The power of consumption

Published by Marie-Amélie Brun on July 21, 2016July 21, 2016

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]

21th of June 2016

It is often difficult to realise that our daily actions have impacts on the environment and our society.
One of the greatest examples of a field which deserve our attention is consumption and its impacts. As consumers we have a great power because we can influence offers proposed to us. Consumption is either praised or despised. This difference of opinion can be explained by your point of view on our economic system.
Capitalism praises consumption because it is one of key features for capitalism to function. With consumption comes growth, job creation etc… However for some people this system shows weaknesses. More and more people express their discontent about a system that locks us in a vicious circle: work, earn money, spend money, and so it goes…
More than just unhappiness and stress, this way of living has other consequences especially on our environment.
Fortunately it also gives us great power. As supply depends from demand, our demands count and we can choose to make beneficial choices for the planet and its inhabitants.
Here are some tips to help you make choices that correspond to your values.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”phone-square” icon_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 99%)” icon_bg_color=”rgb(246, 5, 5)” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: rgb(246, 5, 5);”]Apps[/x_feature_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]New technology has brought us some very useful tools. Various apps are available on smartphones to guide you during your shopping. They will indicate to you the composition of certain products, their origin and to what multi national groups the brands belong to. Boycott is one of them, thank to it you can learn more about the products that your consume.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://greennews.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2-images-photophop-1.png” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”shopping-basket” icon_bg_color=”rgb(6, 51, 241)” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: rgb(6, 51, 241);”]Parent company[/x_feature_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]While shopping it can be interesting to know more about the parent company of the brand you buy from because your money will go to the parent company too. Finding out who the companies belong to is relatively easy they are all interdependent and it can be interesting because you may agree with the policy of the subsidiary but not with the one of the parent company (for example on matters such as animal testing or GMO use).[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”thumbs-o-up” icon_bg_color=”rgb(39, 227, 132)” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: rgb(39, 227, 132);”]Encourage your local economy[/x_feature_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]If you are not comfortable in giving money to big companies why not start shopping in smaller shops owned by independent entrepreneurs? You will participate to the economy of your neighbourhood and knowing to whom your money goes to. Also it is a great occasion to create links with people in your town and an improved community .
You can also shop at farms or co-ops which will have a lot of organic and grown locally products. [/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://greennews.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/local-economy-4.png” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_author title=”About the Author” author_id=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]