191_Twelve Tips to Becoming a Conscious Consumer

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 191

Twelve Tips to Becoming a Conscious Consumer

Despite the fact that we live in the age of information the average person is still confused about how to start living sustainably. This is somewhat understandable because there is so much information available. Furthermore, it is not helpful that much of the time we are given conflicting views on what to do and the potential value of any action at all. 

There is of course a long list of ways to start living a more sustainable life. All you have to do is pick one thing and focus on that until it is a part of your daily life. But if I were to sum things up into one simple concept it would be “become a conscious consumer.” So join me for episode 191 where I am going to discuss how to become a conscious consumer.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E191 Twelve Tips to Becoming a Conscious Consumer.

What I want to focus on in this episode are 12 specific tips on how to become a conscious consumer. This is actually a very easy process and is something you can start today. Yet even this topic can become a rabbit hole of misinformation. The best part is that the foundation of being a conscious consumer is simply making informed decisions about every single thing you do.

But before we do that let’s first get a couple of things out of the way.

Sustainability question of the week

Of all the products we have in our homes, is the government responsible for testing these products for consumer safety?

Stick around to the end and you will get the answer to that question.

Good news story of the week.

This week good news story is about yet another re-wilding project in the UK. The United Kingdom has a national trust called Stepping Stones. Volunteers working with this organization are re-wilding extensive areas that were formally used to producing hay and other marketable grasses.

The problem is that the UK has lost nearly 97% of its natural meadows over the last 100 years. This of course has resulted in extensive habitat loss. Stepping Stones is working with landowners and local councils to restore many of these meadows to produce valuable wildlife corridors. And they are already seeing some success. The rare bilberry bumblebee is making a comeback.

So, once again we see the value of environmental restoration. So, the week’s round of applause goes to Stepping Stones, all of its volunteers, and the bilberry bumblebee.

So, let’s move on to this weeks episode.

I will admit that there is a lot of conflicting information about living sustainably. One article points out that plastic has become the bane of our existence and should be eliminated from the planet. Another article strongly insists that one person’s choices and actions make no significant difference whatsoever.

So, let’s start by looking at a great example of something you can do to become a conscious consumer.

A few years ago there was a video of a sea turtle with a plastic straw lodged in it’s nose. That video went viral of course and is often cited as the one thing that shifted the public’s perception of the use of plastic straws.

So, let’s just take a moment and consider this one thing: the drinking straw. The drinking straw has actually been a harmless staple since ancient civilization. Only in the last 60 years has the plastic straw become synonymous with environment harm.

Just looking at the plastic straw it appears to be benign. Besides what’s the harm in such a small thing when you throw it away. However the problem is that plastic straws are a particularly harmful type of single-use plastic. The shape of the straw itself draws the attention of predators such as birds, turtles, and aquatic life. When consumed they can cause choking and obstruction. In the U.S alone we throw away 500 million straws per day. Globally, 8.3 billion straws end up on the beaches every year. 

But you will hear people say that plastic straws are not the source of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. They are not the source of our pollution problem because they only comprised less than 1% of plastic pollution.  So, what’s the big deal. Is there any true significance or effectiveness in banning the use of plastic straws?

The truth is that plastic straws are only a tiny part of a much bigger issue. In fact, it is less than 1 percent of the bigger issue. The potential problem of banning plastic straws is that it confers a “moral license.” This means that if we decide to never use plastic straws again then customers and companies feel as if they have done their part and stop there. 

The crucial challenge is to make sure that banning single use plastic straws is just the first step. It is an easy place to start as long as it is part of a fundamental shift away from single use plastic products. Plastic straws may not be considered a significant part of the pollution problem. But, they are a symptom of a much bigger cultural issue.

Deciding not to use plastic straws is a good example of being a conscious consumer. One you educate yourself about the harmfulness of this particular single use plastic you make the choice to not use it. This brings me to my first point.

1) Educate yourself

You have likely heard me say before that we live in the age of information. We have nearly instant access to hundreds, if not thousands of years of information in a matter of seconds. So take the time to educate yourself. This means putting forth the effort to make informed decisions that take into account your health, your community and the planet.

A fantastic place to start is with environmental awareness. After all it is the natural world that provides us with what we need to live and breath. There are plenty of online resources ranging from articles, books, videos, documentaries, online courses.

Educating yourself about our natural world will go a long way toward making you appreciate the harm that we are doing to our planet. Once you have an understanding of that, then take the next step.

