What is ethical consumption?

What does “ethical” mean?

When we talk about what “ethical” means, we think about ethics, a branch of philosophical study to understand and define what right and wrong behaviors are.

In simple terms, it’s about “right” and “wrong.”

So what is an “ethical product”?

In other words, when we ask if a product is ethical, we are asking if, by making a product,

1. are we harming or depriving someone in society?
2. are we damaging nature, in part or whole?

If the answer is no to both, then the product is ethical.

Some examples of what these products can be like:

The ambiguity of ethics

But it may not be so clear-cut. Take, for example, a fair trade product that uses excessive plastic packaging.

So is the product ethical or not?

Achieving “ethical” through balance and continuous improvement

Here, we consult Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia for wisdom. In very simple terms, eudaimonia means “flourishing” or “wellbeing.” According to Aristotle, eudaimonia is achieved by doing the “right thing,” which is finding a balance between the two extremes, rather than going 100% absolute right.

So the fair trade product with plastic packaging can still be ethical. How? By combining the concept of eudaimonia with the ancient Japanese philosophy of kaizen, to constantly make small improvements, to continue making the products we use “more ethical.” For example, within the manufacturers’ available resources and capability, they can redesign their products to use less plastic, and even replace it with (truly) biodegradable material.

Ethical consumption and You

But how do these relate to us? Buying ethical products is just one part of the equation of ethical consumption, which is more important now that we are facing the climate crisis.

Ethical consumption is the responsible buying, using, and disposal of products. We can find ethical products to buy and use, but we also need to ask ourselves if we know how to dispose of things properly.

Back to our example of fair trade product with plastic packaging. Other than asking if we know where the product is made from and how, we should also be asking if we know what to do with it when it is broken. Can we repair it in the future? Do we know who can repair it? Can we recycle? Is it easy to recycle? If discarding, can we avoid it from ending up in landfill?

In other words, ethical consumption requires us to know where and how a product is made, and what materials were used to make it. It also requires us not to consider discarding immediately, but find ways to extend the product life or help the material become a resource again. This way, our actions on society become positive while minimizing our environmental impact.