Accessibility Tools

This goal seeks to promote sustainable use, from an economical and environmental perspective, of all natural and energy resources in all their stages of production, transport and consumption of all types of products, including packaging, storage and processing of waste. It also includes the necessity to guarantee decent working conditions for all members of the production chain, especially the most vulnerable ones (e.g. manufacturers, especially in impoverished countries).

This consumption must be thus focused on alleviating poverty and helping to give all people a chance to maintain a decent life through their work. This can be done by the commercialisation of the products they breed and cultivate.

On the other hand, we need to also keep in mind the reduction of the use of resources, deterioration and contamination, needed to achieve a better quality of life. This includes also building consumer awareness by showing them a global connection which exists between things we consume and the life quality of people who produce them and bring them to our homes. It is assumed that this way, all people will become aware of the enormous power of a customer. Consumption is an act that we all perform several times a day and which moves billions of Euros all around the world. We are choosing a model of the world we want to construct with every purchase choice we make. We decide how we want the environment and the people to be treated. For this reason, it is important to aim for ways which are the most sustainable and fair for all the people.

Action Area

  • Dealing with waste (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

    Dealing with waste (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

    Every act of consumption carries with it an act of waste. There is always a small or large part of any product that needs to be thrown away when we use it (packaging or container, leftovers or even the entire product in a way “use it and throw away”). We should reflect here about the quantity of waste we produce daily and identify the amount which we could eliminate. We need to identify the least sustainable methods (more harmful to the environment and people) and reduce them as much as possible. We also need to mention reuse - change of purpose or a way of the use of a product, as a way to reduce waste. Lastly, carry out a correct separation of waste to facilitate its recycling, but only in cases when it is not possible to use or reuse the product anymore.
  • Sustainable production and consumption

    Sustainable production and consumption

    There are different models of production for all kinds of products (industrial, handcrafting, serial manufacturing, large or small scale, big companies, small enterprises, extensive or intensive models, etc.). All of them have advantages and disadvantages. It is convenient to identify them and see that in most of the cases the only reason to choose one model over others is the economy. This leaves behind environmental and social consequences. It is also necessary to explore other alternative models such as organic production, zero-mile cars or Fair Trade, and analyse them to see that their profitability is much higher in all areas, including economical. It is important to promote a long-term global vision about permanent consequences that certain acts and models have on its surroundings.
  • Conscious consumption

    Conscious consumption

    The aim is to raise awareness about the power all people have as consumers. This is an act we all perform several times a day. It supports companies, world economies, and billions of families all around the world. The objective is to analyse what criteria we follow at the moment of purchase. What we look at and what makes us decide to choose one product over another: price, quality, country of origin, brand, fashion, a basic necessity, impulses, etc. The other part of this objective is to find out to what extent we know the things we buy. Do we know where they were manufactured? And how? Do we read labels? Do we know all possibilities of its use? These reflections can be applied to the simplest areas of domestic use (food, footwear, clothing) but also in the areas of leisure, tourism, transport, energy, etc. This invites us to reflect on the fact that we consume much more than we think we do.
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