Compassionate Consumerism

I have been thinking lately about compassionate consumerism. Don't confuse that with compassionate conservatism. Two totally separate things there.

Compassionate consumerism is the idea that it is possible to consume and purchase items in a way that is sensitive and compassionate towards the people who actually make the products.

Honestly, this is not a topic that I have dwelt upon much before. I live in America and in a culture that encourages consumerism. Why is that? Because if we continually buy a product then more of it will need to be produced which will require more workers and therefore more jobs will be created, etc. We are encouraged to earn earn earn so we can buy buy buy because that leads to more jobs. When the economy is down, the government sends "stimulus" checks so we can go out and purchase more stuff. Our whole economic system is built around people having purchasing power.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am a consumer just like most everyone else. I enjoy shopping and spending money on things I like and enjoy. I believe capitalism is the best possibly economic system because it has lifted more people out of poverty and provided more prosperity than any other system in the history of the world. It is not a perfect system, but it is in my opinion the best choice around.

But maybe instead of purchasing items just for the sake of keeping the system going we could take a step back and really think about how we are using our money. Our money is valuable. It represents our hard work and our time away from our families. Money provides the things we need to survive and live and enjoy life. And money is something billions of people in this world do not have much of. Many of us enjoy having an adequate amount of money or even an excess amount of money, while others have so little money they cannot afford to eat.

So with that in mind, what if we were a little more thoughtful about our spending? What if we looked for small ways in which we could make the money we spend every day go farther so it benefits more people than just ourselves?

One small attempt I have made this year is to try and purchase all of my gifts for other people at charity events. I attended a school charity event last night and looked for items to give to others for birthdays and Christmas. The check I wrote was partly tax-deductible, part of the proceeds benefited the school, and the seller of the item still made money. It was a win/win situation for everyone involved. Instead of just going to a store and buying jewelry, the money I spent went a little further and also helping the school.

What are things that we need on a regular basis, like coffee or other food items, that we could buy from a company that puts part of their revenues back into the development of the community where their product is harvested?

What if we skipped one lunch a week, which would normally cost us $5-10, or gave up one Starbucks coffee a week, and used that money to support a child ($35/month) which would provide them food, water, education, and community through an organization like Compassion International or World Vision?

These are just some initial ideas to help get you thinking and jump started. It is easy to make small changes in our budgets and in our purchasing habits so that our money goes a little bit father. Together we really can make a difference in the lives of people who need help through compassionate consumerism.


Below will be a list in progress of companies and products that benefit those in need. Please let me know of any you have discovered that should be on this list...

Trade As One Trade As One allows you to give unique, high-quality gifts to family and friends— while giving hope and income to the poor. Through gifts and everyday purchases, you can use your spending power to make the world more fair. That's what it means to trade as one.

Toms Shoes One For One. Buy one pair of shoes and Toms gives a pair away to a child in need. Their goal for 2009 is to give away 300,000 pairs of shoes. These would make great baby gifts, or children's birthday gifts.

Gap Product Red A division of The Gap in which half of the proceeds go to fight the AIDS Crisis in Africa. The clothes are really comfortable and durable (I have two shirts) and great for working out or casual wear.

Gobena Coffee Great gourmet coffee, delivered to your door, and all of the profits are reinvested into the lives of orphans as the company builds group homes for Ethiopian children. We all drink coffee, why not buy it from a company that will help children in need?

Saint's Coffee A small batch, micro-roaster offering fresh, fragrant, and organic coffees. One third of net profits from every sale are invested into organizations helping children.