On the way to responsible consumption, what does it mean?

(This article was originally published by the Sustainability Magazine of the UK start-up Wild Aura in June 2021)

On the way to responsible consumption, what does it mean?

As a result of the past analysis in which we were able to observe the positive impacts on the environment in terms of the implementation and facilitation of access to energy from renewable sources, today we will take these bearings in a more profound way in direct relation to the SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production, since it not only complements objective 7, but the success of one depends on the other.

Let's start from the beginning.

The basic concept of responsible consumption refers to the business capacity to be able to assume prevention costs to avoid the excessive use of natural and non-renewable resources in the development of its means of production and/or failing that, the respective environmental compensation that these entails.

The means of production known as well as physical capital, is an economic resource that allows producers to do some work, generally for the production of an article or the offer of a service. The term encompasses natural resources, transportation networks, energy, factories, machines, tools, and money.

There are currently around 7,730 million people in the world (according to data from the German Foundation for World Population, DSW). In recent times of excessive growth, society has evolved in such a way that the consumption of each of us has long ago reduced that boundary between what is necessary and exceeding comfort, actions that have promoted the growth of the free market economy, as one of the great problems of the 21st century: consumerism.

The rule is very simple: "as long as there is someone willing to consume a product, there will be someone to produce it".

But what is exactly the problem?

In case you have not yet managed to intuit it, it is precisely the excess.

Let's use an example to understand its impact: The UK’s fast fashion habit.

The UK is the country with the highest consumption of clothing in all of Europe. Around 300,000 tonnes of used clothes are burned or buried in landfill each year.

“Did you know that the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is burned or landfilled every second? And right now, less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing, meaning 99% of all textiles and fashion are waste… that’s about 100 billion dollars’ worth of materials wasted each year. It’s crazy!” said Stella McCartney a Sustainable fashion designer that is changing the way the fashion industry is viewed.

But all this goes far beyond people buying clothes in excess or the little reuse of it.

The real problem lies in the production lines: it is not enough to produce a sweater or pants, since their life span begins before they are manufactured. Where did the fabric come from for the piece? What is the raw material with which the folds are sewn?

Is it handmade or part of an industrial chain?

How will it be transported to the stores where it is offered?

How is the energy use of these stores sustained? Once the product is purchased, how long is it designed to last?

Although being able to ask thousands of some other questions, the answers to these can be summarized in the understanding that it is not possible to offer something without impacting on the least expected scales.

Like a butterfly effect, part of living in a civilized society involves assuming the risk and opportunity that refers to actions being reflected in others, either directly or indirectly.

But now...

Is this overconsumption only increasing waste? And what are the UN's goals to address it?

Well, in reality, this problem covers practically every one of the existing environmental conflicts, and not only that, but also a great variety of social ones, which is why the UN has raised in general:

1. By 2030 implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with account of the development and capabilities of developing countries.

2. Halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

3. Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle. 

4. Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. 

5. Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

6. Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

7. Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

8. Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.

Likewise, we must remember that each product or service that we consume involves a production chain of greater or lesser impact, measurable based on its waste, carbon emissions, water use, electrical schedule, etc.

Now, since this is so alarming,

what have we achieved in these 5 years?

As with the first analysis in this series (consult The Ecological SDG'S: how much have we advanced?), actions were taken long before 2015. As it was The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, that provided the fundamental principles and the programme of action for achieving sustainable development, or the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, adopted in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). 

Which were the first actions in the matter that raised the previous bases under which not only made the problem visible and later be raised into the forum of the United Nations, but also the beginning of experimentation and practice to achieve some greater efficiency.

But aside from that, a benefit has coincidentally been found in an area where it seems there could be none: the Covid 19 pandemic.

When last year the world went into crisis, businesses closed, people locked themselves in a long quarantine and most activities were suspended... we gave the environment a good rest, no other event before had achieved a decrease so big on carbon emissions, for example. And although this speaks of a merely momentary peace, it is true that as a result of this global health problem, several countries have committed to generating better management plans for their resources and means of production as part of accepting the path of virtuality.

Currently, it has not only been possible to raise awareness among the population in a more effective way to orient them towards a somewhat more responsible consumption, that is, less excessive and that considers the chains from which their products come, but it can be evidenced in the commitment of certain regions to try to achieve the 2030 agenda.

And finally, how can I contribute to this change?

And the answer is always the same (not that for that reason it is less effective).

Donating or actively participating in volunteering for foundations or organizations such as the UN itself or Greenpeace, and the modification of some personal areas.

Does that mean that from now on, I should only buy products that are merely essential to me?

Yes, and no.

Although following this to the letter would bring you many benefits both in terms of detachment and economic, as well as the environment; a sporadic luxury is not denied to anyone. And beyond restricting your consumption of food or self-care products to the maximum, it is much more important that you can take the time to know the protection programs that companies have for the environment, consume local products that will surely be produced with lower rates of carbon emissions and / or that in turn are made of biodegradable and renewable materials, reduce the use of packaging of these not being necessary, and largely reuse products such as in the previous example, clothing.

It is everyone's business to achieve these changes: consume responsibly!