What Do You Mean "Conscious Amazon"?!
If you're struggling with how to wean yourself from your Amazon addiction, fret no longer: You don't necessarily have to. Yes, you can be an activist and shop on Amazon.
First of all, we're all imperfect. Me, your neighbor who keeps bees, your eco-obsessed friend who throws away one bag of trash per month, even those social media 'influencers' living what looks like the most glamorous socially conscious lifestyles imaginable.
So don't beat yourself up for using Amazon from time to time. When done with intention and conscious thought, you can still be overall supporting people, planet, and profit while you shop with them.
Shop Small Businesses on Amazon
When I created my Shop Conscious Amazon storefront, it felt disingenuous at first. Many members of the socially conscious community eschew Amazon, understandably. The company runs a virtual monopoly in many industries, swallowing and drowning out competitive ideas that keep prices down. The platform is rife with scams from China and other countries that have been seldom addressed. The obscene wealth of the owners runs counter to a productive society; studies have shown time and again that more egalitarian societies are happier and more satisfied with life on the whole.
Socially conscious hair color, found on Amazon.
So... How Do You Shop Amazon Conscientiously?
The upshot to Amazon's massiveness is that it gives a lot of small businesses a chance for increased sales and visibility. They let people set up a storefront with one or two inventive products or a full import or dropship business.
Amazon also gives shelf space to authors who might have struggled for years to get into publication, to indie filmmakers streaming their film alongside Hollywood blockbusters, and streaming time to indie musicians. That in and of itself, shopping from a small business that may not even have a storefront or in-store presence at all, is socially conscious in my book.
In addition to supporting small businesses getting off the ground, many socially conscious businesses are making a name on Amazon as a sales channel. That means bamboo diapers, bamboo and beechwood dish brushes, upcycled leather handbags, and organic shampoo bars, that may not be available in all areas via brick and mortar yet.
Curating the Shop Conscious Storefront
After putting out my initial episode of Wearing Conscious on YouTube, I started looking into conscientious makeup and beauty products, and that's when I thought: How can I share my favorites all in one place? In 2020 when I started Shop Conscious, a curated collection of socially conscious products on Amazon was a great way to put everything in one spot.
Currently the storefront is made entirely of products we have personally tested and approved. (Check out our July 2024 Picks here!) Every selection fits the definitions we have for "socially conscious" and I believe all are truly worthy of recommendation.
Shop Conscious Everywhere
You can also use our storefront as a guide to finding similar or identical products in local stores, directly from brand sites, or in some cases directly from Shop Conscious on our website. It's all about a conscious, minimalist lifestyle that works for you while also giving small and socially conscious businesses a chance.
So don't feel bad if you can't totally give up Amazon (yet...?), you're still very much an activist and a socially conscious person. Remember, it's all about voting with your dollars!