After record-setting sales of $889.3 billion last holiday season, the National Retail Federation predicts that Americans will spend between $942-960 billion this year. Deloitte forecasts that each American will make $1,455 worth of holiday-related purchases individually. It is possible to have your holiday spending support impactful companies and causes while getting the gifts you want your loved ones to enjoy. What is ethical consumerism? Business Insider defines ethical consumerism as “the practice of spending money in a way that aligns with your values.” Ethical consumerism is based on the idea that when making purchasing decisions, it is important to consider factors beyond the price and performance of the final product. Where was the product made, and by whom? What is the product made out of? What are this company’s political, ethical, and environmental values behind the product? Ethical consumer advocates argue that a purchasing decision can be a political act. By choosing to buy from unsustainable or politically corrupt companies, we are supporting the continuation of those practices. To be sure, ethical consumerism has problems in its own right. For one, value-aligned buying may be cost-prohibitive for many people. According to Deloitte, sustainable shoppers spend 14 percent more than the average consumer. This raises questions of accessibility and economic justice: ethical consumerism could simply be seen as an affluent pastime. There are also fundamental questions as to whether ethical consumerism is effective or even possible. Some critics claim that there is no such thing as a completely ethical product and that there are always tradeoffs with quantity, quality, price, and availability. Others argue that companies often engage in greenwashing, portraying their products as sustainable when they really aren’t, so it is impossible to gauge the true ethicality of an item. While ethical consumerism may not be the cure-all that its most ardent advocates make it out to be, there are still ways that the average consumer can make minor switches in their spending habits to support more principled and impactful companies. Seek certification Perhaps the easiest and most reliable way to engage in ethical consumerism is by buying from a business that has been certified as ethical or sustainable. One of the most prominent socially-aligned certifications is B Corp. B Corp is a private certification that companies can obtain only by meeting high standards of performance, accountability, and transparency on their social and environmental impact. B Corps include numerous recognizable brands, and the list is constantly growing. Some B Corps include Allbirds, Athleta, Ben & Jerry’s, Nespresso, Patagonia, and The Body Shop, among many others. A full database of the over 5,000 certified B Corps can be found here. Another certification to look for is Fairtrade. Fairtrade is a certification scheme generally applied to commodities produced by small-scale farmers in developing countries. Fairtrade Standards include rigorous economic, environmental, and social criteria. Certified products tend to have higher prices due to the Fairtrade Premium, which sets aside a portion of the export price of a product for redistribution back to the producers. Fairtrade currently benefits over 1.8 million farmers worldwide who have received well over half a billion euros in Fairtrade Premiums since 2015. With over 30,000 certified products available, there are abundant Fairtrade options for holiday gift shopping. Fairtrade’s product database lists categories ranging from cocoa, coffee, sugar, and tea to wine, jewelry, clothing, and sports balls. Fairtrade America also has a database with certified products from the U.S., including Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (also a B Corp), Gourmesso coffee pods, Terra Thread clothing, and Origanami bedding. B Corp and Fairtrade are likely the most popular certifications, but other similar socially-aligned certifications are available, from Rainforest Alliance, Cradle to Cradle, and Climate Neutral. However, lacking certification by any of the above organizations does not mean that a product is unsustainable or unethical. As some critics claim, certifications like B Corp are elitist, favoring multinationals and excluding small businesses. However, seeing that a product is certified is one mechanism that can increase confidence in the ethicality of your purchase. Support social enterprises As discussed in a previous post, social enterprises are a diverse range of firms united by their business use to solve social problems. For instance, seek out Newman’s Own numerous holiday-friendly food items when shopping for holiday party food. Instead of pocketing this income, 100 percent of profits are donated to charities benefiting children. Since its founding, they have donated $570 million. For the gift of reading, check out the selection Better World Books. This new and used online bookstore operates on a one-for-one model: for every book they sell, another book is donated to someone in need. They also donate a portion of profits to support libraries and literacy groups internationally. Since its founding in 2003, Better World Books has donated over 35 million books and raised over $34 million. Shop secondhand Most people’s first impulse when holiday shopping is to buy new items. However, buying used products is a viable strategy to find unique gifts, often at a lower price, and minimize your environmental impact in the process. Electronics are an underrated category of used items. With its frequent advances in innovation, the tech sector may not seem conducive to secondhand shopping. However, used electronics can offer incredible value precisely due to irrationally-fast price depreciation once newer models come out. For an extra sense of security, buying certified refurbished tech directly from manufacturers is the safest option. With global e-waste generation reaching nearly 54 megatons last year, buying used technology is an especially impactful purchasing route to take this holiday season. Being intentional These examples are just a small sample of the many ways to practice ethical consumption. Your individual spending this season will ultimately have an impact, and you can choose the impact you want. Source
