A responsible consumer consumes less and considers the impact of their purchases. A responsible consumer is aware of every aspect of their consumption, including environmental, health, social, and ethical impacts. They will consider the source, packaging, and end use of the products they buy. This can include buying locally, forgoing plastic or other packaging, and being considerate of product use.
I don’t buy anything daily. I buy Uber rides and drinks twice a week. I buy coffee once a week. I buy groceries twice a month. Monthly, I buy subscriptions such as Spotify and HBOMax, a meal from a restaurant, and a manicure.
I mostly purchase online, about 80% of the time. I mostly buy my groceries online because I don’t have a car, but occasionally will shop in person. For meals and drinks, I purchase in-store. I get to the store by walking when I do go in person.
When choosing a product, I consider how much I will like the product and how much use I would get out of it. This usually depends on the brand, quality, and personal preference. I also consider the price of the product.
You can consider the end use of a product at the time of purchase by understanding how the product and its packaging will be disposed of. For example, when buying groceries, you may consider produce that does not come in plastic packaging.
I could be a more responsible consumer by reducing the amount of stuff I buy and buying fewer items online. I could also make sure I only buy produce that is in season. Lastly, I could be more aware of food waste and eat or freeze any food I have before it spoils.