Sustainable Consumption

Sustainable Consumption is about

finding solutions to imbalances
---social and environmental ---
through more responsible behavior
from everyone
Most definition have the following common
features:

 Satisfying human needs;

 Favoring a good quality of life through decent
standards of living;
 Sharing a resources between rich and poor;
 Acting with concern for future generations;
 Looking at the “cradle to grave” impact when
consuming;
 Minimizing resource use, waste and pollution
 Switching to sustainable lifestyles

• What exactly does sustainability mean to us as

individuals?
• What can we do to become more responsible?
• What should we do first, save the environment or
eradicate poverty?
• What comes first, our health or of the Earth’s?
 Putting priorities into perspectives

• Basic education for all ($6 billion) versus cosmetics in the

U.S. ($8 billion)
• Water and sanitation for all ($9 billion) versus ice cream in
Europe ($11 billion)
• Basic health and nutrition ($13 billion) versus pet foods in
Europe and USA ($17 billion)
• Reproductive health for all women ($12 billion) versus
perfumes in Europe and the USA ($12 billion)

Source: Human Development Report 1988 “Consumption for human development”

 TAKE CARE
Health is wealth, so as the old saying goes.
People are increasingly opting for lifestyle that are
more health-centered. Looking at your health
should mean looking at the health of the planet
too. Changes in lifestyle should benefit the planet
as well as you.

Stepping stones
Eat and drink and healthy as you can: more fresh
food and fewer additives and less processed food.
Taking care is also closely related to
products we regularly use to clean and
maintain our houses and ourselves. Many
contains chemical that add to already high
pollution levels and are not biodegradable.
 GETTING AROUND
“It is transport that will make or break the
sustainability of a city” Richard Rogers, Architect
Stepping stones
Congestion, polluted, air noise… Our cities are becoming more
and more uninhabitable. What can we do?

 Walk, cycle or roller-blade.

 Car share/car pool whenever you can.
 Hire
 Public transport
 Buy “Green” motor vehicle
 Drive carefully
 GETTING AWAY
“There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We
are all crew.” Marshall Mcluhan, sociologist
Stepping stones
 Choose travel options which produce the greatest benefits
for the host population
 Save precious natural resources
 Remove litter
 Plants should be left to flourish in their natural
environment
 Support local trade and craft-people
REDUCE WASTE
In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in waste
production. On average, every person living in a developed country
throw away 1 kg of rubbish everyday.
 WHAT IS ECO-DESIGN?
It is designing products using a “circular approach” which
is known as “cradle-to-grave” – taking into account their
entire lifecycle from creation from use to disposal.

The aims are to:

 Utilize materials, energy and other resources more efficiently
 Choose materials that don’t come from endangered ecosystems
 Design to prevent pollution and waste.
 Select recycled/recyclable materials and energy saving
technologies
 Optimize a product’s life
 Keep it simple
 Improved transport logistics
 Avoid potential health risks and
 Respect human rights
Stepping stones
There are simple ways to reduce the amount of waste
we produce in our everyday lives. Remember the 5 R’s
of recycling

1. REFUSE
2. RETURN
3. REUSE
4. REPAIR &
5. RECYCLE
Save Water, Safe Water

The human body is largely made up

of water. Food crops won’t grow
without it; in fact it is vital to the
survival of all living organisms. You
can do without food for about 1
month, but only 5-7 days without
water.
What can we do to save water?

 Have a shower, not a bath. On average, a

bath uses twice as much water as shower.
 when replacing toilets and washing
machines, ask for models with low water-
use
 Don’t flush but throw away your sanitary
towel, diapers etc.
 Never pour household chemicals
Purchase without Pain
Sustainable Consumption is not just about
environmental cost of the way we produce and
consume; human and social costs must be considered
too.
Countless items that end up in the shops and in our
homes are produced in developing world because
multinationals find that labor is often much cheaper
there. But the deal has to be fair to everyone involved.
Sustainable Consumption has to uphold social justice
and respect basic human, social and economic rights,
which should be available to everyone and exclusive to
no one.
Stepping stones
You decide how to spend your money. Choose eco-
friendly and more sustainable brands and send a
strong message to supermarkets and retailers.

A few Pointers:
1. Think before you buy
2. Read the labels
3. Select eco-labeled and ethical
4. Buy locally produced and seasonal products
5. Choose products containing significant percentages of recycled
materials
6. Buy direct
 WHERE TO FIND US
Special Concerns Office
2nd Floor, DENR, Visayas Avenue, QC
9268346 / 9276336

www.denr.gov.ph
youthdesk@denr.gov.ph
maggie@denr.gov.ph