Goal 3: Vote with your dollar
Support good company practices
Why?
When you buy something, do you understand how and where it was made? Do you think about the human and environmental costs of its production? You may not always get answers to these questions, but you can still take steps to find reputable businesses and lower your consumer carbon footprint.
Look for certifications
With rampant greenwashing and other shady practices, it’s best to rely on objective assessments so you know whether a company’s commitment is real, meaningful, and lasting.
Look for certifications such as B Corps, which measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact. Fair trade certification is also a program designed to help improve livelihoods, protect the environment, and build resilient, transparent supply chains.
However, be very cautious with green labels for forestry products. A recent international investigation found that major environmental auditors increasingly approve certifications for many companies linked to deforestation and authoritarian regimes.
B Corporation: Find a B Corp
Fair Trade Certified: Why Fair Trade
Library of Congress: Green Business: Standards and Certifications
Support local businesses
Shopping online is incredibly convenient and often cheaper than the alternative. But it comes with at least one price: A transportation carbon cost. You may need to order online at times, but support your local businesses when you can. Not only do they have a smaller carbon footprint, but they add vibrancy and diversity to our town, help support our foodie culture, and have a local economic multiplier effect.
