Your children are constantly watching you. When you recycle a soda can, use reusable containers instead of disposable plastic, or clean your home with biodegradable products, curious eyes are watching and learning.
That’s a message Katrina Sriranpong, a Canadian philanthropist and former Vancouver, British Columbia, lawyer, wholeheartedly advocates. As a mother of two young children, she understands that little by little, the daily sustainable choices you make add up to a considerable impact — and that children internalize the daily decisions we choose to make to preserve and protect our environment for future generations.
Sriranpong states, “As a mother of two, raising children who care and contribute is extremely important to me.” She explains that children emulate adults, so every action makes an impression, from teaching them to recycle, to realizing their power as consumers and supporting companies that choose sustainable and ethical business practices.
Sriranpong was asked about the best $100 she recently spent. She answered without hesitation, “Outdoor nature programs for my toddlers to improve their ecological literacy.” With the boys in tow, Sriranpong and her husband enjoy hiking and exploring the spectacular natural beauty around their Vancouver home. Fir trees, rushing waterfalls, the ocean, and hiking trails blanket the landscape. “My kids love exploring the forest. Being outdoors helps them appreciate our natural world, our responsibility to preserve it, and the animals inhabiting it,” says Sriranpong.
Sriranpong explains that when children enter a nature program at a young age, they learn to appreciate nature and how the animals they love are dependent upon it. They learn about the living and nonliving factors in the ecosystem and the principles of conservation, environmental science, and sustainability. Nature is the best teacher and being outdoors develops an appreciation for the natural world and our responsibilities to its preservation. Sriranpong believes educating children to appreciate the environment in which they live will allow them to grow up with a deep respect for animals and eagerness to protect their habitat. Thomas Berry, a cultural historian, once said that “teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.”
Katrina Sriranpong has supported various international non-profit organizations that assist refugees, raise awareness about human trafficking, and protect animals as well as preserve the environment. And, being a conscious consumer is one of her core beliefs.
She believes in teaching children the power of consumerism and to question where their toys and clothes are coming from, how they are being produced and whether the factories that make them operate using sustainable and ethical business practices. This is a philosophy referred to as “conscious consumerism.” Conscious consumerism is a buying practice that is driven by a commitment to making purchasing decisions that have a positive social, economic, and environmental impact. In other words, it approaches shopping as a practice of weighing ethical and political implications. Conscious consumerism has been used as an umbrella term that simply means engaging in the economy with more awareness of how your consumption will impact society.
Sriranpong encourages parents to teach children about global issues so they can make informed decisions on what brands and companies to support. When asked about what recent trend excites her, Katrina Sriranpong stated, “One trend that really excites me is the trend towards corporate accountability and ethical products driven by consumer demand. Money is the only language corporations understand and when there’s a significant amount of people in the population that demand ethical products, corporations are forced to listen and change their business practice to incorporate give-back initiatives. People realize now that every purchase is a chance to make a difference and I think every brand has to examine their impact on the world in order to flourish.” One way in which to achieve the goal of sustainability is to support Certified B Corporations, as they are legally required to consider their impact on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
“I think nurturing a social conscience in the next generation is crucial to change,” says Katrina Sriranpong. She believes there are daily opportunities to teach children environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Leading by example and creating positive habits for children are crucial. Parents can favor buying local organic produce to support local businesses when possible, encourage children to choose eco-conscious toys, and utilize reusable shopping bags, containers, or straws.
“I have a vision of what I want the world to be like when my children grow up, and I’m doing my small part to make that happen,” says Katrina Sriranpong.
