouraged. Studies also show that spending money on experiences, not things makes you happier, so consider that when choosing how to spend those $$$.
Do you have tips to add? Let me know in the comments!
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