What it Means to be a Green Consumer

While flipping through the paper this morning I stopped at the article entitled: “It’s Not Easy Being Green”. However, I was quickly disappointed when I gathered from the first paragraph that the columnist was lamenting the perception that to be a green consumer meant she would have to limit her shoe purchases. After reading that short sited comment I moved on to a more worthwhile section such - the comics!

If being a ‘green consumer’ meant “not buying things” then I would have much more money in my bank account then I do! The green consumer might limit their purchases to the items needed, as opposed to five pairs of black shoes, but that potential savings could be quickly gobbled up by a willingness to pay a premium for an earth friendly product.

Instead, being a green consumer means being a smart consumer. Making the effort to take into consideration the entire cost of a product from the materials and process used during manufacturing to the location of manufacture to the quality and durability of the product.

The columnist did get one thing right, being a green consumer is not easy. However, the difficulty is because a green consumer has to be more aware and willing to ask questions rather then just finding the “most adorable pumps”.