More and more people are asking themselves how they can do better by the environment, and more and more people are taking steps to follow through on finding the answer to that question. Whether you're looking at buying an electric car, making your home more energy efficient or buying organic, these are important questions to ask. 

Important Questions

The whole ethos behind being environmentally conscious is asking yourself about the broader implications of your actions. Sometimes the questions and their answers are simple. If you walk instead of driving, you can reduce your personal carbon footprint. If you use reusable glass containers, you can reduce the amount of plastic going into landfills. Sometimes, however, the questions are more complicated and don't have straight answers. Is it better to buy an animal-friendly product that may be made of plastic or invest in sustainably sourced leather sneakers that will last longer? Sometimes it's not clear what the better option is, that isn't the point. The point is that you're thinking in terms of impact, and that means that even when there isn't a completely right answer, there are still wrong answers. 

Environmental

When you start thinking in terms of impact, that allows you to think in terms of the broader environment. Everything is connected, so your actions have an effect, sometimes invisible to you but extremely important to someone or something miles and miles away, in another country or on the other side of the world. The plastic you use often ends up in the ocean, and the paper you use may be the reason a forest somewhere no longer exists. Choosing sustainably sourced products means that someone has taken the time to ensure that the environmental impact of your choice is minimized. 

Human

Another area to consider when it comes to impact is the human cost. There is a human cost tied to environmental impacts, of course. Pollution ruins habitats and poisons the land and water that people rely on, including you. It creates smog that you have to breathe in the city and damages the countryside where your food is grown. You must also remember that the products you consume are often produced by people, and the methods of production can ruin lives and communities, or they can provide opportunity and support. It's important to remember that in many situations, there is no meaningful distinction between the environmental impact and the human impact. 

Personal

Anything that has a human impact has an impact on you. Choices that are better for your environment, like not littering, provide you with immediate benefits, like having areas to enjoy that are not full of litter. Similarly, many of the products and choices that are better for the environment are also less toxic to your personal health and wellness. 

Economic

Last of all, it's worth considering the economic impact. A common argument against many green and eco-friendly products is that they are perceived to be more expensive. First of all, that's not necessarily the case, but secondly, part of the reason they are more expensive is because there is less demand for them. The more people ask for and expect environmental accountability and responsibility, the less expensive and more widely available those products and services will become. 

So if you're asking yourself is it really important to support sustainable brands, the simplest answer is yes. That doesn't mean it should be the only action you should take, and perhaps more importantly, it doesn't mean you should stop asking questions. It is the act of asking that is truly important. Where does this come from? What effect is it having? How can we do better?