2) Understand your values

The next logical step is to reflect on the things that matter most to you. Ask yourself some crucial questions such as:

-What is most important to me in life?

-What do I stand for?

-What kind of person do I want to be?

-Do I want to be more self reliant?

-Where do I stand on living sustainably?

-Do I care about social justice?

Then identify your core values because this is what will guide your behavior. Common core values such as honesty, integrity, compassion, respect, an attitude of constant learning will increase your self awareness, increase your self esteem, and improve your decision making. This in turn makes you aware of the value of protecting our natural world. Then you are far more motivated to make decisions in line with protecting our environment.

The bottom line is that knowing what matters the most to you will help you make choices that align with your personal values.

3) Question everything

We are constantly exposed to a flood of information. Much of that information is geared toward manipulating our behavior especially our consumer behavior. Quite often it is difficult to know what to believe. This is why we have to question everything.

Questioning everything is a fundamental principle that helps us to:

•  Challenge assumptions: Questioning everything encourages us to challenge our assumptions and biases, which can lead to new insights and a deeper understanding of the world around us.
•  Verify information: By questioning everything, we can verify the accuracy of information and ensure that we are not accepting misinformation or unproven claims.
•  Encourage critical thinking: Questioning everything promotes critical thinking and helps us to develop a skeptical mindset, which is essential for making informed decisions and solving complex problems.
•  Foster a culture of curiosity: Questioning everything creates a culture of curiosity, where we are encouraged to ask questions, seek answers, and explore new ideas.

For example, in science, questioning everything is essential for the discovery of new knowledge and the advancement of scientific understanding. In medicine, questioning everything is critical for patient safety. In everyday life, questioning everything can help us to avoid making mistakes and to make informed decisions. By questioning our own assumptions and the information we receive, we can avoid falling prey to misinformation and we can make better choices.

From a sustainability perspective, ask questions about everything concerning the products you buy. For example, the materials used, the values of the companies that produce these product, the their impact on the environment and society as a whole.

4) Needs versus Wants

The next step is to be honest with yourself about what you truly need versus what you want. Our constant exposure to advertising convinces us that buying more and owning more things is the key to happiness. Yet it is this very type of consumptive behavior that results in tremendous strain on our natural resources.

Needs simply refers to the essentials that are necessary for survival, comfort, and well-being, whereas wants are discretionary items that enhance our life but are not essential for survival. For example food, water, shelter, clothing, and personal care are essential. Dining out, hobbies, travel, luxury items and gadgets are wants.

The truth is that most of us can live well on far less that what we do. The best way to avoid impulse buying is that when you are considering a purchase, wait at least two weeks before making a decision. This allows you time to evaluate whether you really need it. This also allows time to consider alternatives such as second hand products or even rental options if it is a piece of equipment.

5) Make Informed Choices

Research and learn as much as possible to stay informed about the products and services you use. Learn about the essential ingredients, the production process and the environmental impact of the products you consume.

Most of all consider products made from sustainable materials, products with minimal packaging, products produced by companies with fair labor practices. Another important consideration is the product’s end of life and whether it is recyclable.

Making informed choices goes right along with educating yourself.  If you educated yourself then you can support sustainable brands and avoid products that are wasteful and harmful to the environment.

6) Read Labels

What goes right along with making informed choices is reading the labels on the products that you buy and stay informed about the ingredients.

7) Buy it once. Buy it for life

Adopt the attitude of buy it once, buy it for life.

We all enjoy finding good deals on the products that we purchase. However, one of the hallmarks of less expensive products is that they do not last. Then of course they have to be replaced. It is far better to do some research and find quality products that are going to last for years.

For example, I have had the same cast iron cookware for over 15 years. With proper care it will last me for the rest of my life. I may have paid more money up front for the outdoor equipment I have but it some of it has lasted me over 20 years. The backpack that I use everyday was a moderately expensive purchase. But it comes with a lifetime guarantee. It is gets damaged the company will repair it for free. If they cannot fix it they will replace is.

Buy it once. Buy it for life.

8) Always avoid single use plastics

Plastics are such a common part of our lives that we tend to forget that these items produce a significant environmental impact. In 2021, single use plastics were the source of 139 million metric tons of waste. Even if single use plastics are recyclable, 95% of them never get recycled.

All of this waste could be avoided by following a few simple tips:

-Carry reusable bags

-Use stainless steel or glass containers such as drinking cups and food storage containers.

-Purchase products with minimal packaging.

