There is no ethical consumption under capitalism — but that doesn’t excuse your shopping habits
Written by Coralyn Maguigad
Is there ethical consumption under capitalism? No. Well, at least not in my opinion.
Of course, the answer is complicated and depends on each individual’s definition of what is ethical.
Capitalism has a complex history, but is rooted in the 16th century as Great Britain moved away from the feudal economic system to a new economic system. Capitalism is defined as “an economic system in which a country’s trade, industry, and profits are controlled by private companies, instead of by the people whose time and labor powers those companies.” This means that the working class’s labor benefits the person who owns the means of production (i.e. Jeff Bezos who owns the Amazon warehouses and gets the profit) rather than the people who work to create the profit (i.e. the workers who can’t take bathroom breaks are timed on how quickly they fulfill orders and don’t receive the lawful accommodations for pregnancy).
Capitalism has operated in conjunction with other exploitative systems like slavery, colonialism and imperialism. These systems were designed in order for superpowers to get resources and labor as cheaply as possible to turn over a higher profit. Instead of creating a system of equitable international trade, they conquered the land, stripping it of its resources and dehumanizing Black, brown and Indigenous people in order to control and enslave them.
In a system designed to keep wealth in the pockets of the richest at the expense and exploitation of the working class, it is nearly impossible to purchase a good or service that is void of any unethical behavior.
What does “no ethical consumption under capitalism” mean?
There are examples of this all around us, but one scene from the TV show “The Good Place” really encapsulates what I mean when I say there is no ethical consumption under capitalism.
When discussing the point system, Michael gives an example of a man who gave his grandmother a dozen roses. It can be hard to imagine how an act like this could be unethical, but “he ordered the roses using a cell phone that was made in a sweatshop. The flowers were grown with toxic pesticides, picked by exploited migrant workers, delivered from thousands of miles away, which created a massive carbon footprint, and his money went to a billionaire racist CEO, who sends his female employees pictures of his genitals” (Season 3, Episode 10).
Everything from the food we eat to the clothes we wear takes a toll on the people who work to make and sell the item and has an impact on the environment. The example above does not even take into consideration that the person delivering the flowers is probably underpaid and overworked, and the land on which the flowers are grown, bought and sold could very well be stolen land from Indigenous people (especially if the example takes place in the United States).
There are very obvious ways of how consumption contributes to global issues. For example, our reliance on cars makes us consume a lot of gas and oil which has contributed to oil spills, pollution of Indigenous land and international conflict. However, a lot of reasons why something can be unethical is due to hidden evils of corporations, such as AT&T and Verizon donating money to anti-LGBT+ politicians, or Hobby Lobby not allowing their employees to get birth control on their insurance.
So, I can’t buy anything then? What’s the point?
A lot of people have been using the phrase “no ethical consumption under capitalism” to justify their known unethical consumption habits, like large Shein hauls. The carbon footprint of fast fashion being delivered to your door for poorly made clothes that may not even fit you could be lessened if one chose a different place to purchase clothing.
The idea that there is no way to consume ethically under capitalism is not an excuse to throw morals and effort out the window, but rather a reassurance that we are all humans doing our best in a system that we did not create and can’t necessarily control.
Of course, we all need to buy things like food and clothing and shelter in order to survive. This does not mean there aren’t consumption habits that are more ethical than others. Thrifting and other means of buying clothes secondhand is a great alternative to fast fashion because the clothes can be cheap, and this gives new life to clothes someone needed to get rid of. (Quick note so we are ethically thrifting: only take what you need, don’t clear out a store to make a profit on Depop and remember that thrift stores are often the only option for low-income families.)
How can I consume as ethically as possible in a capitalist society?
It is easy to feel disillusioned and defeated when it comes to existing on the planet that is falling apart (for me, at least). Here are some ways that I try to be an ethical consumer when I can:
First, I try to limit my consumption. I am by no means a minimalist (anyone who has seen my book collection can tell you that), but I try not to buy things I don’t need. Part of the reason companies aren’t changing their practices is because there is always demand for new things.
Whenever I do accumulate new things, I usually get them second hand. I am a big fan of buying things off of friends or neighbors, taking hand-me-downs from my grandparents or buying from thrift stores and used book stores. I also like to shop local and small businesses, especially when buying gifts for friends.
Finally, I consider standing up for workers’ rights an extremely important part of creating a more ethical system. If I am aware of a strike, I do not cross the picket line. This means that I do not purchase goods or participate in activities from the institution or company whose workers are on strike. A few weeks ago, Nabisco workers were on strike, so I bought other snacks. When instructors at my college in London were on strike, I did not attend class. I also vote for candidates who will work to end the exploitation of workers by raising the minimum wage and expanding access to health care.
At the end of the day, I know that the fate of the world does not rest solely on my shoulders. Nor does it rest on any individual’s shoulders. But if we all do the little things to consume more ethically, those actions can add up to new norms and attitude shifts that can challenge a system that has taken too much already. The least we can do is try.
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