In this third episode from Talking Shop, the ABC podcast I hosted with Kirsten Drysdale in 2015, we dive into the complexities of ethical consumption; why it’s so hard to define, and even harder to practise. We explore the contradictions that come with trying to be an ethical shopper, from fair trade coffee that travels thousands of kilometres to get to us, to organic produce wrapped in layers of plastic. Why do we feel guilty about some purchases but not others? How do we rationalise our choices when our values are in conflict? And do those ‘ethical’ labels on products really mean anything?

As we break down the psychology behind consumer decision-making, we uncover the trade-offs we make to ease our conscience and the mental shortcuts, like confirmation bias, that help us justify what we buy. Just like on It’s Not Real, this episode questions the idea that we are rational consumers and explores how businesses, culture, and even our own psychology make ethical shopping more complicated than it seems.