Sustainable Consumerism

     When discussing the topic of sustainable consumerism, the two ways I view this term are; first, it is the responsibility of the companies and brands to create environmentally friendly products that would drive sustainable consumerism and, second, I view this term as it is the consumer’s job, when purchasing goods, to act in an environmentally friendly way and to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.  The following statement is from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development explaining their take on sustainable consumption.  

A statement of intent:

From the WBCSD’s (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) Business Role Focus Area workstream on Sustainable Consumption & Consumers

“Current global consumption patterns are unsustainable. Based on the facts and trends outlined in this document, it is becoming apparent that efficiency gains and technological advances alone will not be sufficient to bring global consumption to a sustainable level; changes will also be required to consumer lifestyles, including the ways in which consumers choose and use products and services. We recognize the need for business to play a leadership role in fostering more sustainable levels and patterns of consumption, through current business processes such as innovation, marketing and communications, and by working in partnership with consumers, governments and stakeholders to define and achieve more sustainable lifestyles.”

     From this statement we can clearly see that the business world is recognizing their role in sustainability.  Therefore, globalization and capitalism can be both a positive or negative thing. If more businesses and corporations realize their role, such as the ones apart of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, then the world would be taking much larger steps towards the goal of sustainability.  However, there are still those major corporations and businesses that only care about the dollar signs at the end of a process and do not care what rainforest they have to cut down and how much pollution is given off into the atmosphere.

 This type of company reminds me of a movie I used to watch called “Fern Gully”, where fairies were being driven out of their homes by a “monster” that was actually a large machine or the more recent movie “Avatar”, where the natives are also being driven out of their homes by machines. The movies are drastic renditions of this situations, but the greed possessed by these companies is real.  These types of companies that do not care about the environment may use a technique called “greenwashing” to make consumers think that they do care.  This technique is when companies use “green’ marketing to make their policies or products look environmentally friendly.  These companies know that people want more environmentally-friendly products, and are taking the measures necessary to please the people while still hanging on to their big bank accounts.

These two adds are examples of greenwashing:

      The organic foods that have been showing up on our grocery stores shelves in bulk are items that are priced very high.  There are also “local” and Fair-Trade” items that are highly priced as well.  These are items that are seemingly better for the environment and people, but I always find myself to be more hesitant to purchase them over cheaper commercial brands. When the developing world figures out a way to produce organic items for less, then we will be one step closer to Sustainability.

      I go out to stores, I frequent chain stores such as places at the Gulf Coast Town Centers, mainly because I am unaware of the mom and pop stores that are in Fort Myers, such as the ones down town.  I have heard people discuss them, but I never ask where they are in town or what kind of prices they have.  I think as a college girl in her 20’s the most frequent social trap that I succumb to are these large chain stores.  When I am bored and with a few of my friend’s one of the most entertaining things to do is to go shopping.  I think I will start making more of an effort to find out about those mom and pop stores and visit them to help out the economy of my local community instead of large chain stores.