Retail Therapy Shown to Combat Climate Fatigue

By Stephanie Bowen

Did you hide under the covers last week when the UN’s climate committee issued their stark report detailing just how much the planet is warming and the devastating consequences for people around the world? I’m not proud to admit it, but I did. With the committee’s most bold declaration to date that human actions are heating up the earth and causing deadly heatwaves, droughts, floods and cyclones in every region of the world, well, it can make you feel a bit hopeless. (Read our blog summary of the report here.)

But the committee also said it’s not too late to stop the warming, and they made recommendations to do just that. It’s true that we need governments to create and enforce policies that limit greenhouse gas production to press the pause button on climate change. But each and every one of us can play our part. In addition to demanding those pro-planet policies from your local, state, national and global leaders, one of the best ways to make a difference is through your personal choices, and of course, your pocketbook!

The day after the report was released, a customer popped in to What's Good and said she was here to do some "Green Retail Therapy." She went on to say, that supporting small business and adding more sustainable products to her ever greening lifestyle was a way to reaffirm her commitment to doing less harm. "It makes me feel good to shop here." We couldn't agree more. While we're big advocates of refuse and reduce, we also know we all need stuff. Shopping at What's Good can help you demonstrate your commitment to the planet, and help you fight the inevitable fatigue that comes with addressing such a big challenge. 

As for me, you already know that I hid under the covers for a little bit. But deep down I am a glass-half-full kind of girl who wants to contribute to the solution. So, as soon as I came up for air, I ordered a large compost bin I had been eyeing for a while and am getting my house set up with this stylish counter top compost bin from What’s Good. I’ve also been making a list of things to start replacing as soon as I run out of the conventional, greenhouse gas producing products I’ve been using. Things like compostable trash bags, plastic-free shampoo and conditioner, and better food storage options like these reusable silicone bags.

I love shopping at What’s Good because it makes greener choices affordable without preaching. “Imagine if all of us did one green thing? By choosing greener, more responsible products we vote with our dollars, we create awareness, we model good eco behavior to our kids, and others we have influence over,” says Jennifer Young, Founder and CEO of What’s Good. “Small business owners and leaders should be modeling this too. We don’t have to be preachy, just lead the way.”

Jennifer speaks the truth, and What’s Good lives its values by donating 1% of its total revenue—not profits, but revenue—to environmental and social causes, which makes me feel doubly good to shop there. And if that’s not enough, they donate to a different charity every month and plant a tree for every used box that goes out the door! Okay, I feel triply good about patronizing What’s Good, and you should too.

So, let’s pay attention to local and national elections, vote for candidates who promote clean energy policies. And let’s shop at What’s Good. By pushing and pulling all levers, we can stop climate change in its tracks, and get in a little retail therapy while doing it.

About Stephanie Bowen: After two successful careers —one in broadcast journalism, another as a communications and PR pro working in global health, development and rights — Stephanie is harnessing her love of story and strategic communications for positive impact with the consultancy practice, SHARE: Stories that Buzz. She is a contributor, sounding board, friend, and customer of What's Good.
 

Keywords: #climatechange #ipccreport #unclimatereport #climatereport #sustainable #sustainability #ecofriendlyliving #retailtherapy #climatepolicies #climateeconomy #climatefatigue