#173 How to Vote with Your Dollars

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 173

How to Vote with Your Dollars

You have likely heard me say that our choices make changes. This is because our choices drive the market place. Now you may not think that your individual choices can make a difference. But, it is the cumulative results of the individual choices of the 7.8 billion people on this planet that has gotten us to where we are today. 

One of the easiest things you can do as a consumer is make better choices with the dollars that you spend. From the consumer goods you buy, to where you shop, to your choice of diet, to where you do your banking, there are numerous ways to vote with your dollars. 

So join me for E173 How to Vote with Your Dollars

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is E173 How to Vote With Your Dollars. 

Sustainability Question of the Week

What can we do as an individuals to have an impact on climate change?

Good News Story of the Week

And you all know that I love stories about doing things in an unconventional manner because that is what I have done for the last 20 plus years. But sometimes if you just simply get away from mainstream you often find there are much more efficient and environmentally friendly ways to do things. 

And in our modern world, many people are looking at older methods of construction and using sustainable materials to build homes that are much more efficient. And this is exactly what Anthony Hudson, an architect in England, managed to do. This home was part of a European Union project to pioneer the construction of more efficient homes. 

The walls of this home are made from hemp straw, earth and water to form a substance called cob. And best of all, the building still complies with all local building regulations. Building with mud is of course a centuries old technique and there are some homes in Britain that have lasted more than 500 years.

This house was part of an EU funded project with a focus on net-zero carbon construction. Building with mud is of course sustainable, it is inexpensive, and easy to source. Additionally, this house has a green roof in order to support local biodiversity and to replace the green space taken up by the build site. 

So, there you are folks. For this week a round of applause to the EU for bringing sustainable construction into the 21st century. 

That said, let’s move on to this weeks episode. 

Have you ever wondered why people make ethical choices. After all, ethical decisions tend to generate and sustain trust. They demonstrate respect and responsibility. And ethical decisions show a sense of caring. In fact, these types of behaviors provide a foundation for making better decisions in the future by simply setting the ground rules for our behavior. Ethics are the principles that guide us to make a positive impact through our decisions and actions. 

More and more people these days are wanting ethical and sustainable choices. I think people are truly starting to realize that we need to move beyond a consumer culture. I say this only because there is an ever-expanding selection of fair trade, eco-friendly and locally made products. This seems to indicate that people want to feel as if the products they purchase support their values. Recent surveys show that 78% of consumers feel that sustainability is important and 84% say that poor environmental practices would alienate them from a company or brand.

But since we still seem to live in a consumer driven economy, one of the best things you can do is to be informed about the ethical behavior of companies that you tend to patronize. This of course is the beginning of making ethical decisions about how you spend your money. While this is a good place to start, building a green economy is about so much more. It is about supporting businesses that actually adopt green practices such as supporting the local economy and even paying people fairly.  

There are numerous factors that drive consumer choices. Those factors of course have been studied again and again and advertisers have become quite creative in manipulating our market choices through advertising campaigns.  But more often than not, what we look for is price and convenience. That said, like it or not, where you shop and what you buy sends a direct message. It is also a reflection of your values because every time you purchase something you are casting a vote. 

There are two economic concepts that are somewhat similar but different in some important ways: green economy and circular economy. While these two economic models are different to some degree, the end goal is a sustainable future for everyone. Allow me to explain. 

A circular economy focuses on the principles of producing durable recyclable products that last much longer. In that respect, the circular economy tackles climate change, and other global challenges such as biodiversity loss, waste production and pollution by decoupling economic growth from the consumption of finite resources. 

The green economy is an economic model  

that prioritizes sustainability and focuses on reducing environmental impact while supporting economic growth and social well-being. This model also reduces environmental degradation and pollution. But it also create new jobs, promotes sustainable consumption and increases social equity and well-being.

It is the combination of these two models that gives us a vision for a sustainable future that supports the three pillars of sustainability which are people, planet, and profits. And what this means is an underlying cultural structure that not only supports environmental preservation but also social justice, equity and healthy communities. It is a culture that supports smaller local businesses, the production of  organic foods, fair trade practices and clean energy solutions, just to name a few. 

When most people think of voting they think of election time, going to the polls, supporting their favored politician. But the reality is that every time we make a decision to purchase something we actually cast a vote. For example: 

-Every time you choose NOT to buy something, you vote against having more stuff just to have more stuff. You make a statement about how you do not need more stuff in order to have a better life. 

-Every time you purchase something that is certified fair trade you support and protect the little guys in third world countries who just want to make a living and cannot compete against the corporate giants. You cast your vote for the little guy.

-When you spend your dollars on renewable energy you cast your vote for a future without fossil fuels. 

-When you purchase goods from a local business you cast your vote for the value of local community instead of the corporate giants that run everything. 

-When you purchase organic produce you cast your vote for supporting farmers who grow healthy, safe food that is free of pesticides. 

-When you purchase from a business owned by women or people of color you cast your vote for building an inclusive community and economy. 

So as you can see, there are many other ways where you cast your vote other than for your favorite politician. Where you shop and what you buy sends a message about your values. Certainly you have heard me say before that our choices make changes. If we all decided to only purchase non-GMO foods, then we can force large corporations to change their methods of food production. But this also helps to support small local businesses and help them to compete in a very competitive deal-driven market. 

So let’s look at a few detailed examples as to why it is important to vote with your dollar. 

