Are You Business Conscious?

Some very interesting dynamics seem to have ushered in the new millennium. More than ever before, humankind is caught at the crossroads of rapid advances in technology, a thriving global super-economy and the nagging question, “Why are we here?” Personal growth experts, life coaches and retired supermodels are telling us there’s no reason we can’t have it all. But it’s really difficult to balance the material and the spiritual. It’s tough to fight the urge to buy the new iPhone knowing you could donate that money to starving children in another country or even in your own city! It’s rough trying to reconcile your undying love for fried chicken with your knowledge of how corporate farmers treat the animals raised to be your food.


It has become so challenging to live ethical, sustainable lives that many of us give up or don’t even bother trying but…there’s still hope. It isn’t necessary to declare yourself a vegan tomorrow. You don’t even have to move to a cabin in the woods and live off the land from now on. There is a lot of information out there on how to convert your home into a “greener” household and how to incorporate organic, locally produced foods into your diet. However, there are other ways for you to make a contribution to saving the planet and improving the quality of life for all of us. You can make a difference by spending money!

Many companies are starting to do business in more ethical, responsible ways. You may already patronize some of them and some of them may be new to you. But it’s imperative that we find out who we’re giving our money to so that we can make more informed choices about where we will continue to shop and where we will no longer shop. It’s time that we all realized that as consumers we are extremely powerful.

Target, Whole Foods and The Gap are among companies that are making giant strides in their commitment to extending the life of our planet and improving the lives of all its inhabitants. These companies have implemented plans that promote environmental consciousness, fair labor practices, financial support of community educational and cultural programs, and employee job satisfaction.

All three companies invest monehy in the communities where they operate stores. The importance of diversity is reflected in the products on their shelves, the locations of their stores and the team members they employ. The construction of energy efficient buildings and recycling of items like shopping carts and plastic garment hangers are just a few of the ways these companies care for the environment. Above all else, serious attention is paid to the prohibition of child labor and vendors/partners are held accountable to strict standards.


Consciousness doesn’t have to mean denying ourselves nice things. But how and where we spend our hard earned dollars can make an impact on the quality of life for everyone worldwide. My suggestion to you is that you support companies that are making the well being of the earth and our global community a priority. Make it known that abundance and economic prosperity do not have to preclude moral responsibility.

To learn more about the companies mentioned here, as well as other businesses, you can check out their websites. Information regarding community involvement, environmental philosophy and fair labor practices can usually be found in the section entitled “our company”, “about us” or something similar. If you are unable to find this information on a specific website, you can always email the company asking them to provide this it. If they are unwilling to do so, that might be an indication that they don't deserve your dollars!