November 10, 2023

#117 The dark side of conscious consumerism: when shopping feels like activism, can you save the world and promote your values by acquiring stuff?

49 minutes

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I've always believed in making positive change through my purchases. Recycling, supporting local businesses, and buying eco-friendly products have been my way of feeling like I'm making a difference, saving the world one shopping trip at a time. But I had a revelation. In today's episode, I'll explore the common belief that shopping can be a form of activism, that it is positive to support or promote whatever values are important to us. The struggles of aligning hoarding tendencies with ethical and environmental values are not lost on me. I'll delve into the difficulties of ethical purchasing and provide some insights to help you navigate through the clutter.

Expressing beliefs through items can lead to clutter

False advertising misleads consumers with "natural" claims

Some environmentally friendly products are more toxic

Resource extraction required for "ethical" consumption too

Choose green options but be mindful of unnecessary consumption

Individual actions won't save world; collective action needed

Systemic change

Believing we've done our part hinders change

Hoarders struggle with ethical purchasing decisions; advice appreciated

Although we can make ethical shopping choices, society convinces us that spending money on stuff is a form of activism

Supporting local businesses is beneficial, but it doesn't negate the negative consequences of buying something

Supporting recycling and shopping in charity shops can lead to excessive clutter and prevent others from purchasing

Buying items to display or share beliefs/values can lead to clutter; shopping won't save the world

Companies can mislead consumers by labelling products as "natural" or eco-friendly, leading us to believe we are making a positive impact

Electric car batteries release significant amounts of CO2 before being purchased

It's important to strive for better socially, environmentally, and personally, and to make informed choices when purchasing necessary items

Stocking up on unnecessary items is problematic

Collective action and societal change are needed for significant global change, not individual shopping habits

Boycotts may not be effective in changing company practices if they are still profitable

Changing to unleaded petrol required a law change

Believing shopping solves problems hinders impactful change; focus on reducing consumption, reusing, and finding real solutions

The hoarder's perspective on making positive change through purchases

Recognising flawed thinking and greenwashing

People believing they are saving the Earth through shopping

Greenwashing and misleading consumers with eco-friendly claims

Ethics of shopping and the reality of consumerism

Contribution of consumerism and resource consumption to environmental damage

Interconnection between social and environmental issues

Pitfalls of feel-good consumerism and the importance of reducing consumption

How buying green products can lead to complacency and less virtuous behaviour

Eco junk

Emphasis on consuming less and reducing consumption as a more effective solution

Shopping cannot solve issues like climate change, racism, inequality, or homophobia

Aligning ethical values with challenging hoarding tendencies

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By That Hoarder

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November 10, 2023

#117 The dark side of conscious consumerism: when shopping feels like activism, can you save the world and promote your values by acquiring stuff?

49 minutes

Subscribe to the podcast

Expressing beliefs through items can lead to clutter