The Clothes We Wear

What most people do not realize is that 65% of the textiles produced in this world are made by women between the ages of 18 to 24 often working in developing countries where wages are minimal. These operations are often what is referred to as sweat shops. The workers basically get paid starvation wages, they are denied sick leave, denied basic things such as bathroom breaks, and are often forces to work unpaid overtime. Workers who seek better treatment suffer retaliation. All of this results in inexpensive clothing prices for those of us in developed countries. But there are ways you can steer your money toward companies with fair labor practices and help create a system that is just and fair across the board. For example:

-Reduce and reuse: one of the easiest things you can do is buy fewer clothes overall. Downsize your wardrobe and don’t buy something until you really need it. When you do purchase, buying second hand is a great way to go. When you do buy something new, buy higher quality clothes that will last much longer. 

-Buy Fair Trade: Purchasing clothing items through a conventional retailer usually means the person that made the item gets paid a small fraction of the purchase price. When you buy fair trade you are supporting a system that provides fair wages for artisans worldwide. You will also get unique high quality items. 

-Shop beyond what is made in the US. A good way to do this is to look for the UNITE label. This is an organization that came out of the merger of several organizations of textile workers. The point being, this is a union label which means the workers have a voice. 

-Buy clothing from companies that operate responsibly. Search the internet for sustainable clothing companies. Additionally look for companies that sell products through a cooperative. 

The Food We Eat

Another important area where you can vote with your dollar is being mindful of the food you eat. For example, large corporations in the US have consolidated and continue to squeeze out small-scale farms. In 1935 there were 6.8 million farms in the US. As of 2022 there were only 2 million farms. But, there are things we can do to protect the small farmer. 

-Buy local and organic. Industrial farming, by its nature, has to use chemicals and pesticides and GMO crops. And guess what, we eat those chemicals and pesticides every day. Additionally, large scale farming operations rarely support the local community. 

But you can avoid that by buying local and organic. You support the local community, avoid consuming toxic pesticides and herbicides and support family owned farms.  

Buy Fair Trade: Once again, purchase fair trade products. Many fair trade products such as coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, honey, vanilla, rice and fresh fruit help to raise the standard of living for farmers in developing countries. 

-Purchase products from the United Farm Workers organization. The consolidation of farms not only squeezes out the small scale farmers, it has also given rise to a population of over 400,000 migrant farm workers that move between nearly 80,000 farms. The United Farm Workers is a union of US farm workers that helps to protect the rights of these workers. Go to www.ufw.org and click on Union Label. The UFW maintains a list of produce harvested by unionized farm workers. 

-Other opportunities: Look in your local community for organizations that support and hire marginalized people in the community. Often times they use their businesses to support and develop jobs skills for the unemployed. 

Look at Your Protein Sources

The next point I want to bring up is that we need to look hard at our protein sources. It has long been known that meat production by far has the greatest environmental impact. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization concluded that livestock is responsible for 18% of our global warming emissions. And meat production is expected to double by the year 2050. And yet, the average person never makes the connection between a cheeseburger and global warming. 

Now the answer is not necessarily for everyone to become a vegetarian. But, most studies have concluded that we eat twice as much protein compared to what is needed in order to keep us healthy. What this means is that most of us can reduce our meat consumption by 50% and have a significant impact on the environment. 

It has also long been know that a diet with more poultry versus beef has a much less environmental impact. 

The bottom line is that if you eat meat considering reducing your meat consumption. When you do consume beef, look for organic, grass fed beef in order to mitigate some of the environmental problems associated with meat production. And by doing so you will be eating healthier meals, reducing your global warming impact and enjoy having a diet that reflects animal welfare and environmental values. 

The Sustainability of Your Chocolate

Now this is something that most people never consider. It may surprise you but even your chocolate consumption has a global impact. 

The main ingredient in chocolate is cocoa. Approximately 70% of the cocoa beans grown in the world come from just four West African countries: the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. According to the US Department of Labor, more than 2 million children work in hazardous conditions on cocoa farms. Cocoa farmers often make less than $1 per day. As a result, they often resort to using child labor in order to keep their prices competitive.  Children are forced  to work with chainsaws and often work more than 14 hours per day. These children are often surrounded by intense poverty so they go to work to help support the family. Journalist who went undercover as cocoa farmers documented children being sold for $34 USD. These children often do not see their families for years if at all. 

So, if you want to purchase sustainably sourced chocolate, Green America has a great chocolate scoreboard where you can find the top rated companies. 

Now despite the number of times you have likely heard me berate our consumer society, it is actually unrealistic to not shop at all. We all have to buy food, we have to tend to our basic necessities and sometimes we just want to treat ourselves to something special. But the next time you start to spend your hard earned money remember that how you spend that money, what you spend it on, and the businesses you support sends a message. It is a direct reflection of your values and your ethics. So, just remember that there is an ever-expanding selection of fair trade, eco-friendly and locally made products.

You may not think that your individual choices have the power to make a difference. But, it is the cumulative results of the individual choices of the 7.8 billion people on this planet that has gotten us to where we are today. And it is the cumulative effect of our individual choices that will help to build a sustainable future. 

So in closing, let’s look at the sustainability question of the week. 

What can we do as an individuals to have an impact on climate change?

As it turns out there is a lot we can do. Once again, it comes down to voting with your dollar. Here are 12 more ways to vote with your dollar: 

-Transition to renewable energy

-Reduce your energy usage at home

-Green up your transportation: walk, bike, use public transit

-Travel less

-Switch to an electric vehicle

-Reduce, reuse, repair, recycle

-Eat more vegetables 

-Reduce your food waste

-Plant native species

-Conserve water

-Go plastic free

-Speak up and vote wisely

Well folks, that about wraps it up for this week. I hope at this point you see the value in voting with your dollar. I also hope you will join me again next week for another informative episode. Until then, this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future. 

Patrick