Sustainable Consumerism!

Sustainable consumerism is easy to explain, it is the relationship between the production and consumption of consumer goods when the production of the goods is done in a way that uses the least amount of energy possible and creates the minimum amount of waste. Globalization and capitalism are both, in my opinion, positive drivers in sustainable consumerism. Capitalism, in this case, is where companies are constantly competing with each other to develop the next best thing that will make their company and even the world great. Globalization is also driving this particular market because countries, just like companies, are competing to become the least "wasteful" and are trying to create less air emissions and pollution.

Some companies are going as far as "greenwashing". This is when companies spin their product to look like it is the most environmentally friendly product on the market. It is also referred to as "green sheen". A lot of water bottling companies are using this tactic in the effort to draw in more consumers. With them marketing that they use less plastic in their bottles a consumer is tricked to believe that buying that particular brand is the best idea.

When it comes to my purchasing of foods and other goods, I look at the label before I buy to make sure that there are a few things that are done. For goods I like to make sure that the product in question hasn't been tested on animals, and is hormone free. My picky-ness also reaches to my food choices, and has pretty much the same criteria as my goods purchases. I like my food "organically" grown, without toxins or hormones, just like any normal person would. If I could afford it all my food choices would be organic, but since money is tight right now, normally grown foods will have to do.

In my fight to eat better foods and to use ethically chosen products, I still shop at the "regular" people stores. Mom and pop stores carry almost the same things, but are further away from me than they are at the Gulf Coast Town Center. If I chose to go to a more locally owned store then I would waste for gas, put more emissions in the air and in the end cause me to spend more money. So, truly there is no difference to me in going to Target or going to that locally owned place 10 miles down the road.