Steps to becoming a more Conscious Consumer

Conscious consumerism isn’t just a passing trend. People of all ages are embracing it, even if that means spending extra money.

However, ensuring your precious shopping dollars go to sustainable brands can get a little tricky.

Greenwashing is rife and as a result of loopholes in labeling laws, the information on labels may be unclear or confusing. Consequently, savvy consumers take environmentally friendly and social responsibility claims with a healthy dose of skepticism.

So, how do you authenticate the products you wish to buy? The road to becoming a conscious consumer is long, and filled with many twists and turns.

So let’s start with an example. Let’s say you are redecorating your home; how do you know if that elegant, imported dining suite was made from legally logged timber?

In recent years, Australia has strengthened our laws and forces businesses to be more diligent, especially when importing goods.

Timber Furniture free from Tint

From furniture and timber flooring to office partitions and photo frames, any business importing wood-based goods, wood, pulp, or paper into Australia must file an Anti Logging Declaration in order to clear customs..

Importers must comprehensively prove they aren’t dealing with illegally felled timber as this is a criminal offence in Australia, with serious consequences for company directors, including possible imprisonment.

How eco-friendly is that packaging really?

Brands often appeal to our green sentiments by advertising eco friendly packaging. Often, we assume this means biodegradability.

But what about the origins of the packaging? Was the paper pulp used in the paper, packaging, or carton harvested legally? The Anti Logging Declaration mentioned above also covers paper goods imported into Australia.

Unfortunately, when it comes to recycling packaging much remains to be done. Younger generations of Australians have grown up with recycling as part of daily life. Nevertheless, a lot of packaging still ends up in landfill. Although the government is supporting 20,000 small to medium-sized Australian businesses to improve the design and sustainability of their packaging, there is still a long way to go.

Towards a smaller Carbon Footprint

Some businesses use carbon offset schemes to improve the sustainability of their day-to-day operations, cargo movements etc - a very creditable practice, but again this can be open to misleading claims. Look for businesses that use offset projects that are third-party validated and verified and meet the Greenhouse Gas Standard Corporate Protocols.

Conscious consumerism is in the best interests of shoppers and business owners alike. If you are a business owner facing an uphill battle in the current economic climate, why not enhance your brand’s sustainability? It could potentially open the floodgates to a brand-new clientele!