Ethical Consumerism: A New Way to Make Sustainable Purchases - Essay Sample

Introduction

Ethical consumerism (purchasing ethically, ethical consumption, shopping ethically, or moral purchasing) refers to a kind of consumer advocacy founded based on dollar voting and linked to green and sustainable consumerism. The process involves purchasing of commodities through an ethical manner that entails assisting small scale producers and local entrepreneurs while conserving the environment and its inhabitants (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 8). The activism demands that consumers refuse to buy materials that encourage child labor, exploits animal rights, or harm the environment. The purpose of this paper entails examining how ethical consumerism contributes to more ethical businesses.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Background Information

Ethical and environmental activism originated from the need to check on issues, such as human rights, animal rights, pollution and toxins, and the need to inspire buyers to make appropriate decisions regarding purchase preferences and offer activists with reliable concepts concerning corporate conduct (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 8). The movement thus provided the globe with a philosophy to inform and create awareness on corporate responsibility to organizations and consumers, laying a foundation for an ethical business environment.

Scholars assert that complete purchasing decision-making requires a useful contribution. This argument finds its roots from historical statements that claimed that people had to take personal spiritual and ethical responsibilities for their actions concerning the degradation and harm to their ecosystem (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 9). Creditworthiness and indirect assurance entail the buying process that requires decisive decisions on the available goods and services offered to the consumer at any given time. Such decisions revolve around morality rather than the operational expenses of the complete production process.

Ethical obligation stems from a diverse aspect far from product markets to an intensive service economy in which the entire actions of the production process becomes a segment of the value chain, and consumers become responsible for these activities. Some scholars claim that the disposition of resources has become the most primary duty humans undertake in an economic model, and the surest means individuals describe their real ethical preferences (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 11).For example, the continued purchase of plastic bags poses a danger to the environment; when people continue to buy such plastic items without recycling, then they encourage environmental degradation.

Ethical Shopping

Supporting domestic industries that employ local workers as designers, deploying environmentally-friendly cosmetics, buying recyclable bags, or carrying a glass to minimize plastic waste, consumers encourage the decent supply chain. Ethical consumerism contemplates the moral facets of a product's production and distribution. The idea of green consumption, such as reusable materials, has become common in the field of consumer conduct (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 11). The ethical consumption model diversifies this perception by including the moral and ethical phases existing in the production and distribution of products. Consumers consider aspects such as child labor, oppression or coercion of labor unions, and animal rights when purchasing goods.

Furthermore, ethical consumer procedures intend at the achievement of the objectives of socially responsible businesses. Therefore, in the international setting, ethical consumerism entails the proper and ethical facets of material value chain from production, like sourcing of goods up to its transaction (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 11). The ethical consumer standards mean that individual customers can have a considerable role, through their everyday buying decisions, in supporting ethical corporate processes. Besides, ethical business refers to global trade that has the objective of averting the injustices of international trade, such as poorly remunerated labor, child labor, environmental pollution, violation of human and animal rights, and the inequalities in economic and social development resulting from globalization.

Promoting Environmental Conservation

Ethical consumerism has gained more traction in the last decades due to environmental challenges, such as global warming, landslides, flooding, and a rise in sea levels, among others. Besides, impoverished communities have become easy targets of some organizations to make their goods more affordable. Ethical consumerism thus contributes more to ethical businesses. Ethical consumerism exists as a model that aims to address environmental challenges that affect the whole world (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 12). Some technological and plastic companies have tried to recycle ocean plastics to help in supporting the conservation of the environment, thus encouraging ethical business. Ocean plastics pose a danger to the essential ocean ecologies, including vital coral reefs and fish nurseries. Besides, plastics in the oceans impact the health and long life of aquatic species and humans.

Ethical Consumerism as an Aspect of Ethical Business

Most corporates have realized that consumers consider how the products get produced. Recently, consumers' assertiveness towards ethical matters has become of growing significance to businesses, making organizations view it as a vital aspect of business approach. Companies and consumers have begun considering the relevance of customer values and how satisfying demands remain crucial if they intend to create a competitive advantage (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 13). The increasing emphasis on ethical matters has driven the need for brands to represent themselves as either green, clean, or socially responsible.

Furthermore, there exist more products that claim that they encourage ethical consumerism. Companies produce brands that employ ethical practices in their supply chain, provide environmentally-friendly or ethical brands in their portfolio, or products that venture into social causes (Park, Kim, & Kwon, 2017, p. 13). Organizations continue to put effort into creating awareness on ethical products among the younger generation so that they bring along the idea when they become the primary consumers in the future.

Conclusion

Ethical consumerism contributes to more ethical businesses according to the above arguments since most consumers, environmental activists, and corporates have realized the significance of ethical shopping. Ethical consumerism influences the environment that gives people their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Besides, ethical consumerism can restore human civility for the entire population living on Earth. Consumers continue to look for products that represent green, clean, environmentally-friendly, and claim social responsibility.

Reference

Park, E., Kim, K.J. and Kwon, S.J., 2017. Corporate social responsibility as a determinant of consumer loyalty: An examination of ethical standard, satisfaction, and trust. Journal of Business Research, 76, pp.8-13. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296317300784