Whyte, Kyle Powys; Cuomo, Chris; Plumwood, Val; Johnston, Josee; Beacham, Jonathan; Gilson, Erinn Cunniff (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Hanewicz, Wayne (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, integrated Studies); Bretz, Thomas (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Philosophy and Humanities)
Growing awareness of environmental issues has led to an explosion of interest in both ethically and locally sourced products. As evidence has mounted of the role consumerism plays in driving environmental degradation, concerned individuals have begun seeking out alternatives to the cheap national and multinational brands that seem to be most responsible for driving these problems. While numerous potential alternatives have been formulated, two general trends have emerged and gained momentum. The first of these trends focus on increasing transparency around specific areas of concern with particular types of products. This includes things like organic certifications, guarantees around animal treatment, the types of energy used in production, and the impacts on human welfare. The other general approach has been to emphasize the importance of buying locally, seeking out a wholesale replacement of the national and global supply chains that have proven to be so environmentally unjust.
This paper shows why the debate between these two approaches misses a deeper disconnect. Arguments for ethically sourced products tend to be based around narratives that assert that personal choice is at the heart of the environmental injustices created by consumerism. In opposition to this view, this paper argues that it is the breakdown in the quality of relationships surrounding our consumption that has led to the environmental degradation we see today. By using the framework of ethics of care, this paper asserts that arguments about the need for greater consumer responsibility and choice reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the ways our supply chains drive environmental injustice. Rather, we should focus our efforts on rebuilding local economies and developing high quality relationships between producers, distributors, consumers, and everyone in between. It is only then that we can start to take control of the breakdowns occuring and demand greater attention to environmental needs.