-Use mesh produce bags

-Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables without packaging.

-Avoid disposable razors

-Refuse disposable eating utensils

-Avoid single use straws. If you use straws frequently, purchase stainless steel straws and carry them with you.

9) Reduce your plastic waste in other ways

This is best done by starting with one thing at a time. In addition to the items mentioned above, make a commitment to never use a plastic bag again. It is estimated that 5 trillion plastic bags are thrown away each year.

Next, start in your kitchen. Make a pledge to never buy a plastic storage container again. As your plastic storage containers wear out replace them with glass or metal.

Bathroom and cleaning products are going to be little more difficult. That said, making your own cleaning products is super easy, sustainable, and the end product is much less toxic than the alternatives at the supermarket.

Making your own soap is much easier than most people think. Yes there is a learning curve. But we make large batches and then do not need to make any more for months. Homemade laundry detergent is another super easy thing to make. Recipes for most of these things can be easily found online.

10) Ditch the bottled water

I want to make a special point about bottled water because this is by far one of the most wasteful habits we have. We have been convinced by clever marketing that bottle water is safer and better for us. The reality is than 40% of bottle water is simply bottle tap water. And recent studies have shown that 95% of bottle water is loaded with micro-plastics.

And you may not think much about throwing away one single plastic water bottle but it makes a difference when you realize that in the US alone we throw away 60 million plastic bottle per day. Globally, 1.3 billion plastic bottles are thrown away daily. That is the equivalent of 1 million per minute. If you are worried about your tap water, invest in a high quality filter. That is what we do at the cabin and we produce purified drinking water for less than three cents per gallon.

11) Develop a minimalist mindset

Every single one of us can live on 50% less than what we do. The challenge is that we have so many choices available to us and we are tempted by clever advertising. Consequently,  we end up purchasing more than what we need.

The best example ever is the increased average size of our homes. In the 1960s the average size of our homes was around 1200 square feet. In 2024, the average size of new homes is now over 6000 square feet. Those homes of course have to be filled with stuff. Not to mention the tremendous amount of money required to maintain such a home.

There are two cabins on the homestead property we still have less than 1000 square feet. But the property is easy to maintain and cost me very little. Yet, we have all that we need to live a modern lifestyle.

Besides, minimalist life choices allows you to focus on quality instead of quantity. Trust me when I say you will end up with more spare time, more money, and more personal freedom in the long run if you just simply learn to live on less. 

12) Remember, every choice counts

You have to be mindful of the fact that every single thing we do has some sort of impact on the environment. From what you eat, to what you buy, to the services you use, what you drive and even your online behavior has some sort of an impact on the planet. If as a society we all started making more conscious choices, we can create a more sustainable future.

Summary

Now just to quickly sum things up here, you have to realize that similar to living sustainable, being a conscious consumer is a choice, it is a process. It requires being mindful of everything you do. About 6 months after starting this podcast I truly started wondering if there was any one thing that I could do that had no impact whatsoever on the planet or on the environment. I eventually decided that the answer was a hard no. Everything we do, every choice we make has an impact. We just have to learn to make better choices. But we can do that by educating ourselves, developing an understanding of our personal values, questioning everything, determining our needs versus our wants, making informed choices, reading labels, purchasing products that last, avoiding single use plastics, reducing other types of plastic waste, ditching the bottled water, and learning to live on less. And finally embracing the idea that every choice counts.

When I first started living off the grid everyone around me thought I was crazy. Twenty seven years later the urgent messages we hear almost daily concerning the climate and the environment are simply an echo of all the reasons I started this lifestyle in the first place. Using minimal resources, living sustainably, and being as self reliant as possible are the foundation of many things that I do. Certainly you have heard me say before that I never expect anyone to live the way I do. However, you can make a significant difference by becoming a conscious and responsible consumer. By doing so you will take an important contribution to a more sustainable and equitable world.

Now I want to close this episode by answering the sustainability question of the week.

Is the government responsible for testing the chemical components of all the products in our homes?

Unfortunately, the sheer volume of new chemicals being produced and marketed make government testing and monitoring impossible. No health or hazard information is available for greater than 80% of those chemicals much of which are in the products that we use everyday.

Yet another reason to become a conscious consumer.

Well folks I hope you have enjoyed this episode. If so be sure to join me again next week. Also, check out my podcast home page which can be found at adventuresinsustainableliving.com

There is a free resource there called 200 sustainability questions and answers. And it is completely free. Until next week, always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.