If you’ve stumbled upon a post online discussing sustainability or making ethical purchases, you may have heard the phrase “there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism.” I can remember first hearing this remark during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, an era in which we had to resort to making practically all of our purchases online. Companies such as Shein and Amazon profited heavily from the quarantine, and it was around this time that I became interested in the consequences of fast fashion and the merits of buying ethically sourced goods.
The argument that there is no ethical consumption in a capitalist society has its merits. It is true that, in our globalised and interconnected world, much of what we purchase will have some sort of connection to unethical practices. However, the broad interconnectedness of our economies does not mean that it is impossible to make smarter choices about our purchasing habits.
In the past few years, I have understood the “no ethical consumption” argument to be an acknowledgement that no one can be perfect in their purchases, yet it has been overwhelmingly misused as a means of shifting responsibility from oneself onto others. It has been turned on its head as people take it to mean that since there is no way to be perfectly moral, why try to be moral at all?
As a university student who works multiple jobs and grew up in a rural middle class home, I completely understand the necessity of making certain choices that may not be entirely ethical or eco-friendly for financial reasons. However, this does not mean that I cannot make the effort to make as many wise buys as possible.
It is true that our choices cannot always be entirely sustainable, but it is irresponsible to use the excuse of ethics to resist smart purchases that reduce our carbon footprint and our contribution to corrupt industries.
It is also true that the average person contributes a remarkably small amount to climate change in comparison to the 100 companies that emit 71% of greenhouse gas emissions. However, this does not mean that our efforts to make a difference are insignificant. As consumers, we have buying power and a responsibility to use that power in ways that reflect our values.
It can be difficult as a student living on loans to be able to make purchases that are responsibly sourced, but it is not impossible. Conveniently, it is often cheaper to make ethical purchases than to buy from more questionable sources, especially when it comes to food and household items.
The next time you need to buy dishes, decor, or some sort of item for around the house, I urge you to consider buying from a thrift store or Facebook Marketplace. Both of these avenues can be much cheaper than buying new, and in buying secondhand items, you are giving such goods another life and keeping them out of landfills.
Furthermore, buying from farmer’s markets or in bulk can be perfect opportunities to support local growers and to reduce waste. It feels good to buy your food straight from the source, as you know you are getting the freshest products with a small carbon footprint compared to what you can find at the grocery store. Buying items in bulk can also be cheaper than buying items that are pre-packaged, as you are only purchasing what you need and reducing any waste in the process.
I also highly recommend buying from small, local businesses that make their own products. There are endless options of businesses to choose from in Kelowna. Some of my favourite places to shop include Bright Jenny, Shax Vintage, and the Rutland Flea Market. It is always exciting to buy from such businesses directly, making connections with people and with the greater community.
Of course, the most ethical way to consume is to not purchase new goods at all. Reuse items as much as you can or learn to make things from scratch — it is rewarding and fulfilling to sustain yourself and start a new hobby. Doing research into the goods you need to buy can lead to wise purchases and can contribute to shifting the market further towards sustainable production. There may not be such a thing as entirely ethical consumption in a capitalist world, but making excuses only contributes further to the problems we need to solve.
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