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What Does Ethical Consumerism Mean?
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In 2025, everyone is keeping an eye out in terms of their shopping habits and how they may impact sustainability – such as by opting for refurbished electronic devices, shopping second hand at a thrift store, and practicing overall ethical consumerism.
As excess consumerism remains one of the largest culprits behind our growing carbon footprint, people around the world are growing more concerned and conscious regarding their purchasing habits – bringing concepts such as ethical consumerism to light.
In this article, we’ll explain what ethical consumerism is, why it’s important, examples of ethical consumerism, and how to get started.
What is ethical consumerism?
Ethical consumerism, sometimes referred to as conscious consumerism or green consumerism, alludes to the practice of eco-friendly shopping as an effort to make a positive economic, environmental, and social impact on your purchases and mitigate further harm to the planet.
💡As a whole, the main goal of ethical consumerism is to choose products and services that adhere to the values of sustainability and ethical sourcing – hoping that in turn, the item in question doesn’t further contribute to the already existing climate crisis.
“ Every time you spend money you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want — (Anna Lappe). ”
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Key characteristics of ethical consumerism
Here are some of the hallmark qualities of ethical consumerism:
- Quality Over Quantity – Those who adhere to the values of ethical consumerism will often strive to own fewer, but higher quality items as opposed to several, cheaper-made items – such as by refraining from fast fashion and opting for sustainable and durable fashion pieces.
- Ethical Sourcing – Ethical consumerism prides itself on finding items that prioritize ethical sourcing, otherwise known as items that have been made with responsibility and sustainability in mind from the root of the product’s supply chain.
- Supply Chain Sustainability – Ethical consumerism cannot exist with supply chains making a greater effort to decarbonize their operations and ensure that all of their materials and resources are secured in an ESG friendly manner.
- Sustainable Packaging – As ethical consumerism favors products and services that avoid an excessive environmental impact, efforts such as the use of sustainable packaging, renewable resources, and recycling are all fundamental aspects of ethical consumerism.
- Fair Trade & Labor Rights – Ethical consumerism isn’t just about working to reduce the environmental impact of incessant consumption, but to support safe and fair working conditions, and ethical treatment of workers – such as the values depicted in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to help ensure avoiding companies that exploit labor and that underprivileged communities feel supported.
- Cruelty-Free Products – Choosing products that do not involve animal testing or harm to animals, particularly in cosmetics, fashion, and food industries – are all excellent ways to adhere to the values of ethical consumerism.
- Local & Small Business Support – Ethical consumerism will often favor supporting your local bakery or farmers market over a trip to your local supermarket, as both of these options help to stimulate local economies and also avoid the excess emissions created on behalf of freight transportation – which will become the highest emitting sector by 2050 if the global economy continues at its current pace.
👉 Ultimately, ethical consumerism is a lifestyle which can help people to improve their purchasing habits and ensure their day-to-day consumption patterns align with sustainability, and social responsibility.
Why is ethical consumerism important in the midst of climate change?
Ethical consumerism is crucial as we battle against climate change, seeing as one of the largest contributors to global warming is excess consumption as a whole, which ethical consumers can help us to stray away from.
💡Our habit of purchasing items only to throw them into the landfill later is a key component in reducing our worldwide carbon footprint – seeing as a whopping 1.92 million tonnes of textile waste is created each year in addition to 62 million tonnes of e-waste.
“ Shopping ethically can empower others, change lives, and impact the world on a greater scale — (Molly Stillman). ”
Here are a few other reasons why ethical consumerism is important in the midst of climate change:
- Teaches Mindfulness – Ethical consumerism helps to teach us how to purchase and consume goods more mindfully, which in turn can allow us to avoid waste in our landfills and overall additional GHG emissions.
- Encourage Corporate Responsibility – If consumers take an interest in ethical consumerism, businesses will then be motivated to adopt sustainable practices in order to retain their current clientele – striving to implement ideals such as waste reduction, offering employees better working conditions, and boosting overall CSR.
