Conscious Consumer
A project born out of frustration and love that examines consumer culture and its impact on the planet, people, other animals, and ourselves. It’s time to wake up from unconscious consumerism.
What does it mean to be a conscious consumer?
A conscious consumer considers why they purchase a product, the impact that it has on the planet and on others, and how they can make choices that do the most good and the least harm.
Being a conscious consumer is a process, not a finish line. The process of staying conscious requires inquiry, continual learning, and patience. Warning: This process may bring your actions into greater alignment with your values and leave you feeling empowered. It may also lead to moments of overwhelm and exasperation. That is part of the task at hand.
What is the consumer problem?
Let’s be clear, we need to consume foods and goods to survive—this is part of our natural interaction with the environment and with each other. And, our modern economies are built on the production and trade of goods.
The problem is not that we consume. And the solution is not that we halt production and stop consuming entirely…it’s much more nuanced and complicated than that!
The problem is that we consume without being aware—as individuals and as societies—of the negative impact that many products have. Sometimes, we’re not even really in touch with why we’re consuming what we consume. When we become conscious of why we consume and the impacts of what we consume, we are in a position to bring positive change.
Start getting conscious
Conscious Consumer focuses on physical items we consume in our body, on our body, and around our body. It aims to provide a deeper understanding of three main areas: the culture around these items, the impact of them, and the ways we can make positive changes.