Franciscan Living Challenge

Ethical shopping: be mindful about every purchase

Living Simply, Living Franciscan
by Mary Ellen Dunford, affiliate

I often hear people say that they don’t shop in certain stores. Their reasons are legitimate as they reflect their personal ethics and values. The business may carry products from countries that use child labor, produce goods in sweatshops or use products that are not environmentally friendly. The company may take advantage of workers and not provide fair benefits. These are good reasons not to patronize a store, but does it really make a difference to the overall operations of the business? I don’t think it does unless they know you are doing it.

To make a difference it is necessary to give voice to your ethical shopping decisions. Refusing to shop somewhere is a private boycott or a selective shopping choice. A boycott can be an influence for change only if enough people get together and make their voices heard. Companies and businesses do not like negative publicity and may make changes if it is advantageous to keep consumers happy. If nothing else, boycotting raises the awareness of specific concerns.

Selective buying can include shopping at one store and not another because of its operational practices. It can also include buying one type of a product over another, such as organic rather than inorganic, or made in the USA rather than made in another country. Selective buying can become a silent protest that the company or producer knows nothing about it.

This is a time when words speak as loud as actions. We need to tell stores and companies why we do not shop there or buy their products. We need to write letters and send emails that support our convictions with facts.

We may make a greater impact if we go to a store that we usually do not shop at and tell the clerk or manager why we do not buy some of their products or why we don’t agree with some of their employee policies. It is important to educate others about ethical consumerism—speak out and use your purchasing power to make a difference.

During our final month of the 2011 Affiliation Office Precycle challenge, I invite you to shop ethically and educate others. I also invite you to shop with intention and integrity.