Sustainable consumption
Sustainable consumption is part of a sustainable way of life and consumer behavior: Buying environmentally and socially compatible manufactured products can exert political influence on global problems in order to minimize economic, environmental and social costs. A well-known example of the global dimension of purchasing decisions is fair trade efforts. Consumers should buy slightly more expensive goods from smaller producers in developing countriesand thus support fair working conditions. The purchase decision, which above all takes into account the operating and follow-up costs of a product, is also crucial. This applies to the later energy consumption as well as to the easy reparability or the longevity of the products.
As a compliment to analyses of production and its processes, Sustainable Consumption (SC) is the study of resource and energy use (domestic or otherwise). As the term sustainability would imply, those who study SC seek to apply the concept of “continuance” —the capacity to meet both present and future human generational needs. SC, then, would also include analyses of efficiency, infrastructure, and waste, as well as access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. It shares a number of common features with and is closely linked to the terms sustainable production and sustainable development. Sustainable consumption as part of sustainable development is a prerequisite in the worldwide struggle against sustainability challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, famines or environmental pollution.
Sustainable development as well as sustainable consumption rely on certain premises such as:
Effective use of resources, and minimisation of waste and pollution
Use of renewable resources within their capacity for renewal
Fuller product life-cycles
Intergenerational and intragenerational equity
The term ethical consumption is sometimes used interchangeably with sustainable consumption. More generally, ethical consumption is consumption that is influenced by ethical considerations of the consumer, not just sustainability. In particular, the question of whether one form of meat production is more compatible with animal welfare than another form has nothing to do with the category of ‘sustainability’; but the issue is of central importance to ethically-minded consumers.
The Oslo definition
The definition proposed by the 1994 Oslo Symposium on Sustainable Consumption defines it as “the use of services and related products which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations.”
Strong and weak sustainable consumption
In order to achieve sustainable consumption, two developments have to take place: it requires both an increase in the efficiency of consumption as well as a change in consumption patterns and reductions in consumption levels in industrialized countries as well as rich social classes in developing countries which have also a large ecological footprint and give examples for increasing middle classes in developing countries. The first prerequisite is not sufficient on its own and can be named weak sustainable consumption. Here, technological improvements and eco-efficiency support a necessary reduction in resource consumption. Once this aim has been met, the second prerequisite, the change in patterns and reduction of levels of consumption is indispensable. Strong sustainable consumption approaches also pay attention to the social dimension of well-being and assess the need for changes based on a risk-averse perspective. In order to achieve what can be termed strong sustainable consumption, changes in infrastructures as well as the choices customers have are required. In the political arena, weak sustainable consumption has been discussed whereas strong sustainable consumption is missing from all debates.
The so-called attitude-behaviour or values-action gap describes a significant obstacle to changes in individual customer behavior. Many consumers are well aware of the importance of their consumption choices and care about environmental issues, however, most of them do not translate their concerns into their consumption patterns as the purchase-decision making process is highly complicated and relies on e.g. social, political and psychological factors. Young et al. identified a lack of time for research, high prices, a lack of information and the cognitive effort needed as the main barriers when it comes to green consumption choices.
Conceptual History
The emergence of the term sustainable consumption is in the context of the discussion on sustainable development, as a development that meets the needs of the present generation without endangering opportunities for future generations to meet their own needs. The source of the term sustainable consumption dates back to Chapter 4 of Agenda 21, which was launched in 1992 at the so-called Rio Conferencewas passed. Under the title “Changing consumer habits”, it was demanded to deliberately deal with unsustainable production methods and consumption habits and to develop a national policy for changing them. This takes account of the fact that demand controls production structures and processes, and that in the sphere of consumption itself environmental pollution takes place that opposes sustainable development. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002, the development of a ten-year framework program for sustainable consumption and production was adopted against the background of ever less sustainable patterns of production and consumption. This program is called a Marrakech process designated.
However, a common, well-accepted definition of the term “sustainable consumption” is still missing today. A helpful definition, which also underlies the work of consumer advice centers, is the understanding of sustainable consumption as the use of goods and services that meets the needs of consumers, protects the environment and resources, and is both socially acceptable and economically viable, Thus, the definition of the three basic dimensions of sustainability, environmental and resource conservation, social compatibility, economic viability, are reflected in the definition. These also characterize the so-called three-pillar model of sustainability.
Consumption renunciation
The concept of sustainable consumption is opposed to the concept of disclaiming consumption. The focus here is on whether you really need a new product, or do not want to repair the old one, buy a second-hand, rent or exchange, or make a new product out of an old one by upcycling. End of November, the day of action for consumer abstention, the buy-nix-day, see also: Sufficiency (ecology).
Consumption is a tool we have to claim a sustainable society
It is also important here to define consumerism. This word covers two very ambiguous definitions. On the one hand, consumerism defines all actions aimed at the defense of consumers. On the other hand, consumerism defines the economic ideology defending the structuring place of consumption in society. We also speak of a consumer society.
Sustainable consumption is wrong and can not be considered as an objective ally of this last definition. On the contrary, sustainable consumption does not contribute to the development of the consumer society but rather to the development of a sustainable, responsible society where equity, the human and the respect of its living environment are the essential pillars.
