What Is Responsible Consumption And Shopping?

What Is Responsible Consumption And Shopping?

 

As I struggled with excess inventory from my short lived brick and mortar invading my space, It shed light on my former bourgeois lifestyle/habit as a consumer and saw the need for a makeover in both my business and personal life.

I was desperate to reduce and improve the inventory  after seeing the dead stock and disorganized chaos.I began looking for ways to reduce clutter, and the internet led me to Marie Kondo's concepts.
 
In retrospect, when Marie Kondo first introduced minimalism, I thought to myself, "Wow, that might be a means to a more sustainable future, that’s a responsible concept!” 

 

When I adopted the philosophy of minimalism, my life gradually improved dramatically. The evolution of minimalism, zero waste, environmental ethics began to pervade my life ideals, and that’s when I began to explore responsible buying.
More frequently, I equate making purchases that were sustainable, ethical, responsible, and slow-made. These conscious actions also reflect on companies I spend my money on and whether or not these firms supports social productive systems and adheres to the principles that I embody. 

Now, let’s get to the point on Responsible Shopping: 
 
What is Responsible Shopping? 

Responsible Shopping is a practice where it means considering the impact of your purchases on the wellbeing of the environment, society and yourself. Did you know that responsible consumption can positively impact and support sustainable development?
The term of responsible shopping is that you are realizing that your purchases have an effect not just on you but also on the environment and on the workers.

And a responsible consumer is an individual who is conscious of their consumption habits and who chooses to have, even demands, a more positive impact on society and the environment from the producers of goods and services.
 

The 5 Ethical Responsible Principles
 
These 5 factors determines a responsible consumer by https://www.ethicalconsumer.org where the 5 Ethical Responsible Practices were: 
 
1. Reducing Consumption  
2. Being more active 
3. Consuming local products, hiring local services, consuming 2nd hand items 
4. Keeping your finances in an ethical bank 
5. Reusing, Recycling and Repairing. 

This framework closely relates to local
consumption where environmental, social and economic benefits is evidently in
lieu with sustainable development. 
1. Reducing Consumption 
The social and environmental benefits of local consumption can impact energy savings and greenhouse emissions mostly from the transport of one place to another. Local consumption of products also reduce packaging. 
 2. Being more Active 


3. Consuming local products, hiring local services, consuming 2nd hand items.
The social and environmental benefits of local consumption can impact energy savings and greenhouse emissions mostly from the transport of one place to another. Local consumption of products also reduce packaging. 
 
4. Localisation

Localization can bring a number of benefits to consumption, including:

  1. Increased relevance: Localization allows products and services to be tailored to the specific culture, language, and preferences of a target market, making them more appealing and relevant to local consumers.

  2. Improved customer satisfaction: When customers can access products and services in their own language and with cultural references that they understand, they are more likely to be satisfied with their experiences.

  3. Greater trust and loyalty: Localization can help build trust and loyalty among local consumers, as they see that a company is investing in understanding and catering to their needs.

  4. Enhanced marketing effectiveness: Localized marketing campaigns and materials can be more effective at reaching and engaging local consumers, as they are more relatable and memorable.

  5. Increased sales and revenue: By making products and services more appealing and accessible to local consumers, localization can lead to increased sales and revenue for a company.

5.  Reusing, Recycling and Repairing

The circular economy is an economic model that is based on the principles of reusing, recycling, and repairing. It aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, and to minimize waste and pollution.

  1. Reusing: This refers to finding new ways to use existing products, materials, and resources. This can include repurposing a product, refurbishing it, or renting it out.

  2. Recycling: This is the process of converting waste materials into new products. This can include recycling paper, plastic, metal, glass, and other materials.

  3. Repairing: This refers to fixing or maintaining products, so they can continue to be used. This can extend the life of a product and reduce the need for new resources to be used.

The goal of a circular economy is to minimize waste and conserve resources by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. This helps to reduce the environmental impact of production and consumption and to create more sustainable, resilient economies.

This model is an alternative to the traditional linear economy where resources are extracted, used and then discarded.

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