Responsible consumer

Responsible Consumer
First of all, the intention is quite important. For example a CEO who uses a hybrid car just for advertising their company is not a responsible consumer, whereas it is, if youbuy a hybrid car because The Environment matters to you. There are four strategies for turning ourselves into responsible consumers:
1. Voice: choosing brands with better social and environmentalperformance.
2. Exit: Individual boycott to the worst social and environmental performance. Main characteristics are:
a. Positive boycotts and obstructionist (sitting on the floor in aMcDonald).
b. Media oriented (for instance, switching off light at the same time) and market place oriented (reduction in sales).
c. Action considered (threats) and action requested (realboycotts).
3. Smart shopping: buying fair trade products. You look for brands that:
d. Protect human rights.
e. Promote social justice.
f. Alleviate poverty.
g. Buildcapacity in the communities where the company manufactures.
h. Balance power, creating not-exploitative structures at organizational level.
Problems of fair trade labels:
* Somemultinationals use it like promotional tool.
* Nowadays there are too many different labels
* It is necessary standardize by impartial organizations (ONG)
4. Not shopping or simplifying:
i.Do it by yourself: reduce your working schedule and make you meals or take care of your child
j. Share programs: vehicle, favors…
k. Second-hand buying.
l. Bookcrossing.
m.Bartering.
n. Consumers´ and producers´ cooperatives.
o. Ethical banks: use profits in charity actions.
p. Alternative credit and purchasing associations.
q. “Ecoaldeas”:living like old past.

These strategies have some difficulties:
* Motivation obstacles: self-perceptions of citizenship and self perceived efficacy.
* Behavioral obstacles: Lack of fair...