The dark side of conscious consumerism: when shopping feels like activism, can you save the world and promote your values by acquiring stuff?

Subscribe to the podcast

I've always believed in making positive change through my purchases. Recycling, supporting local businesses, and buying eco-friendly products have been my way of feeling like I'm making a difference, saving the world one shopping trip at a time. But I had a revelation. In today's episode, I'll explore the common belief that shopping can be a form of activism, that it is positive to support or promote whatever values are important to us. The struggles of aligning hoarding tendencies with ethical and environmental values are not lost on me. I'll delve into the difficulties of ethical purchasing and provide some insights to help you navigate through the clutter.

Expressing beliefs through items can lead to clutter
False advertising misleads consumers with "natural" claims
Some environmentally friendly products are more toxic
Resource extraction required for "ethical" consumption too
Choose green options but be mindful of unnecessary consumption
Individual actions won't save world; collective action needed
Systemic change
Believing we've done our part hinders change
Hoarders struggle with ethical purchasing decisions; advice appreciated
Although we can make ethical shopping choices, society convinces us that spending money on stuff is a form of activism
Supporting local businesses is beneficial, but it doesn't negate the negative consequences of buying something
Supporting recycling and shopping in charity shops can lead to excessive clutter and prevent others from purchasing
Buying items to display or share beliefs/values can lead to clutter; shopping won't save the world
Companies can mislead consumers by labelling products as "natural" or eco-friendly, leading us to believe we are making a positive impact
Electric car batteries release significant amounts of CO2 before being purchased
It's important to strive for better socially, environmentally, and personally, and to make informed choices when purchasing necessary items
Stocking up on unnecessary items is problematic
Collective action and societal change are needed for significant global change, not individual shopping habits
Boycotts may not be effective in changing company practices if they are still profitable
Changing to unleaded petrol required a law change
Believing shopping solves problems hinders impactful change; focus on reducing consumption, reusing, and finding real solutions
The hoarder's perspective on making positive change through purchases
Recognising flawed thinking and greenwashing
People believing they are saving the Earth through shopping
Greenwashing and misleading consumers with eco-friendly claims
Ethics of shopping and the reality of consumerism
Contribution of consumerism and resource consumption to environmental damage
Interconnection between social and environmental issues
Pitfalls of feel-good consumerism and the importance of reducing consumption
How buying green products can lead to complacency and less virtuous behaviour
Eco junk
Emphasis on consuming less and reducing consumption as a more effective solution
Shopping cannot solve issues like climate change, racism, inequality, or homophobia
Aligning ethical values with challenging hoarding tendencies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.