ECO-SHOPPING: Buying Consciously

Conscious Consumerism: Power to the People

by Michael & Bianca Alexander

We live in a Supersize Me society where over-consumption and instant gratification are the norm. We have become accustomed to indulging ourselves by buying whatever makes us feel good from one moment to the next. For the most part, we are unconscious consumers. We consume unconsciously for a myriad of reasons: to fill our bellies, to fill the void in our lives, to pass the time, or just to keep up with the ‘Joneses’. We consume without giving thought to where our products are produced or where they go after we “throw them away.” As a result, obesity and disease rates are higher than ever, our landfills are overflowing, and the planet is slowly but surely warming up.

So what can we do about it? It’s as simple as supply and demand. We can become informed consumers and use our spending power as a force for positive change. The more we purchase eco-friendly products sold by conscious companies that value people and the planet as much they value profits, the more we support ourselves, our world, and our society at large. This is conscious consumption at work. Conversely, each time we go to the store and buy something without considering its long-term impact on our bodies, our communities, and on the environment, we send a message to big business—and out to the Universe--that we just don’t care.

Being a conscious consumer means letting go of the “me-first” mentality and using our individual and collective spending power to make choices that work for everyone. We know from personal experience that this is sometimes easier said that done. For example, we love our Starbuck’s green tea-no melon-soy-lattes. But we don’t love the fact that less than 4% of Starbuck’s coffee is fair trade imported. Each time we give in to our taste buds and buy a drink from Starbuck’s, we deny farmers in developing countries their fair wages.

So now when we need a green tea-no melon-soy-latte fix, we try to take the higher road. Instead of giving our $3.65 a day to Starbuck’s, we invest our spending dollars in local coffee houses that serve our community—and fair trade coffee. Over the course of a lifetime, our measly little $3.65 a day adds up to about $65,000.00 each. Imagine if 10, 100 or even 1,000 of our friends did the same. It could add up to millions of dollars—sufficient consumer demand to send a message to Starbuck’s that paying fair wages to all of their farmers is just the right thing to do.

If we all worked together to cultivate our collective buying power, and consume more consciously, the world would be a better place. Organic food would be affordable to the masses, so our bodies would be healthier. Our planet would be greener because we would only buy products from companies that cleaned up after themselves. And maybe, just maybe, Starbucks would start selling fair trade-green tea-no melon-soy lattes.

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B's Cool List: It's Easy Being Green When You Travel

by Bianca Alexander

Did you know that CO2 emission from travel is one of the largest contributors to global warming? Before you hit the road or jump on a plane, train or automobile, think about being more conscious of minimizing--or at least offsetting--your environmental footprint on the planet. From the latest in green transportation to and from the airport, eco-friendly water bottles, and even luxury green hotels, this week's Cool List will help you travel green all year long.

1. Go Green to the Airport

Why take a gas-guzzling taxi or limo to the airport or train station when you can reserve door to door service in one of Planet Tran's eco-friendly Priuses? And for those of you that like to stay connected wherever you go, each of their cars is booted up with wireless internet so you can check your e-mails from the road.

2. Green Accommodations

Who says traveling green means you have to give up the luxury you've grown accustomed to? Instead of staying at the W on your next vacation, try booking a four-star suite at a local green B&B or at a green hotel chain, like The Fairmont or Kimpton Hotels. With recycling in each hotel room, energy and water efficient appliances, and a commitment to serving local and organic produce, these hotels are setting the bar high for hotels worldwide.

3. Eco-Friendly Water Bottles

Staying hydrated is great for your health, especially when you travel. Unfortunately, plastic water bottles leach nasty chemicals into your drinking water, your body, and the planet. And have you heard about the mass of discarded plastic bottles and waste twice the size of Texas that's floating in the Pacific? LINK). Since most plastic water bottles wind up in landfills, try Klean Kanteen's stainless steel, non-leaching water bottles. They're also recyclable, and the water just tastes better. Or, try our new favorite, Wellness Water H2.O's individual water bottles that come with built-in filters that clean up water from any tap while you're on the road. Their state-of-the-art filtration technology produces nourishing, "enhanced" water that hydrates and heals your body better than bottled water without the extra cost or landfill waste.

4. Green Grooming on the Road

No need to skimp on healthy skin care when you're on the go.

Dr. Hauschka Daily Face Care Travel Kit includes the basics for pampering your skin the holistic way while you travel (for as long as two weeks!) All of their personal care products are made from bio dynamic ingredients, which are better for your body and will keep your skin looking and feeling great. So go ahead and toss those drugstore trial size cosmetics. Besides, who needs all of the toxic chemicals?

5. And when all else fails--offset your CO2 emissions

Consume consciously when you travel by choosing to reduce your personal carbon dioxide pollution through the purchase of carbon offset credits. You can calculate your pollution and purchase offset credits online with Carbon Fund, a non-profit organization that lets you choose from renewal energy, reforestation or energy efficiency to offset your carbon footprint created from your personal travel and day to day energy use. Each credit you purchase is used to fund clean energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Stop thinking, start doing!

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