These are much harder to implement, but the payoffs are simply huge. Make gradual steps towards these as you can
In this section you may come across Closed Loop Systems – which are a series of processes that produce a product or service while maintaining ownership over every aspect of those processes; as opposed to open loop which simply push the product or service out and are hands off thereafter. In many ways, closed loop systems are optimized in a way that makes them the best in terms of efficiency, and therefore, are often more ethical options to opt for.
GLASS
Arguably one of the best and coolest materials we have made. It’s chemically inert, meaning it wont absorb smells, nor react with any sort of chemical product, nor will it degrade over time. Further, its non toxic, made from incredibly abundant silica. Its a great candidate for recyclability as well. However, its does quite literally involve moving sand and melting it, which is very energy intensive. The Life cycle Analysis (LCA), much like with other LCA’s, will say that plastic containers win out over glass. This win is largely due to the weight of glass itself vs the thin light plastic containers. Much like with shopping bags, it becomes a race to see how many uses you can get out of the plastic container vs the glass container. So, the suggestion for ethical consumption is this: If you need to purchase a long term storage solution, see if you can opt for glass. It should serve well in the long run and can be used for any sort of storage. Above all, you should be reusing nearly every piece of glass you can, as it should be very easy to clean and repurpose glass.
You are paying too much for water.
Most products you purchase, with special emphasis on cleaning products, are sold most often as liquids. They do not need to be. For example, laundry detergent. Often sold in giant heavy plastic bottles, you are paying for transport of this water, as well as the disposable bottles. Opt for a powder alternative, which can very easily be turned back into liquid with some warm water if needed. Often, powdered versions, or even solid where applicable, provide both cost benefit, lower carbon footprint, and generally better overall LCA results than any liquid counterpart. Not only that, but many chemicals can often be better stored as dry goods for shelf life. as a bonus, there are “refill” or “bulk goods” stores that make it even more convenient to get dry goods, and, often can be a closed loop system with re using containers. Some connivence is lost, for example a bar of soap may be less convenient than a foamy one but what you gain far exceeds these benefits, and if it saves money as well it’s icing on the cake. Make small steps today to build your way up to a full closed loop consumer if possible.
Veganism
I type this as a hypocrite, but unfortunately it is true. There is no debate in terms of ethical consumption- veganism will win every argument fundamentally. In an abundant society with many options, there’s no reason not to be vegan. It has become incredibly easy in first worlds to make the switch, and there are plenty of guides on making it both a flavorful and healthy experience. When in a society that is not as privileged with preferences and abundance, things become softened, and the ethical consumption falls to the availability of consumption. In other words, one should not starve when there is other food available in the name of ethics. Even further, in areas less developed, or simply excessively far from food sources, it may be more ethical to eat local sources than to import vegan options. This is highly situational, but, for a large majority of those of you who can read this article, you will likely fall into the first category who can and should but choose not to be vegan. It is a tough transition, and it may not be economical at first, especially before the methods are figured out. “But i like bacon” isn’t a great argument, but, a cheat day every once in a while is a hell of a lot better than not trying at all. Make slow transitions, and some you will find are easier than others. For example, changing milk is a very easy choice, while cutting out steak may be a sacrifice some are not quite willing to make just yet and give up before starting. However, there are certain edge cases in which certain foods may not actually meet the intent they are going for. Some things to be weary of are “plant based meats” which are often highly processed and the health and environmental benefits may not be present or may even be worse off than what they replace.