But if you’re a big company, you should care that we do.

Now, I’m not much of a sign carrying activist (which means I’m pretty much in awe of those that are). But I do believe we have a TON of subtle power as consumers to shift the industries that are doing the most damage to the environment by voting with our dollars every chance we get.

Because the truth is, you, as a single person or household can recycle and compost and turn off the lights and take shorter showers until you’re blue in the face, but until the industries change, the actual, environmental impact we can have individually is minimal. But don’t despair!

Something like 100 companies account for 70% of the carbon crisis we face today, and they’re just not going to change until there’s a profit-driven reason to do so.

Here’s where we come in. We can create a better world simply by taking our cash away from the ones who are destroying it.

A really good example of this is the fact that by shifting our CONSUMER focus away from plastic straws, an entire silicone / stainless steel straw market was created. Like, what??

So yes, avoiding plastic straws keeps them out of landfills and sea turtles won’t eat them, but the BIGGER impact is when entire companies say “Ok, fine, we feel you, here’s a product for that. We’ll be better.”

The same goes for food.

Buying local and organic isn’t just better for you, it sends a message to the industry that THIS is where the dollars are. You can already see the effects of this with the explosion of natural / organic products available. It’s no longer fringe because we, the consumers shifted it.

The meat industry is massively disgusting and destructive, but it’s hard for me to imagine going completely vegetarian #becausebacon…so instead, what if we all agreed to support local, sustainable farms?

The meat & eggs at my local farmer’s market are organic, grass-fed and part of a small scale operation. You can ask the people at the booth about their farm(s). It tastes better, it’s healthier and by buying it, I’m not supporting practices that give me nightmares.

So put your money where your activism is. Buy things from artisans on Etsy, local farms, organic and plastic-free where possible. It’s better for you and industries will take notice and adjust accordingly. Don’t drive yourself crazy being extreme about it. Just make some swaps.

Cruel, destructive industries? Not on my dime.