EGMT 1540: Is Ethical Consumption Possible?

What does it mean to produce a t-shirt ‘responsibly’? How do we differentiate between ‘sustainable’ and ‘unsustainable’ farming? What does it mean to make purchases ‘according to your values’? During this class, we will consider the rise of ‘certification programs,’ which certify companies as compliant with a particular set of standards, including environmental and conservation requirements, animal welfare, and human rights. Many shoppers – part of a growing wave of ‘responsible consumers’ – use these labels to decide what to buy. Many certification groups claim that their programs encourage businesses to meet higher standards for labor, environment, and other areas. However, critics argue that they have had little real impact on company performance, using terms like ‘greenwashing’ to claim that they only appear to improve business practices without forcing real change. In this class, students will begin to think critically about the ethical implications of our own consumption. Individual consumers may be able to re-shape global supply chains by "voting with their dollars," but economic and political realities also limit the effect that ‘responsible consumers’ can have.