What is?

 Every purchase you make has an impact. Conscious consumerism means choosing products that align with your values—whether it’s supporting sustainable brands, avoiding companies with poor labor practices, or opting for second-hand goods. It’s about making mindful choices that contribute to a fairer, more sustainable world. 

 A truly sustainable product considers the people behind it. Ethical supply chains ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and responsible sourcing of materials. Brands committed to ethical supply chains are transparent about their production processes and often partner with fair trade organizations. 

 The term "eco-friendly" is everywhere, but the truth is, no human-made product is completely impact-free. Every item requires resources to produce, transport, and dispose of. The key is choosing products that minimize harm—like a reusable stainless steel bottle made from recycled materials, which reduces raw material extraction and energy use.

Be cautious of vague "eco-friendly" claims and look for trusted certifications like FSC (responsible forestry), B Corp (ethical business practices), and Cradle to Cradle (circular design).

 Greenwashing happens when companies market themselves as sustainable without real action. Slapping a "green" label on a product doesn’t make it ethical or eco-friendly. To avoid falling for greenwashing, look for transparency—check certifications like B Corp, Fair Trade, and Cradle to Cradle, and read about a company’s actual sustainability efforts. 

A circular economy moves away from the "take, make, waste" model, keeping materials in use as long as possible. Companies embracing circularity design products for reuse, repair, and recycling—like compostable phone cases or refillable bottles. Initiatives which repurpose old materials into new products, reducing waste, are circular.

 Net zero means balancing greenhouse gas emissions with removal efforts, ensuring no excess carbon is added to the atmosphere. Governments and companies are working toward net zero by reducing emissions and investing in carbon offsets, such as reforestation and renewable energy. 

Fossil fuels drive climate change, while renewable energy—such as solar, wind, and hydropower—provides sustainable alternatives. Switching to renewables reduces emissions and dependence on polluting fuels. Many households and businesses are adopting solar panels and choosing green energy providers. 

 Sustainable fashion is a movement dedicated to minimizing the environmental and social impact of clothing production and consumption. It focuses on using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and ensuring ethical labor practices throughout the supply chain. Additionally, it encourages mindful consumer habits, promoting quality over quantity. The ultimate goal is to create a fashion industry that is both socially responsible and environmentally sustainable, meeting today’s needs without compromising the well-being of future generations. 

 Recycling breaks down waste to create new materials, but quality often degrades over time. Upcycling repurposes items without breaking them down—like turning old jeans into tote bags. Both reduce waste, but upcycling extends the life of materials more creatively. 

Zero waste aims to send nothing to landfills or incinerators by prioritizing reuse, composting, and recycling. Simple swaps, like refillable bottles, reusable grocery bags, and composting food scraps, make a big impact. 

Biodiversity—the variety of life on Earth—keeps ecosystems stable. Deforestation, pollution, and climate change threaten biodiversity. Protecting it means preserving natural habitats, avoiding products linked to deforestation (like palm oil-based items), and supporting conservation efforts. 

 Going beyond organic farming, regenerative agriculture actively improves the environment by enriching soil, increasing biodiversity, and capturing carbon. Farmers use methods like cover cropping, composting, and rotational grazing to restore land while producing food. 

"Biodegradable" can be misleading—almost everything breaks down eventually, but some take decades and leave pollutants behind. "Compostable" means a material breaks down into nutrients without harmful residues. Compostable materials return to the earth safely. 

Your carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions from your lifestyle—transportation, energy use, and even diet. Reducing it means using clean energy, choosing sustainable products, and eating less meat and dairy. 

Carbon offsetting helps balance emissions by funding environmental projects like reforestation or renewable energy. While not a perfect solution, it helps mitigate unavoidable emissions—like offsetting flight emissions by supporting tree-planting initiatives. 

 Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (under 5mm) from plastic waste, synthetic fabrics, and even beauty products. These particles harm marine life and enter our food chain. Reducing microplastics means cutting down on single-use plastics, choosing natural fiber clothing, and avoiding personal care products with plastic beads. 

Fast fashion is a business model in the fashion industry that prioritizes rapid production, low costs, and high turnover of trendy clothing. It relies on mass-producing inexpensive garments that mimic high-fashion designs, often using cheap materials and labor to keep prices low.

This approach encourages frequent consumer purchases, leading to excessive waste, environmental damage, and ethical concerns related to poor working conditions and exploitative wages. Fast fashion contributes to issues like textile waste, pollution, and overconsumption, making it one of the biggest sustainability challenges in the fashion industry.