Sustainable consumption
have products designed in social conditions worthy of no child labor, respect for the human person, non-degrading working conditions…
develop products with the least environmental impact: short circuit, seasonal products, less waste, less consumption of resources for manufacturing, less carbon impact…
have the choice to serve distributors our refusal of products that do not meet this double requirement
develop a consumption respectful of the inequalities of access to resources and oriented towards a fair distribution of the profits of the exploitation of resources (real North-South cooperation, maintenance of an agriculture and a local industry, localization of productions in equilibrium between actors in the sector from production to consumption…)
fight against speculation on consumer goods and especially those of primary necessity
fight for the recycling and reuse of raw materials which are all resources
Sustainable consumption of individual consumers
People who practice a sustainable lifestyle are referred to as LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability). People who consciously consume less meat because they want to counteract the negative environmental impact of factory farming are called flexitarians.
Certification of products or companies can help the consumer to help with consumer choice. There are numerous product certifications with corresponding quality seals, eg. For example, the Fair Trade Seal for Fair Trade or the Demeter Seal for a Bio-Dynamic Economy. Furthermore, the CSE standard, as a company certification for economic operators, provides a guideline for ethical consumption.
s. a. Sinnmarkt # Ethical Consumption and Sinnmarkt # Selective orientation and implementation deficits
Sustainable Consumption of Businesses and Organizations
With sustainable consumption, one thinks so far mainly of individual consumers, less of companies, in which one combines sustainable action, especially with corporate social responsibility. The focus is usually on the supply chain or value chain, which should not only be economically viable for responsible companies, but also socially and ecologically compatible. It is usually about the product itself or the manufacturing and delivery process.
Increasingly the focus is on sustainable consumption in office operations.
Especially in the ecological area, companies and organizations can improve their eco-balance according to the Green Office principle. Above all, the procurement and the behavior of the employees play an important role. There are points of contact for sustainable consumption in companies and organizations in the following areas:
Energy and resources – Examples: Use of green electricity, own power generation, for example via photovoltaic, double-sided printing, switching off devices and lighting when not in use
Mobility – examples: company bicycles, job tickets, low-emission vehicles, trains instead of planes or – if flights are unavoidable – compensation for flights via climate protection projects
Office supplies and equipment – examples: purchase of low-energy and / or recycled office equipment, recycled paper
Catering and Event Management – Examples: if possible regional and seasonal shopping, products from fair trade prefer
The social dimension of sustainable consumption in companies and organizations includes not only fair trade but also workplace health management.
Controversy
Many products that are to be consumed sustainably are more of an instrument of marketing the offering company, as part of a sustainable lifestyle. For example, the purchase of green electricity may be sustainable, but in many cases the product is a means of customer loyalty and sales growth. Consumers should be given a comfortable feeling when consuming, even if the environmental impact is really only a facade (see also: Greenwashing ).
Occasionally, sustainable consumption is seen as a substitute for “real” political or social engagement.
Notable conferences and programs
1992 – At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) the concept of sustainable consumption was established in chapter 4 of the Agenda 21.
1994 – Sustainable Consumption Symposium in Oslo
1995 – SC was requested to be incorporated by UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) into the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection.
1997 – A major report on SC was produced by the OECD.
1998 – United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) started a SC program and SC is discussed in the Human Development Report of the UN Development Program (UNDP).
2002 – A ten-year program on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) was created in the Plan of Implementation at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.
2003 – The “Marrakesh Process” was developed by co-ordination of a series of meetings and other “multi-stakeholder” processes by UNEP and UNDESA following the WSSD.
Responsible consumption: future consumption and consumers
Responsible drinking is not just about maintaining a model with the precautions outlined above. It is a behavior that incorporates these prerequisites but is part of a movement designed to overcome and render obsolete consumerism. This happens, for example by accepting that resources are limited, whether natural (oil, floor space, capacity for performance…) or human (the days are only 24 hours, live and work must be combined and not fighting each other…). Responsible consumption ultimately corresponds to active civic engagement for the quality of personal and collective life: well in his head, in his body, in his society and on the land. The utopia of responsible consumption is ultimately the overtaking of society to have for the benefit of society to be within the limits of the legitimate needs of everyone allowed by the progress (technical, human, intellectual…) and in the respect for everyone’s future. From an operational point of view, this means, for example:
prefer short circuits,
fight against overexploitation of land (depletion of soil and resources by the race for yield and concentration of production),
prefer products made with respect for human beings (no child labor, right to respect and speech for employees and employees…),
be aware of your consumption and master it,
defend the model of responsible consumption and fight for its development,
think of money as a means of exchange and not as an end or a value,
avoid the commercial concentration that constrains the use and choice of consumption,
avoid any food waste or overconsumption (downstream chain of responsible consumption),
…
Responsible consumption will develop thanks to responsible consumers who refuse products with unbearable margins, made in scandalous conditions and not falling into the logic of reducing destructive impacts on the environment and social ties.
Consumers do not always have the time or the information they need to make reasonable choices, which are also good choices. Better products are better for health, for the environment and for the wallet. Consumer education also very quickly makes it possible to consider distribution as a consumer player and not just a marketing target.
Initiatives in sustainable consumption
The Center for Sustainable Production and Consumption is one of the main independent authorities, which is exploring the dimensions of consumption and production. In 2007, Tesco, the largest supermarket in the United Kingdom, established the Institute of Sustainable Consumption (SCI) with a donation of £ 25 million to the University of Manchester.
Source from Wikipedia