Sustainable Revolution
BY GINA PEPITONE
Lately, there has been a buzz around shopping sustainably, with words like “biodegradable,” “eco-friendly,” and “ethical” being tossed around by the media and name brand companies. With ethical consumerism and sustainable living becoming such a fad, there are both benefits and drawbacks to consider. Larger corporations, moving to capitalize on this trend, end up defaulting to misleading advertising and “greenwashing,” a marketing ploy that deceptively makes products appear environmentally friendly. At the same time, however, attention to this issue brings the idea of sustainability to the forefront of consumers’ minds. They know to be more thoughtful with their purchases and consider the resources and labor that are exploited in order to supply our never-ending demands.
The Underground is a new organization on Vassar’s campus that raises awareness of human trafficking and promotes ethical consumerism as a means to combat the exploitation of laborers. “A lot of people think that human trafficking is either forced movement across borders or poor working conditions, which it is to an extent,” founder Grace Roebuck ‘20 explains. “But the main point is that [human trafficking] forces individuals into labor, sex work, or organ trafficking. They are unwillingly compelled to live in horrible conditions and are psychologically or physically abused.”
The Underground first started when Grace brought the Red Sand project to campus. Connecting communities all over the world, this artistic, activist project fights modern slavery by filling the cracks of pavements with red sand in order to raise awareness of the trafficked victims who have fallen through the cracks of society. Eager to expand on this initiative, Grace and her friends fought to establish The Underground. The ultimate goal of this organization is to educate people to recognize human trafficking and encourage them to fight it. One way of doing so as a consumer is to buy from fair trade businesses.
Co-president of The Underground Lindsay Irwin ‘21 adds, “Companies like Nike and other huge corporations typically use labor trafficked individuals to make their products because it’s cheaper…when products are way cheaper than they should be, that’s when you know a company has probably cut some corners.”
It is our job as consumers to take control and be more conscientious about what businesses we are supporting. “[Ethical consumerism] is a form of empowerment,” Grace says. “Recognize that spending a dollar here versus there gives you so much more power and has such a larger ripple effect in the world…I think people are starting to realize that their actions are more consequential than they think.”
Lindsay brings up another point, “Conservation and sustainability is thinking about future generations and not being selfish.” Human trafficking and labor violations are undeniably linked to today’s climate crisis. Working towards a more fair trade motto, whether that be through thrifting or supporting local artisans and businesses, gives you, the consumer, agency over your personal impact on the environment. Taking on a human rights standpoint, Grace declares, “I feel like I don’t have a right to purchase things that were made at the expense of someone else…[I try] to make ethical choices with my purchases so that they don’t have a slavery footprint.”
Cognitive Science major Noelle Morris ‘20 views sustainability as the opposite of consumerism. “When I came [to Vassar] I had two of everything,” she says with a light laugh. Within the past year, however, Noelle has learned more about living sustainably and has since made an effort to purchase ethical products out of necessity. “I focus on my individual production,” she explains. “Even if recycling is a hoax, even if it’s all going to a landfill, I try to minimize how much waste I make.”
Lindsay adds to this sentiment, saying, “Not everyone can be 100% an ethical consumer. There is no grade. I think a lot of it is just trying your best.”
As Noelle puts it, “It is so hard to trust Capitalism to tell you the truth about a product.” Because of this, it is important to do some research about the brands and companies you support. To make this a little easier, there are certain apps available, like GoodGuide and Good On You, that evaluate the production process and sustainability of companies and products at your convenience.
Maybe shopping sustainably isn’t such a fad after all. We are realizing that our purchases have consequences on our environment and on the lives of trafficked laborers. In knowing this, it is worth critically considering the businesses you support and the goods you choose to purchase. Like Lindsay says, not everyone can be an entirely ethical consumer, but in the end, we all have some degree of control over what we consume, giving us the opportunity to innovate and incorporate more sustainable choices in multiple facets of our lives.