Conscious Consumerism: How Our Choices Drive Positive Change

Speed and convenience have become deeply embedded in the consumer experience, driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce and the expansion of on-demand services. Many companies prioritize speed and quantity over quality and sustainable practices to meet expectations set by features like next-day delivery and easy returns.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported the rise in expedited shipping options resulted in a 15% increase in carbon emissions from 2019 to 2023. Another study from the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimated that in 2023, the value of merchandise returned in the U.S. from e-commerce purchases was over $212 billion, with a significant portion of returned items ending up in landfills.

Though many companies are prone to wasteful practices, consumer demand for sustainable products is growing steadily. The Sustainable Market Share Index found that in 2022, demand for products marketed as “sustainable” grew more than seven times faster than those without the designation. A 2023 survey by IBM found that nearly 70% of consumers are willing to pay a premium of 35% or more for sustainable, ethical or environmentally friendly products.

澳门足彩app’s Sustainability Council promotes Sustainability as a guiding principle of the company. The Council is organized into three subcommittees – Educate, Engage and Evolve – and ensures that the entire 澳门足彩app community incorporates and advocates Sustainability in how it conducts business.

Recently, members of the Council offered a virtual event promoting Conscious Consumerism. The interactive presentation included educational videos and trivia on three key topics: fast fashion, packaging and food labels.

Organizers set the stage with an animated video about the cultivation and processing of coffee. Production requires large amounts of land, water and workers to farm the coffee cherries that are washed, dried and sorted for selection. Turning these cherries into coffee beans takes several days, and much of it is done by hand. Many workers in the production process are underpaid or not paid at all. All this before the coffee can be shipped, roasted and eventually find its way to store shelves for more than 60% of Americans to enjoy daily.

The video provided a detailed example of how a ubiquitous part of daily life results from a long, complex value stream that affects environments and communities that are often unseen and unacknowledged.

“This is not to make anyone feel bad.” Council member Maria Jose Toro explained, “It’s good to be aware of the cycle that goes into bringing a product, like coffee, to you. The hope is that by gaining awareness, we can make better-informed purchasing decisions. We, as individuals, determine what businesses and practices we support with our shopping habits. When you know that your purchasing decisions can have a positive social, economic and environmental impact, that’s the definition of a conscious consumer.”

Fast Fashion Pollutes Water and Air

Defined as a business model focused on producing garments in bulk as rapidly as possible, fast fashion has been on the rise for more than 15 years and continues to dominate the retail sector. Companies resort to cheap, low-quality materials that often deteriorate after limited use and wear to save on cost and time. Chemicals and plastic compounds are becoming more popular as options for material blends in all clothing styles. These create small, toxic particles called microfibers. It is estimated there are over 1.4 million trillion microfibers in the oceans.

As of 2023, the fast fashion industry contributed to an average of 97 million tons of textile-related waste discarded yearly and is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. Clothing sales have doubled annually for nearly 10 years, while the average number of times an item is worn decreased by 36% overall. Companies resort to offshore factories that rely on child labor and unsafe work conditions to keep up with demand. Less than 2% of the estimated 75 million factory workers are paid fairly.

With easy access to consumer services and digital storefronts, customers are challenged to carefully consider which brands they support.

“It’s important to question the price point and how fast companies can release new styles.” Council member Sydney McMahon said, “It takes time for designers to develop new clothing lines and larger companies are known to copy what a smaller business finds success with. They will find a faster and cheaper way to replicate that style and mass-produce it for a larger audience. Don’t be fooled by greenwashing; transparency and quality are what you want. You might spend a little extra time and money upfront, but that extra effort and investment gives a product that is built to last and the chance to make a positive impact.”

Packaging Varies Widely in Recyclability

On average, more than 60% of consumers consider compostable and sustainable packaging their preferred options. That same percentage is also willing to pay a premium for sustainable packaging products. With a value expected to reach $23.4 billion by 2030, the market for biodegradable packaging and sustainable materials is rapidly expanding.

Aluminum is considered the top material for sustainable packaging because of its quality, durability and infinite recyclability. While mining for aluminum can be costly and energy-intensive, recycled aluminum uses up to 95% less energy than mining. As aluminum does not experience the same level of degradation as plastic and paper during use and during the recycling process, it has a substantially longer lifecycle as a reusable material.

The need to account for single-use packaging, such as bags and boxes, presents another set of challenges. While there are measures, such as Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certification, that can help show what materials are more compostable, knowing how compostable versus biodegradable packaging involves more than just a stamp. Biodegradable products will break down over time but may still leave microplastics. Compostable products can be completely broken down by microorganisms over time under proper conditions.

Glass offers another sustainable option for packaging but requires specific recycling processes. Another infinitely recyclable material, glass suffers no degradation through the use and recycling process. For every ton of glass recycled, more than a ton of raw materials is saved. However, broken glass leads to equipment jams, contaminated recyclables and safety hazards, so glass is not always accepted in curbside recycling programs. Purchasing items in reusable glass containers or considering packaging that is easier to recycle is encouraged.

“An easy way to minimize package consumption and waste is shopping locally and at bulk stores,” Council member Frank Stanton said. “Farmer’s markets and co-ops usually have the smallest carbon footprint and offer products with zero packaging, so all you need is your own bag or basket. While recycling is crucial, it's just not enough to make up for excessive waste. Being aware of how and where we purchase products and how we receive them can go a long way towards reducing the amount of waste that needs recycling or ends up in landfills.”

Food Labels Aren’t All Created Equally

Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and increasingly rely on certification labels like "organic," "fair-trade," or "sustainably sourced" to make informed choices. These trends are pushing the food and beverage market toward healthier options. However, not all certifications hold the same value.

For example, the USDA Organic label claims to ensure no synthetic inputs for crops or livestock and includes some animal welfare standards. However, it does not guarantee environmentally friendly practices and has been criticized for lenient enforcement. As a federally enforced program, limited resources lead to inconsistent application of standards. Additionally, the USDA’s dual role in subsidizing conventional agriculture creates potential conflicts of interest that may compromise the organic certification process.

In contrast, the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Gold label, enforced by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), undergoes rigorous annual inspections by accredited certifying bodies. This certification focuses on stringent standards for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. With no ties to federal subsidies, the ROC Gold label reduces potential conflicts of interest, ensuring higher integrity in certification.

This is not to discount the USDA Organic label's value or overlook the fact that ROC Certified products are often more expensive. Instead, it highlights the variety of labels available to help consumers choose products that align with their needs and values.

Here are eight labels selected by 澳门足彩app’s Sustainability Council that represent significant value in sustainability and ethical practices:

While becoming an informed consumer can seem daunting, many resources and tools are available to help. Websites like Good on You rate fashion brands on their impact on people, the planet, and animals, guiding users toward more ethical purchases. The mobile app Think Dirty also aids in making informed choices by scanning food and personal care products to identify harmful ingredients.

“It can feel very inconvenient. No one likes to hear that they need to give more time, money, and effort to make a difference.” Toro continues, “But you can start small. Pick one thing you can do. Get some reusable glass containers. Try to limit your online orders and shop locally. Look for the fair-trade certified label next time you’re out shopping for a bag of coffee. Making any one of these decisions means that you are contributing to positive change. You vote with your dollar.”

澳门足彩app is committed to its role as a leader in environmental sustainability in the AEC industry. We view our role in furthering sustainability in three dimensions: leading by example, through service and through active support of community organizations. Contact us to learn more and to discuss your next sustainable project.