Eco Shopping

Eco-Shopping as a Great Way to Help the Green Agenda

Although the green agenda is at the forefront of political and social commentary at the moment, that does not necessarily mean that the average person understands how they can help the environment. Advertising, consumerism and capitalism are the basis of our thriving economy and as such, simply deciding that 'being green' comes down to halting consumerism is wildly optimistic if not completely unrealistic. Therefore, eco-shopping can be a good introduction to how to be eco-friendly whilst retaining the current mode of lifestyle that many consumers enjoy.

One of the main problems with the green agenda, as I see it, is how depressing it can be! 'Eco-warriors' often put people off with their unrealistic expectations, therefore making it seem impossible that the average person can do anything to make a difference, bar giving up their home and setting up in a mud hut. Instead of looking at the green agenda as something requiring us to give up our way of life, we must try to find ways to incorporate green living into our every day lives.

People need to believe the small differences can make a positive impact towards change. This feeling is never going to come about through the constant 'apocalyptic' language of the scientific and political fields and must be found somewhere else. Whilst it is entirely true that green wash holds problems for eco shopping, many eco retailers do an honest job of combining fairtrade, organic and natural produce that can replace some of the more harmful products that we use on a day to day basis. This is not buying more, it is replacing what we have (when it's finished) with something more sustainable. Surely even if this is a small step, it is a step towards a better consumer attitude towards purchasing goods?

One of the primary ways that can motivate people to purchase 'green' is by offering a cashback and carbon offset solution. Gaining a certain percentage on their purchases back makes it a reward for making a green decision and can have a positive impact on consumership. It is these small changes that can make a big difference to the way both companies and their clients advertise and sell their products. Rewarding people for shopping in an eco-friendly manner can increase sales (making profit for the green company) and increase awareness of the many great eco-friendly products that are out there.

It is completely understandable that people are very cynical about green shopping as there has been so much press over 'green wash' and companies using global warming and climate change to advertise their products without any green credentials. However, this can be overcome simply with the knowledge of when to buy certain things. Replacing your goods with eco brands is something you should only do when your current product has run out. Replacing disposable plates with biodegradable ones has a positive effect on waste management and replacing your light bulbs with energy efficient ones can be good for the world as well as bringing down your electricity costs. This is why so many green sites combine their product sales with blogs and information on how to be an effective green consumer. If this informal education can give them a little bit of 'food for thought' about the impact their purchase is having on the environment then they may end up making consciously positive consumer decisions in the long run.

Consumerism is seeped into every part of our society, it helps our economy run smoothly and provides a large section of money for charity, non-profit and public services (such as the NHS and the Police). We shouldn't be looking to stop advertising, to chastise people for buying necessities or living in homes without solar panels. We should be looking for ways to introduce positive change to the lives we already lead. We must look to educate and inform the public on their consumer choices and the effect these have on the overall ecology of the world. Eco-shopping is one route with which to introduce the green agenda to people without preaching. It gives people options, rather than criticising their decisions, which could put people off entirely.