#poweroftheconsumer

Recent news of the rapidly spreading Amazon forest wildfires is causing increasing eco-anxiety all over the world. A growing concern about the present and future state of the environment is leaving individuals wondering - how is deforestation affecting our environment currently and what are the direct consequences we will have to deal with in the future?

Deforestation can refer to natural or human-driven loss of trees and other vegetation. Methods of deforestation include logging and burning of forests without the intention of replanting them. This practice can be used to clear land to create pastures for livestock, agriculture, and the creation of cities. The land is also often converted into pulp wood plantations that are used to produce cheap paper, tissue, books, cardboard, and other paper products. The trees cleared during the deforestation process can be used for building infrastructure or charcoal production, but are often illegally burned to the ground instead - releasing carbon back into the atmosphere where it will continue to promote global warming.

The trees and plants of the Amazon rainforest remove a substantial amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as part of photosynthesis and produce about 6 percent of the Earth’s oxygen, earning it the nickname “Lungs of the World.” Destruction of the Amazon, and other large expanses of forest all over the world, releases carbon stored in the trees back into the atmosphere - contributing enormously to global warming and the ongoing climate crisis. In addition to increasing carbon emissions and reducing oxygen production, deforestation is destroying the natural habitat of a diverse number of endangered species and the lives of indigenous people. 

The devastation caused by deforestation has increased rapidly over the last 50 years, due partly to higher demand for meat, soy, and palm oil products.

While consumers are quite familiar with meat and meat-based products, some people do not realize how heavily the meat industry negatively impacts our environment. While clearing land to make room for livestock is a contributor to the climate crisis, large expanses of land are also being bulldozed at a rapid rate for soy and palm oil. Both soy and palm oil are used in many retail food products that most people are familiar with such as soy milk, cooking oil, margarine, and cereal. 

These products are so in demand that large companies have no issue with destroying our planet to acquire them. In other words - our demand for these products are indirectly fueling the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. So, what are we going to do about it and what CAN we do about it?

- Plant a tree where you can.

- Go paperless. The option for paperless bills, receipts, etc, are a common option at most retailers and establishments.

- Purchase recycled products and keep recycling them! 

- Support companies that are dedicated to sourcing palm oil/soy sustainably like Unilever and Nestle. 

- Cut down on your meat intake. Choose vegetarian or vegan meal options instead.

- Do not support companies that source palm oil, soy, meat, or wood irresponsibly like Domino’s pizza, Walmart, TGI Friday’s, and Proctor and Gamble. 

- Write to your favorite companies via social media to voice your concerns about their business practices in relation to the environment.

Many of us would love to save the world or we at least desire to not contribute to the destruction of our planet. Being able to achieve this begins simply with the understanding of how our individual choices contribute to the bigger picture through research and keeping an open mind. Consumers have the power to change the world, we just have to find the courage to use it. 

Written By: Christina Mendes - Environmental Topics Writer for Moni K, LLC