- Reduce Resource Usage – As with any basic supply and demand model, ethical consumerism will evade the use of natural resources such as water, trees, and fossil fuels – which will result in a decrease in demand for products that utilize these finite resources, ultimately helping to preserve our ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Develop a Circular Economy – Ethical consumerism encourages recycling, upcycling, and reducing waste – all of which can lead to a more circular economy and greater focus on long-term sustainability.
- Driving Policy Change – A rise in ethical consumerism and interest in ethical and eco-friendly products could sway policymakers to develop stricter environmental regulations and encourage the development of sustainable businesses.
👉 Overall, ethical consumerism is a vital component to solving the climate change crisis – as much of our excess emissions created around the world are a result of excess consumerism
What are some examples of ethical consumerism?
There are several examples of ethical consumerism, such as choosing products with eco-friendly packaging, shopping for products in bulk, recycling old items, and even opting for sustainable investments.
Essentially, any effort to purchase or use items or services that align with greater environmental sustainability and social responsibility can fall under the umbrella of ethical consumerism.
💡Ethical consumerism doesn’t have to involve turning your life or business on its head, as even small actions that allow you to take part in ethical consumerism can make a difference long-term for your private life, your company, and even the planet.
Here are seven different examples of ethical consumerism:
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Products
This can include a wide variety of products that make an effort to protect our planet from further emissions, such as by:
- Buying organic food
- Items with biodegradable or compostable packing
- Opting for energy efficient appliances
- Sustainable cosmetics
- Eco-friendly fashion
- Food products made with the values of climate smart farming in mind
Eco-Labels & Ethical Sourcing
Products and services with certified eco-labels, such as Fair Trade Certified chocolate, coffee, or clothing can help those adhering to the ideals of ethical consumerism ensure that they are purchasing products that ensure employees remain subject to fair wages and safe working conditions.
Furthermore, seeking out products which make use of ethically sourced materials such as silk, organic cotton, hemp, or linen can help us to reduce our global environmental impact and ensure ethical consumerism is well and alive.
Cruelty-Free and Vegan Products
More often than not, vegan products will not only refrain from the use of animal byproducts such as fur, milk, or eggs – but will avoid testing products on animals.
Examples of these products include:
- Cruelty-free makeup products
- Plant-based skincare products
- Vegan alternatives such as plant-based materials in place of leather products
Sustainable Fashion
We’ve written about eco-friendly fashion a lot at Greenly, because we believe that what we wear on a daily basis is one of the most approachable ways to get started with sustainability.
Here are some ways that sustainable fashion adheres to the ideals of ethical consumerism:
- Ethical clothing brands like Patagonia make an effort to reduce unnecessary consumption, even offering to repair customers’ garments in place of encouraging them to buy an entirely new item
- Opting for second-hand or thrifted fashion can help to reduce waste and demand for fast fashion
Using Renewable Energy
Businesses that make an effort to employ the use of green infrastructure, install energy efficient light bulbs, or even utilize renewable energy sources such as from solar panels or wind turbines are all examples of ethical consumerism.
Any effort to mindfully reduce energy consumption can be considered as a form of ethical consumerism, such as:
- Driving electric or hybrid vehicles
- Using public transportation
- Biking or walking to work or school
Reusable Items
Someone who uses a reusable water bottle or shopping bag instead of single-use plastic is already doing a great job following the ideals of ethical consumerism.
This can also include using items such as:
- Refillable products such as using a reusable coffee cup when going to chain stores like Starbucks
- Reusable containers for shampoo, skincare, and more
- Zero-waste items such as bamboo toothbrushes or shampoo bars
Ethical Banking and Investing
Unbeknownst to most, sustainable finance is an excellent way to follow the ideals of ethical consumerism – as subscribing to banks that avoid funding fossil fuels or other ethical industries can help individuals and businesses alike to reduce their carbon footprint.
This can include:
- Utilizing ESG funding for your business
- Opting for impact investing
- Searching for other green finance opportunities
👉 In the end, any and all of these avenues of ethical consumerism can help people to boost their efforts to tackle both sustainability and social justice while also reducing their environmental impact.
What are the challenges of ethical consumerism?
