What Is Responsible Consumption?

Responsible Consumption is a way of thinking about the environmental and the social effects of your purchases before you make them. It is about how you live your life and use the things you buy to contribute positively to society and to the environment.

Because Responsible Consumption is a way of relating to the world, it cannot be communicated completely through a database or with a list of “things” for you to do. But reading the advice in this database, and thinking about the reasons behind the advice, is a great first step to understanding why you should choose Responsible Consumption.

You may ask, “Can I make a real difference through my consumer choices?” Yes! Every dollar spent on purchases is like a vote for that product and for the company behind that product. The consumer choices that we make every day represent opportunities to support the alternatives that are better for our health, our society, and for the environment. This may require you to interrupt some of the status quo of your current lifestyle. But these choices do make a difference for you and for all of us in the world. Now is the time to learn more about the effects of Responsible Consumption.