ESG MINDSET FOR FUTURE CONSUMPTION

A.K.A. CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISM

There’s never a shortage of information when it comes to being a “conscious consumer.” Unfortunately, in our digital era, information often comes hand-in-hand with disinformation. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of data (and opinions), and even easier to be bombarded with content in the form of reels or stories driven by algorithms.

If you’re stepping into a bio store, skipping through different diets, debating packaging and minimalism, or simply unsure where to begin your journey toward responsible consumption, we’d like to offer you a few starting points.

What we want to emphasize is that not all conscious consumerism tips apply to everyone. People live in different places, under different circumstances, which influence their choices. There is no single “right way,” and much about the impacts on supply chains remains unseen. The true starting point is simply making your first effort toward becoming a conscious consumer.

Your actions don’t need to be big. Starting small and learning along the way is a great approach—motivation builds naturally as you see the positive effects of even small contributions. Every little step matters in making an impact on the environment. Here are a few ways to get started:

1) Shop local and seasonal: At the end of the day, shopping for locally sourced food and products is one of the best places to start. This can mean:

• Visiting nearby shops and markets. Head to your closest grocery store, farmers’ market, fruit and vegetable stand, or local butcher. If you buy produce online, consider what that involves. Is your order being delivered by a gas-guzzling vehicle or by bicycle? Is your produce seasonal? Can you purchase these items nearby, supporting local stores that have already covered shipping and labor costs?

• Choosing locally produced foods. Treating your body with nutritious food is wonderful—but let’s think about where it comes from. For example, avocado toast might feel like the perfect breakfast. If you live in a region where avocados are grown, that’s a great start. But if your avocados come from a supermarket that sourced them overseas—shipped across the ocean or flown in—then it’s worth considering whether local alternatives could help balance out your carbon footprint. Supermarkets stock what sells, and when consumers actively choose local produce, it signals demand and encourages them to offer more of it.

2) Always consider value: Every material that makes its way into your home has value, but the price you pay doesn’t always reflect its true cost—to the environment or to people. It’s tempting to buy inexpensive clothing from fast fashion brands, or the endless stream of “convenience” products promising to make cooking, cleaning, or organizing easier. But these come at a hidden cost: environmental damage (through transport emissions, resource use, and pollution) and human exploitation (workers underpaid or working in unsafe conditions). Being mindful of value means thinking beyond the price tag—asking what it really took for that item to reach you.

3) Packaging and Recycling: It’s up to us as consumers to reduce unnecessary waste. Simple habits—like bringing cloth or reusable bags, avoiding plastic-wrapped produce, and cutting down on takeaway cups and containers—make a difference. For example, that “paper” cup from your morning coffee isn’t recyclable. The book Plastic Free offers great advice, including encouraging your local cafés to accept reusable mugs or containers. It doesn’t hurt to ask—many businesses save on packaging costs by agreeing.

Recycling, however, is more complicated. Every country, and even every city, handles waste differently. Important questions include:

• Is your waste / plastic waste actually being recycled?

• What types of plastics or other recyclable materials are accepted?

• Does food residue on your containers prevent them from being processed?

Successful recycling often depends on community effort, knowledge-sharing, and accessible information. When people are better informed, recycling systems work more effectively and can truly make a difference.

In conclusion, we encourage you to do your own research, ask questions, and engage with your community and local vendors whenever possible. If that’s not an option, that’s perfectly okay—there are many other ways to make a difference. Starting small, building momentum, and finding motivation in those feel-good moments is a great way to inspire yourself to keep discovering new ways to contribute.