Written By: Emily Osborne
You may have seen this clever ad campaign for the Rainforest Alliance before and perhaps you’ve even felt a little like its protagonist, too. I know that when a friend shared this video with me a few weeks ago, I was guilty of having similar (although perhaps not so extreme) imaginings.
We’ve all been there. We’ve heard about the horrors of deforestation or your choice of insert-disaster-that-is-destructive-to-the-planet-here. We want to help. We want to be a better global citizen. But we’re overwhelmed. We let thoughts creep in, like, “what can you do to solve pressing environmental problems when you’re busy trying to live your own safe, comfortable, healthy life?” And what stops us from becoming pessimistic, cynical, or even immune to the crises we are constantly bombarded with?
As silly as it may sound, I think this short YouTube video offers a simple and practical solution. It’s something we can all do. And I think it goes beyond advocating for one particular brand. What it’s calling on all of us to do is to make wise consumer choices.
We all make regular trips to the grocery store. And the selection can often feel overwhelming. But what if we changed our criteria for buying what we buy? Instead of gravitating toward the cheapest price tag or whatever is shelved at eye level, what if we started to search for green or fair-trade labels? Fortunately, there are companies out there committed to making products that are equitable, that are benefiting communities and preserving forests rather than exploiting them. Thanks to the vast resources available at our fingertips (literally) on the World Wide Web, we can find out which companies are actively working to help the causes we seek to promote. Sure, it requires some discerning to know which products are really “green” versus ones that are merely labeled as such, but that’s why we have the help of companies like the Rainforest Alliance!
Follow the Frog!
While we may not always have the time to peruse the aisles or we may find that some equitable brands are more costly, our awareness and effort still goes a long way. Even if you only buy the occasional fair-trade chocolate bar, it still shows that your dollars are contributing to a worthy cause. It may not sound like saving the planet but it certainly involves making thoughtful, conscious decisions – and that is something we can all feel good about!