Consumer behavior has entered an era of sustainability, ethicality and morality. With prominent corporations like Amazon and Coca-Cola considering the environment in the manufacturing and packaging of their products, smaller companies are in tow to follow.
Ethical consumption has paved the way for a greener future by exposing supply chains and rejuvenating the economy. While many people focus on criticizing the downward trends of consumerism, it is important to highlight how individuals have become more considerate about sustainability and workers’ rights.
As more people consider and examine working environments when purchasing products, companies and manufacturing corporations are pressured to pay more attention to labor rights. One major aspect is gender inequality within the workplace. According to Pew Research Center, about 42 percent of working women in the United States face gender discrimination and report receiving less pay than men with the same job.
Moreover, many fast fashion and influential companies like Nike and Shein are sourced to have exploited workforces to take advantage of laborers ranging from children to adults. After facing backlash for their manual labor involving children in the 1990s, Auburn University reported that Nike’s sales fell about 50 percent. With the chances of similar repercussions hanging over companies, they are less prone to participate in exploitative activities.
With the rise of activism and social media, initiatives dedicated to pressuring companies that do not honor workers’ rights have been a constant. Boycotts held by organizations and movements have even expanded as far as limiting the power of international companies. Some examples include fast fashion boycotts and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.
Ethical consumerism urges transparency from companies about the sources, production and distribution of their products. The Economist Intelligence Unit reported from their survey that 72 percent of people think that companies, especially those affiliated with chemical use, have very poor communication about their supply chain.
As consumers start probing for manufacturing details, companies like H&M and Zara are under the microscope to be more apparent with their supply chains. This can make them more accountable and less likely to engage in practices that violate human rights.
For example, Nestle, despite signing a 2001 agreement to remove child labor, is still accused of employment abuse. As a well-known brand that flourishes in many households, pressure from buyers would be taken seriously in fear of sales dropping.
As supply chains are revealed and misuse of labor comes to light, another aspect to consider is the environment. When more people seek environmentally friendly products and spread awareness about environmental effects, it can drive companies to be more eco-considerate and go green in packaging and production.
A 2020 McKinsey & Company survey showed that about 60 percent of consumers in the U.S. and U.K. seek more sustainable products and are willing to pay more for it. A considerable amount of consumers are pondering the effects of unethical products on climate change and pollution, making changes to their shopping carts as a response.
If consumers and manufacturers are able to use fewer materials like plastic, paper and polyester, their environmental footprint will lessen. Cotton, sustainable wood and recycled plastic are all viable resources that are more environmentally friendly. They can often substitute more harmful materials if the proper planning and care is done.
Beyond benefiting the environment, using sustainable materials can also be a means of rejuvenating the economy. One study estimates that if chemical industries took up the recycling of plastics, it could create up to 38,500 job opportunities, in turn adding billions of dollars to the U.S. economy.
When it comes to sustainable consumerism, the main concern is how expensive ethically-produced goods tend to be. One study by Kearny, a Dutch company, showed that sustainable products tend to be from 75 cents to 200 cents more expensive than conventional ones. Because of this, many second guess the impact of ethical buying instead of focusing on the affordability.
It is important, however, to consider the long run in which each small action can make a statement against companies who think they can get away with abusing their workers and the environment. Whether it is boycotting an unethical brand or participating in a protest against the exploitation of workers, we should all strive to be ethical consumers to ensure a greener and brighter future for all.