Ethical Consumption, Talk about the good work of consumers who make choices based on the sustainability of supply chains, along with the companies that respond to these ethical demands.

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Going Green: The Hollywood Effect

Caitlin Chock | Friday 16th October 2009

Not too long ago the concept of 'going green' may have sparked images of a painting project gone awry, but nowadays, it seems that eco-friendly has almost become a fad. Everyone from Al Gore to Ashton Kutcher are speaking up about the importance of renewable resources and how to better protect our environment. Hollywood has blazed the way in creating a platform to urge the public to become more ethical consumers. It's ironic that a hole in the ozone layer isn't enough to sway public opinion, but when voiced from their favorite celebrities ears perk up.

Take that same attitude to the business level, and now mass supermarkets such as Winco and Albertsons are promoting reusable shopping bags and even sometimes offer up discounts to shoppers who bring their own bags. How refreshing this must feel to those among us who have been dutifully recycling our cans and paper products for years.

Living in Oregon, it's not an uncommon sight to see multiple colored bins depicting just which recyclable product goes where lining the streets come garbage day. Yet upon traveling outside of the 'Green' State, I was hard pressed to find even one house on the block who separated their papers from their plastics, let alone the reusable from the dinner left-overs.

Whether it be that celebrities finally jumped on board the eco-movement or a stark reality set in the minds of Americans when they saw those ice bergs melting in 'An Inconvenient Truth', whatever the cause the Nation woke up and decided that something needed to be done. With an increase in the demand for renewable resources and a new mindset of ethical shopping, businesses and manufacturers alike have amended their ways to appeal to this burgeoning new market. Cars are becoming electric, toys aren't being packaged in mountains of plastic and boxes that are the size of shipping crates, and even household necessities such as toilet paper, cleaning products, and the like are proudly boasting that they are 'green' and eco-friendly.

It's funny to watch things evolve, and now when I venture outside of Oregon and the land of recyclers, I am met by others just as willing to preserve the Earth. That we, as a Nation, are coming together as more ethical consumers and are now consciously thinking about what our effect on the planet is, and what we will leave generations to come. It is interesting to note that there is a sort of pride or sense of good-doing that goes along with shopping this way and that feeling is a sort or reward in and of itself. When passing through the checkout at the store, my little 'green' bag in hand, I do get a sense of satisfaction at stating that I will need neither paper not plastic.

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