Consuming Consciously

Tapping rubber trees in Sri Lanka for our Obasan and Kakun latex products.

Dorota Lockyer- Social Media Specialist at Resthouse Sleep Solutions

With such busy lives, it’s tempting to head out with a list of things to buy, cross shopping off the to-do list, and move on without paying a second thought to what we purchased and why. For many of us it’s becoming more difficult to continue paying for organic, fair trade and local goods when the cost of everything seems to be tripling. The plight of unfairly-paid workers in distant lands seems more faded in contrast to our reality; cheap finds in dollar stores appear easier on the wallet than items in a small local business.

And it’s understandable, our busy minds are filled with the urgent matters of our daily lives. But, can we really afford to not consider what we’re buying?

For example, products made out of plastics, or other synthetic materials, may seem like sensible, budget friendly options. But there are other costs we might not consider: the environmental degradation involved in resource extraction, and the social harm caused by poor working conditions. In fact, many of these materials just aren’t as durable as the natural options they imitate and need to be replaced and disposed of sooner (leading to added expense and waste).

In the long run—and collectively—these choices can be quite costly. As if that wasn’t enough, we are also seeing growing evidence of negative health effects from exposure to microplastics and chemical offgassing.

Shopping consciously, with intention, can make a huge difference to ourselves and others. It requires us to check in with ourselves and make choices that align with our values. It is thinking before buying.

Before putting something into our shopping basket, we might ask ourselves:

Is the item made in line with my values? If you don’t know, take a moment to think about what’s important to you. Am I supporting the local economy? Think about who is benefiting from your purchase. Is it a big company overseas, or your neighbour?

Are the people who produce this item treated and compensated fairly? Consider the conditions and pay of the workers producing your goods.

Is this item made to last, durable and good for me and the planet? What happens to it when it needs to be replaced? Think about the lifecycle of your items, from how they are produced to where they will end up.

Saying “no” to impulse buying, instant gratification and satisfying our whims is a practice. Awareness and education are the first steps to creating new habits for ourselves, while having a positive impact on our communities and local economy. Making better choices today can lead to a brighter future for the long run.