Can you separate art from the artist? I’ve never had a definitive answer, and now I am even more unsure. In today’s world, can we as consumers and individuals spend money somewhere even if they have done something “bad”? What I mean is, should we justify buying a book by an author who holds views you disagree with? What about buying items from Home Depot, Chick-fil-A or Starbucks, companies that have been embroiled in controversies? Can we consume these products as mere commodities, detached from the companies producing them? I argue that you can’t because of the complexity of manufacturing, production and distribution in every industry. Too many rungs are on the ladder to be ignored and say that one product doesn’t matter.
With this in mind, there is a level of relativity. It’s not like all products are the same price or profit level for the big business. But you have to consider the first mindset to see this complexity. For example, buying a cookie from Crumbl differs greatly from buying a TV from Best Buy. Furthermore, each business has a different level of profiting; for instance, the cookie directly profits Crumbl because they make them on location and do not rely on outside companies or manufacturers other than the suppliers of the materials. However, Best Buy sells products from different companies and, therefore, has less direct profit from one purchase. This all works together to show how complicated and entangled the world is now regarding businesses.
Another layer of this is who owns what companies. Many brand names are owned by other, larger organizations. For example, Coca-Cola owns various drinks like Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid, Simply and Smartwater. Even larger companies like Nestlé own thousands of brands worldwide, such as Nesquik, DiGiorno, Häagen-Dazs, Purina and Perrier. This is just the tip of the iceberg and makes you question where your money is really going. By not knowing what brand or company your money goes to when buying a product you can’t be clear as to what they do with your money or what things you are indirectly supporting.
The bottom line is that conscious consumption requires consideration and work. While it may be tempting to ignore the ethical implications of your purchases, it’s important to be aware of the impact of your spending. Look into what your favorite companies support, their labor practices and environmental impacts. Remember, nobody is perfect, and progress is often gradual. By taking small steps and making conscious choices, we can collectively work towards a more ethical and sustainable future.
