Your How-to Guide: Conscious Living
So you want to do better by people and the planet? Great news! You’re in the right place.
In today’s article, we guide you through what it means to live consciously. We look at the considerations to make before engaging with a service or purchasing a product, as well as straightforward, practical tips for consumers who are looking to start living a more mindful, guilt-free lifestyle.
What does it mean to live consciously?
* cue joke “umm, that we’re not brain dead?” *
Put simply, it’s about making decisions that are mindful of the environment around us and others. It’s recognising how our consumption fits into a much larger, more complex picture. By acknowledging the social, environmental and ethical impacts a product or service has during the entirety of its lifecycle, we are empowered to make well-informed decisions that align with our beliefs and values.
“So, what should I be looking for?” I hear you ask.
It goes without saying that when measuring impact, products and services require similar but different analysis.
Products
Understanding a product's lifecycle can be a tedious and multilayered process.
This means looking at how the raw materials are sourced, how they are made and distributed, our usage, and of course, how we dispose of them. Considering factors such as the environmental impacts, the fair treatment of workers, energy efficiency, waste management, and supply chain transparency.
Where we come in is the purchasing stage, when our choices play a crucial role in driving demand and where we have a responsibility to choose which businesses we support. Post-consumption choices should be considered at the point of purchasing too, looking at product durability, repurposability, recyclability, and the availability and accessibility of proper disposal methods… that’s a lot of -bility’s.
Some big name brands we love that are leading the way are Finisterre, Aveda, Aspiga, and of course, Patagonia.
Services
For services, their impact extends far beyond the transaction of the experience or expertise itself.
This is anything from your daily morning coffee stop, to trips to your salon, trips abroad and guided tours. When we engage with a service, we'd hope we’re investing in the livelihoods of the individuals and the well-being of communities. The integrity of the service provider, their commitment to ethical business practices, and the treatment of their workers all play a pivotal role in shaping the social fabric.
When evaluating your service options, ask yourself: Do I really need this service? How will using it impact demand and contribute to positive change? Once you've considered these questions, you can begin to hold the service provider accountable for their practices.
Questions to ask your service provider:
Your local coffee shop:
Do you use sustainably sourced coffee beans?
What kind of packaging do you use, and is it recyclable or compostable?
How do you reduce waste in your operations?
Your weekly food shop:
How do you prioritise stocking locally sourced produce and products?
What measures do you take to reduce food waste?
How do you minimise the use of plastic packaging and bags?
Heading to the beauty salon:
Are the products you use cruelty-free and eco-friendly?
Do you recycle and repurpose beauty-related waste?
Trips abroad and guided tours:
How do you minimise the environmental impact of your tours?
Do you support and respect local cultures and communities?
Are your guides and staff fairly compensated and treated well?
Our overarching advice is to look at the who, what, where, when, why, and how.
“...that’s A LOT to consider. Surely brands are already addressing these issues and making changes to their practice?”
You’re right, there is a lot to consider. There is an awful lot of responsibility on the consumer to do their due diligence when making purchasing decisions, and the landscape is challenging with so much misinformation, the absence of transparency, and unclear marketing fluff, ie. designing a ‘Responsibly Sourced’ logo onto a product without any information to prove that it is, in fact, responsibly sourced.
Some brands are seemingly making strides towards more ethical practice but their motivations in doing so could be considered insincere. We see all the time where brands are shifting their marketing to reflect consumer desire instead of actually addressing the issues head on.
In the UK, brands aren’t legally required to commit to CSR, and whilst ESG fraud comes at a cost, it’s hard to know who we can trust. Certifications and labels can be used as a guide, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Let’s face it, most of us are not well-versed in CSR and sustainability standards, and so it can easily become quite overwhelming, not to mention time-consuming.
“I want to do better but where do I even begin?”
You’re in luck. Your curiosity has led you to the right little corner of the internet.
Thankfully, at DELAH, we do the work for you. Our mission is to educate and inspire responsibility in luxury living, showcasing consciously curated, well-researched brands, products and services.
Whilst you may not consider yourself particularly fussed by the concept of luxury, our definition of luxury is “high quality, authentic, and beautiful goods and services”, which we think everyone will desire at one point or another.
5 Practical Tips for the Conscious Consumer
1. Stay Informed
Take the time to learn about sustainability, ethical consumption, and social responsibility. There are plenty of thought-provoking and informative books, documentaries, and online resources available. For inspiration and recommendations, follow @delah.co.uk on Instagram, and sign up to The Conscious Luxury Column for the latest.
2. Support Transparent Brands
Look for brands and companies that are transparent about their practices, values, and impact. When conducting your own research, seek out certifications and labels that indicate ethical and sustainable practices (i.e. ISO14001, Great Place To Work, B Corp). The #DELAHSustainable Directory is where you will find all DELAH approved brands, products and services.
3. Choose Quality
Invest in well-made pieces that are durable and timeless. How exhausting it must be to be part of a culture so fast and cheap that the quality of the product doesn’t even need to last past a handful of wears because that’s all they’re used for.
A higher price tag doesn't always mean better quality, but researching can help you make better decisions. High-quality items usually provide better value over time, saving you money and reducing the need for replacements. Investing can bring a sense of pride and sentimental value too. Just think of the cherished heirlooms passed down to you through generations, and how you will also contribute to that collection.
4. Be Mindful Of Packaging
Minimise your waste by opting for reusable alternatives and recycling materials. Be mindful of packaging and choose products with minimal or eco-friendly packaging. Ideally, you want to avoid disposal only products where possible.
5. Give Yourself Grace
Conscious living doesn’t have to be all or nothing. At DELAH, we learnt this lesson a number of years ago when the founder made radical changes to her lifestyle out of guilt and shame. We know better than anyone how difficult it can be to try to adopt new habits in every element of your life at the same time, especially when there are so many ways you can take positive action.
Our advice is to choose one area of your life to start making small changes, and go from there. Using fashion as a great example, you could limit your purchase of fashion goods, or boycott fast fashion altogether. Alternatively, you might choose to exclusively shop pre-loved this month or rent occasion wear for your next big event.
Your efforts should start small and grow bigger when you have the capacity to.
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