Can “Consumerism” Save the Planet?

This post is captured from a letter by the Executive Director of 5 Gyres, Anna Cummins.

Last week I had the opportunity to join a mixed business/non-profit panel at SXSW Eco to wrestle with a contradictory question: how can consumerism save the planet? My first reaction: overconsumption is anathema to the planet. And without serious progress towards campaign finance reform, corporations will defend the status quo, and the quest for profits vs. planet will thwart our efforts towards reasonable reform.

Heavy, yes. But I walked away feeling inspired and hopeful for a few reasons, and want to share these with you.

First, we – and I mean all of you – are in fact driving change. Just a few weeks ago, the Governor of California signed into law the first statewide ban of plastic bags. This was the result of 6 years of work from a powerful coalition of NGOs working together to mobilize communities towards action. And no matter where you stand on bans, this shows that the public sector, through patience, hard work and persistence, can drive policy changes that affect seemingly impenetrable industries.

Second, there’s a groundswell happening across the country – companies that are mission driven, that put sustainability and community on par with profits, are forging new alliances and driving social change.

Closer to home, we’ve had success this year on our microbeads campaign – we identified a problem in the Great Lakes through published research, shared it with you, and you told companies to respond. It’s happening. This illustrates our potential. The power we citizens have to organize, activate, and win.

This is why its so important to us to see this campaign through. Our success is a win for our waters, and a win for the movement. Right now, we need all of you to take action now. Sign and share our petition to show companies that we’re holding them accountable. Responsible consumerism alone will not save the planet, but an informed citizenry, with the right tools, can move mountains.

5 Gyres’ achievements have been made possible because of our strong network of supporters and key partners. We thank you for your support of our mission.

Fair winds and following seas,

Anna Cummins, Executive Director