The Sustainable Shopping Trend Has a Greenwashing Problem
The word ‘sustainability’ finds itself at the forefront of numerous studies and shopping trends, but what does ‘sustainable shopping’ actually mean?
What does it mean to shop sustainably?
A study ‘Green is the New Black‘ conducted by the UK’s Retail Week, found that the concept of sustainability means several different things to consumers. Popular answers to the question “what does the term ‘sustainability’ mean to you?” included “reliable”, “being better for the environment”, “looking after the planet”, and “eco-friendly”. Other consumers picked out specific practices and solutions, such as “recycling” and “reuse”, but it’s worth noting that 15% say sustainability doesn’t actually mean anything to them at all.
While consumers are clearly becoming more aware of the importance of being carbon-conscious and looking for ways that they can change their behaviors to reduce their impact on the environment, we are still in the early stages of an environmental awakening. The fact is that most consumers simply don’t know what to look out for when making shopping decisions based on environmental impact. Many brands are equally confused, with many rushing to align their messaging with the sustainability trend only to find themselves accused of ‘greenwashing’ or overstating their commitment to the environment for marketing and promotional purposes.
Green Tech company EcoTree offers this insight, “Greenwashing is bad for many reasons. The most important issue is companies can say they are taking positive action while continuing to contribute to our changing climate. There is little to stop them from greenwashing while actively harming the planet.”
The problem with greenwashing
Beyond negative environmental impacts, greenwashing also makes consumers suspicious and defeats the intended purpose of rewarding positive corporate behaviors. EcoTree recommends that consumers look beyond the branding—just because a company’s communications suggest that they are environmentally friendly doesn’t necessarily mean that they are.
Four straightforward ways to reduce your impact when shopping
Four of the simplest ways that anyone can reduce their environmental impact when it comes to shopping:
- Consuming less.
- Recycling or reselling items instead of discarding them.
- Buying pre-owned instead of new.
- Buying sustainably produced goods when it’s necessary to buy something new.
Buying secondhand is best
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation defines a circular economy as one based on designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Any truly significant global impact will require that these principles are applied by the companies who extract the raw materials or manufacture the products that end up in the marketplace. Still, every consumer is empowered to keep products and materials in use by shopping pre-owned instead of new.
The risks and hassle of buying pre-owned
Buying secondhand from online marketplaces or direct from the owner can be a time-consuming hassle. It can also be a risky transaction, leaving the consumer to wonder what happens if something goes wrong or the item they’re buying turns out to be stolen or counterfeit.
Why the pawnshop is a truly sustainable shopping option
We work with vetted resellers, including boutiques, jewelers, consignment stores, and pawnshops. Most consumers have never done business in a pawnshop and may not understand how they work.
To better understand how pawnshops represent the best of resale, it’s important to know how they work. Pawnshops obtain most of the inventory on their shelves from people from their communities who bring in items they don’t want or are no longer using. As a result of these transactions, pawnbrokers end up with items on their shelves in good condition that have value to someone else. Pawnshops are the most straightforward place to get cash for items of value, so they have a steady supply of pre-owned items coming through their doors.
Pawnshops have a wide selection of merchandise
Things you’ll find for sale in a reputable pawnshop have been tested and verified in working condition and authentic (otherwise, the pawnbroker wouldn’t have invested their money in them in the first place!). Shoppers can find items inside their neighborhood pawnshop, ranging from rare antiques and collectibles to useful tools and equipment to fine jewelry and luxury items.
Despite old stereotypes, consumers can shop pawn stores with confidence. Less than 1/10th of 1% of items in pawnshops are ever reported as stolen.
Get paid to recycle at Pawnshops
Most consumers understand that throwaway retail culture depletes natural resources and overfills landfills. Consumer recycling is currently limited in scope and doesn’t typically include most of the items that we use every day around the house and upgrade from time to time.
Pawnshops offer a solution that reduces the consumer’s carbon footprint by avoiding throwing their items away, and helps put cash in their pocket. This transaction, in essence, pays the customer to recycle.
Pawnshops will pay top dollar for pre-owned merchandise like electronics, tools and equipment, jewelry, designer watches, luxury handbags, and other items of value. Selling items at a reputable pawnshop is a quicker and more straightforward process than the hassle and risk of selling the item online.
