Small changes can start making big differences, especially when it comes to consuming habits.
Being intentional with what items you buy can make a big impact if you're wanting to live more sustainably and eco-friendly. Instead of convincing you to stop consuming entirely, which is not realistic and honestly, not fun, my goal is to give you a guide to help you become a smarter consumer.
It's easy to consume without thinking. Finder.com did a survey in 2017 and found that 88.6% of American adults have reported buying something on impulse. If you're feeling frustrated, don't worry, I impulse buy too - whether that's in the checkout line or a late night online order when I'm stressed. Here are three questions I've started asking myself to help me become a smarter consumer that I think can help you too.
Is this something I've been wanting for a while/need or is it just trendy?
Clara Fischer put it best in her article, "Fast Fashion's Increasingly Rapid Trend Cycles are Driving Major Overconsumption", when she wrote "Consumers are left feeling out of fashion if they can’t keep up with the immense amount of products being pushed into their faces on a daily basis. Fast fashion companies capitalize on this, …. by producing vast amounts of poorly made products for shoppers to pick from at a cheap price."
Something I've started asking myself is if I truly want an item or if I only like it because it's trendy. Most of the time, it's just trendy and not something I'll use more than once. (Not that all trending things are bad... just something to be mindful of.)
Another question I like to ask myself when shopping is "Do I already have things to go with this item?" I've bought so many things that I've ended up getting rid of because, even though I liked it, I just didn't have anything to use it with.
Is this good quality and will it last a while?
Another thing to check is if it is good quality. Why would you keep buying the same thing over and over again if it just kept breaking? You would find an alternative that lasts instead! To avoid this problem the best you can, evaluate the product before purchasing.
Some things you can look for are: do the fabric and seams feel sturdy? If it's plastic, would it break easily? Is it warped at all/is there any damage already? Personally, I always feel fabrics because if it's not comfortable, I'm never wearing it. I've gotten a lot better at knowing which clothes won't get worn because of how they fit/feel. Figure out what your own deal breakers are to save you money & time.
Is it sustainable? Is there a sustainable alternative?
Sometimes there is just a better, more sustainable option! Could you find this item secondhand? Will you use it enough times to justify buying it or is it something you could borrow? Is there a version of this item that is recycled/recyclable? Can you find a sustainably made or eco-friendly alternative? Is there a way you can get this product with less packaging (ie. cut fruit in a plastic container vs. unpackaged fruit)?
Not everything will have a better alternative, but a lot of things do so it's important to be aware and keep an eye out.
Small changes can start making big differences. None of us will ever be perfect, but I hope these tips and questions will guide you to be even a little bit more aware of what you're purchasing and bringing into your life!
This article was originally posted 3/10/2022.
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