Individual Accessibility

While the world may be ever expanding with opportunities to show environmental support and activism, many areas and individuals are limited to their own realities. With issues like transportation, finances, individual’s needs, and local demands for specific products, local, in-person stores just don’t always fit the bill. The brick-and-mortar shopping experience has, and always will, tailor to the most privileged and advantaged citizens. Retail and food-based workers may never even have the opportunity to see one of these shops open due to the odd hours associated with these sorts of jobs. Individuals with allergies and ethical preferences might be unable to find products that meet those needs. Online businesses and larger corporations sadly can be the best option for individuals impacted by these variety of factors. Both entities provide an opportunity to overcome these sorts of boundaries to make the same ethical, environmental, and economic decisions we all deserve to have.

One of the biggest negatives associated with these businesses is the higher risk for greenwashing. For those less aware of this concept, it is the idea that companies are going to alter, overly simplify, or even lie about what their products are, their company does, or how they are working to change their impact to appeal to the ever more sustainable consumer. Greenwashing is a complicated issue to navigate especially for the disconnected consumer. Greenwashing is especially hard because many individuals consider corporate sustainable action as greenwashing when their reason for making the changes is purely to match their consumer base. My issue with this opposition is that it negates the changes that have been made. The other side is that the changes made by corporations are over exaggerated. While this can be a concern for individuals there is a certain amount of protection. A well-informed consumer can avoid common green washing traps. I have created simplified steps to this process:

1. Understand the power of language. Certain terms are more important and beneficial for the environment than others. For example, biodegradable means that the product will degrade into only specific materials and chemicals within a certain period of time. Compostable means the product when properly composted will break down into natural materials that fortify soils with vitamins and nutrients. As a consumer, understanding this difference will allow us to purchase the better option for the situation.

2. Aim for national and global certifications. Different certifications apply to different environmental and ethical issues. “Certified Fair Trade” ensures ethical working conditions for its employees, manufacturers, providers, and landowners. “Non-GMO Project Verified” means the food is grown without genetically modified foods (this can be a more personal preference). “Rainforest Alliance Certified” ensures the protection of rainforests and their associated biosystems.

3. Review the information yourself. While ingredient lists can be complicated, this is one way to guarantee you know what is in the product you are considering purchasing. Companies are another aspect to research to get the best idea of what they are doing for the environment as a whole.

By keeping these tips in mind, consumers can purchase goods through any number of business types to overcome their personal boundaries. In encouraging knowledge, we can overcome all sorts of issues with accessibility including product availability, individual access, affordability concerns, and health related concerns.