Conscious Consumer
What does it mean to be a conscious consumer?
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A conscious consumer considers why they purchase a product, the impact that it has on the planet and on other beings, and how to make choices that do the least harm.
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Being a conscious consumer is a process, not a finish line. Staying conscious requires curiosity, 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 all part of conscious consumerism.
What is the problem?
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We need to consume foods and goods to survive, of course, it's part of our natural interaction with the environment and with each other—plus our modern economies are built on the production and trade of goods (more on that later).
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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.
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The problem is that we consume without being conscious—as individuals and as societies—of the negative impact that many products have.
Sometimes, we’re not even sure why we consume what we consume, much less what harm we may cause. When we become conscious of why we consume and the impacts of what we consume, we are in a position to bring positive change.
We are the solution.
Conscious Consumer is built to take you on a journey into deep consideration of the physical items consumed in bodies, on bodies, and around bodies (and you can apply many of the ideas to immaterial items consumed, like media and information). This is an invitation to get curious about consumer-centered cultures, their impact on you and others, and your ability to contribute to positive change.