Ethical Consumption

In a globally interconnected economy, the simple task of buying a good so basic as milk from a grocery store can have a myriad of ethical implications. Was this dairy milk sourced from animal abuse, sexual assault, and careful genetic inbreeding of cows? Or was it soymilk extracted through unsustainable agricultural practices on converted forests? Are the workers involved in production of the milk, whether it be animal or plantbased, receiving fair wages and decent working conditions? What about the workers in the grocery store in which this product is being sold? Has the scale and scope of the industry resulted in a whole state dependent on a fragile, singular export? Are sustainable practices even possible in a market-driven economy?

What about brands such as Patagonia—a beacon for white hipsters to feel good about investing in fabric recycled from plastics? Surely, such brands are a hallmark of how innovation and sustainability can come together to impart “good” in a capitalist world. That is, if we ignore how Patagonia’s business model and brand of sustainability requires recycled textiles which actually increases the demand for plastic bottles, rather than reducing the production of plastic. In 2015 we found out about Patagonia’s involvement in human trafficking, yet some applauded them for taking steps toward accountability. For a company popularly considered one of the most ethical of its kind, Patagonia falls short of what should be considered an ethical business model. Clearly the bar for doing what is right, rather than what is easy, lies miserably on the floor when human trafficking can be normalized as an unintended byproduct of the supply-chain line.

To give capitalists the benefit of the doubt would be to assume that they’re not irresponsibly reproducing colonial dynamics which abuse land, labor, and resources. “There is no ethical consumption under capitalism,” bemoans the privileged philosophy major, attempting to highlight that ethical consumption nor production is reasonable or possible in a global capitalist society. Is this the sorry truth of our world? Can we actually create “ethical” impact with our dollars?

Yes and no.

Surely, cutting animal products out of one’s diet and encouraging others to do so has led to tangible disruptions in these industries, shown by the $1.1 billion decline in dairy sales in 2018 as reported by The Dairy Farmers of America. And encouraging the reduction of individuals’ carbon footprints can generate positive influence on society at large. The veganism movement at large can be considered a collective boycott against animal cruelty. But, like many other issues, individual ethical consumption is only part of the bigger picture. For many, resources such as fresh groceries are a barrier imposed onto low-income neighborhoods, popularly described as “food deserts.” Vegan activism decontextualized from environmentalism, antiracism and decolonization can cause inadvertent harm to sustainability efforts and human rights. For instance, accusing Indigenous communities of environmental harm for catching animals to eat is a decontextualized form of veganism. These harmful ideas ignore the historically sustainable relationship in permaculture which Indigenous folks have in contributing to their ecosystems. A representative case can be found in how Indigenous groups in the Amazon have converted the largely nutrient-poor soil of the rainforest into the most fertile soil on Earth. U.S. models of conservation pay no mind to this relationship and instead, restrict access for Indigenous groups from use of the land through the creation of national parks. Humans can change the land and play a positive role in the ecosystem. They have in the past and still do in areas where these practices are allowed to persist. A bigger picture of climate justice which centers decolonization could jumpstart a truly sustainable and integrated model for humans and the environment.

If we were to recenter decolonization in our ethical practices, we would understand that the global shift in human impact on the environment coincides with the time of European conquest of the Americas. Arts & Anthropological Creative scholars consider the collision between Old and New Worlds as the beginning of the Anthropocene, the era in which human activity has dominated the climate. Colonization of the Americas resulted in the population loss of 55 million American Indians, as well as unprecedented (within the past dozen millenia) population replacement, domestication, large scale agriculture, and the reorganization of Earth’s biota.

In the vein of imperialism’s impacts on the environment, the U.S. military-industrial complex is the single biggest polluter on the planet as well as one of the biggest perpetrators of genocidal violence throughout the world. What consumption practices can divert from imperialism? Austerity measures imposed onto the Global South through predatory loans and militaristic occupation, unfortunately, cannot be resolved by buying a reusable straw. Although miniscule steps are still steps forward, the environmental crisis we are currently in demands sweeping changes not only within our consumption practices but in the fundamental ordering of society and models of production. It is therefore imperative that we organize for ourselves and in solidarity with others in the struggle to protect the Earth and the rights of all living beings inhabiting it.

Capitalism’s decay in the era of climate change is a turning point for whether or not the ruling class will scramble to retain their wealth through enacting fascism — as current happenings in neo-colonial countries from Chile to the Philippines are bringing to the international stage — or be severed from power by the people’s demands for a more just society. The impact of ethical buying practices pales in comparison to structural practices of industries which throw away 43 billion pounds of food a year while leaving millions to struggle with food insecurity.

Although individual ethical consumption can be an empowering refusal to participate in the most wicked systems currently in place, it cannot stand alone. Individual ethical practices must coincide with collective boycott and action. We must reevaluate the goals which inspire ethical consumption and focus on building a society which can achieve them.