Spending has been encouraged for generations as a way to measure success and even to show affection. Being a good consumer is generally defined as being a buyer, pumping money into the economy. Your patronage generates a need for services and manufacturing, which creates jobs and benefits everyone. But there can be a downside to consumerism, too. Many products are not manufactured with environmental responsibility in mind. As production goes up, so does its impact on the environment. This can be especially true if keeping costs low is the greatest factor in producing anything, from sweatshirts to picture frames.

It used to be that people made purchases based on what they needed, not what they wanted. Items were harder to come by and were relatively expensive when compared with personal income. Today, however, shoppers tend to look beyond the necessities to what they want. Relatively low prices make this awfully tempting. But you can make a difference — by choosing to eliminate some purchases, you can cut down on the amount of waste generated. It's been said that the world today is a throwaway society. But as the green movement progresses, this may change.

When shopping, consider not just the quantity but the quality of what you buy. The cheapest product isn't always the best choice. Are you buying from conscientious companies? Were the products made from sustainable practices? Every purchase is a vote, and you as a consumer wield more power than you may think. Being a good consumer means thinking about the impact of what you buy, both economically and environmentally.

A Bit of Spending History

The Great Depression illustrated that society depended on the purchasing power of consumers. When people became unable to buy even the bare essentials, society collapsed. As part of the New Deal, citizens were encouraged to purchase and consume.

Following World War II, the U.S. market economy boomed. Even then, there were groups advocating more conservative financial restraint and concern for natural resources, but these small voices were engulfed by retail and manufacturing associations.

While the economy has waxed and waned through the years, overall material wealth has exploded — and by all means, spending money isn't bad. You need a place to live, food to eat, and clothes on your back. Even non-essential items like computers, MP3 players, swimming pools, and kitchen gadgets not only make living easier, they bring pleasure to day-to-day life. Although there's no harm in enjoying life, it can be worthwhile to trim the excess in an effort to lead a greener life. Fossil fuels are an important ingredient in the production of just about anything, from forming the plastic to transporting the product to market, so cutting back even a little can have an impact.

Green Manufacturing

Conscientious manufacturers keep the environment in mind when designing products and deciding how to package and transport them. Businesses can also modify their products and methods for more sustainable production.

Sustainable business programs and practices are more prevalent in Europe and countries like Australia and New Zealand, but greener practices are starting to make headway in the United States as well. Sustainable, or green, businesses operate in ways that improve or minimize their damage to the environment. These companies work to integrate economic, environmental, and social considerations into the business network. Changes to business practices may have impacts as far-reaching as those of the Industrial Revolution.

Businesses may modify ingredients to ensure they are generated from sustainable practices, like using recycled steel in the manufacturing of new steel products. However, the energy used to transport, melt, and reprocess steel is not always the “greenest” solution. Environmental stewardship means revamping operations to consume fewer raw materials and produce less waste. One example is incorporating recycled colored plastics into new colored plastics; this reduces the amount of plastics being processed and disposed of and the amount of colorant needed to dye the plastics. In some cases, working toward sustainable business practices can save companies money while helping the planet.

Interface, Inc. and its founder Ray Anderson look to lead the way in setting the example for sustainable manufacturing. The flooring and fabric company incorporates green energy such as solar, wind, and biomass while recycling carpets and other petrochemical products for the manufacturing of new carpet. Anderson's goal for his company is to offset the negative effects Interface may have on the environment by the year 2020.

More and more university business programs are bringing sustainability into the classroom, teaching future business leaders the benefit of sustainable practices. Engineering curriculums have also accommodated more sustainable approaches. It's not enough to develop designs for manufacturing widgets; the process needs to account for minimizing raw ingredients and waste as well as adhering to all environmental laws and regulations.

The government is also involved, passing legislation to promote sustainability. There are federal and state regulations that require entities to purchase items with a certain percentage of recycled content. There are also laws that require a certain percentage of recycled material be incorporated into their product. The federal government initiated this with passage of Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, in 1996. This legislation related to procurement, requiring the federal government to purchase products with recycled content such as paper and paper products, lubricating oil, retread tires, building insulation, cement, and concrete. This action fostered markets for companies, encouraging their use of recycled materials. On a state level, Wisconsin, California, and Oregon have recycled packaging laws on their books. These states require that all rigid plastic containers sold contain 25 percent recycled content. This encourages manufacturers across the country to achieve the mandated content to avoid having to produce different packages for different states. Legislation levels the playing field for all types of businesses, making everyone play by the same rules. Successful regulations often set goals or standards, and programs are established to encourage companies to achieve or even go beyond compliance.