While ethical consumerism can allow people to avoid impulsive or unethical purchases, it doesn’t come without its challenges – such as how many of the world's products are still made overseas contribute to freight emissions, and that individual purchases don’t stop goods and services that create a negative environmental impact from being made in the first place.
The table below will depict some of the challenges of ethical consumerism:
| Challenge | Description | How to Overcome |
|---|---|---|
| Limited Impact on Businesses | Individual ethical purchasing decisions may not significantly influence large corporations' production practices. | Advocate for corporate transparency and push for stricter regulations on ethical practices. |
| Overseas Production Monopolies | Many companies rely on large suppliers overseas that lack regulation, making it difficult to ensure ethical production. | Support initiatives that improve labor standards abroad, such as certifications or third-party inspections. |
| High Costs of Ethical Products | Ethical goods are often expensive, making them inaccessible for lower-income consumers. | Encourage affordable alternatives like thrift shopping, and advocate for subsidies on ethical products. |
| Fast Fashion's Influence | The rise of fast fashion increases demand for rapid production, leading to unethical labor practices. | Promote a culture of minimalism and slow fashion, focusing on quality over quantity. |
| Need for Systemic Change | Ethical consumerism alone is insufficient; political advocacy and systemic reforms are needed for real impact. | Engage in political advocacy, support policy changes, and educate others on systemic issues. |
How can I get started with ethical consumerism?
Ethical consumerism may seem daunting at a first glance, but it may be easier to adapt the principles of ethical consumerism than you might think.
Here are some ways you can get started with ethical consumerism:
- Decide Your Values – Just like fighting climate change as a whole, you don’t have to do everything to do your part – contributing to one area such as going vegan or opting for an EV allows you to pull your weight without completely redesigning your lifestyle. Therefore, a good start to ethical consumerism is to decide what is most important to you and aim to employ the values of ethical consumers there – such as in cooking, wildlife, clothing, home design, and more.
- Think Twice Before You Buy – These days, with so much available merchandise – it’s easy to buy things that we don’t really need and will never be used to their full potential. The next time you go shopping and see something that you like, set the item down and keep walking around the store. If you’re still thinking about it by the time you leave the store, then you can go back and buy it – this is a great way to dip your toes in the water with ethical consumerism, as it allows for greater mindfulness when shopping.
- Choose Certified Products – Whenever possible, try to opt for products and services with certified eco-labels, such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and UTZ – all of which make an effort to ensure fair working conditions and broader sustainability.
- Buy Used or Refurbished Items – From thrift stores, second hand shopping outlets, refurbished technology, and other upcycled items – there are more options available than ever before for consumers to shop for their favorite products without contributing to a greater carbon footprint.
- Try Plant-Based Eating – One of the best ways to help curb the effects of climate change, such as by helping to preserve water, protect wildlife, and boost biodiversity, is to opt for plant-based alternatives. This can help you to practice ethical consumerism, as when shopping – people who choose to eat meat and dairy free often practice reading the labels of items before buying, which can help you to better understand how some of your favorite foods may be sourced, made, and their impact on the environment.
Overall, ethical consumerism is imperative in the midst of climate change – as small efforts to ensure the things we buy, eat, and use are doing their best to mitigate an excessive impact can add up and make an unforeseen difference.
What about Greenly?
If reading this article on ethical consumerism has inspired you to consider your company’s own carbon footprint, Greenly can help.
At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance on how to reduce emissions, optimize energy efficiency, and more to help you get started on your climate journey.
Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here.
Sources
Ethical Consumerism https://conciseencyclopedia.org/entries/ethical-consumerism/
World Vision https://www.worldvision.ca/no-child-for-sale/resources/a-guide-to-ethical-consumerism
Britannica https://www.britannica.com/money/ethical-consumerism
HBR https://hbr.org/2015/01/ethical-consumerism-isnt-dead-it-just-needs-better-marketing
Leedr https://www.leedr.ca/blog-buylocal/alternative-post
NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/starbucks-will-accept-reusable-cups-drive-thru-mobile-orders-rcna132029
Standford https://studentsforasustainablestanford.weebly.com/blog/the-problem-with-ethical-consumerism
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