Hello and welcome to my semester 1 inquiry wrap-up reflection post for my question – Are Eco-Friendly Products Truly Eco-Friendly?
I want to start out by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this topic, and it has taught me so much in terms of research I never would have thought about in the scope of my learning during regular classes.
- What challenges did you overcome throughout this inquiry project? How did you go about overcoming these challenges?
Throughout the course of the semester, I used many websites to my advantage in an effort to educate myself on my inquiry question and subject in general. However, I ran through many issues in regard to the specific lack of information; or in other words, repetitiveness within most websites. This included a very surface level idea of what Eco-Friendly means, and the studies spewing the same information. All in all, it required me to thoroughly read through the entire website just to find the basic differentiating factor of each. Nevertheless, this task got easier with time since I became accustomed to the same process.
2. How did this inquiry change the way you think?
This inquiry changed the way I think as it gave me a brand new perspective on Eco-Friendly alternatives to everyday items and how the future of Eco-friendly products can be a possible game-changer in terms of the future of the climate. It has pointed out things that I never would have considered in terms of Eco-friendly products that have the same affects, or even worse of an effect on the environment than their non Eco-friendly alternatives. For example, something that I never considered was how paper bags are extremely similar in environmental negative affects on the earth as their plastic alternatives that have been demonized recently. It all comes down to marketing and what they companies want you to know.
3. How did this investigation impact your future decisions?
This investigation has drastically changed my future decision making process as a consumer today. It has set me up with the mindset that Eco-friendly only refers to how long a product has the potential to last. To opt for cleaner brands that include cruelty-free labels and bagasse/sugarcane packaging instead of traditional pl astics. The detrimental affects that online shopping has for the environment in terms of excess packaging and lack of full transparency from brands that don’t specifically address their attempts at combating the climate crisis on their websites.
4. What impact will this investigation have on others locally and/or globally?
My hope for this investigation is to educate others on just how important their consumer habits are on the state of the environment. To give people the insights that just because they are only one person in this world, their role in taking action is still extremely crucial. After all, this generation is going to have to make drastic changes that they are not too fond of to guarantee a prosperous and continued healthy life on earth. It will also give people the necessary information they need to differentiate when a brand is being transparent, or simply fraudulent in their claims and pledges, giving them a chance to take some extra time in the aisles of their favourite stores questioning whether or not they need something, or if it poses a risk to the environment.