green consumerism
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Changing Consumption for a Greener Tomorrow
Green Consumerism
IntroductionProducts have environmental impacts
throughout their lifespanSome potential environmental impacts are
not known by most consumersProducts can also have detrimental health
impactsConsumer and producer mindsets- key
factors in environmental impact
Knowing Potential ImpactLife-cycle assessment
“a method that allows us to systematically tear apart any manufactured item into its components and their subsidiary industrial processes, and measure with near-surgical precision their impacts on nature from the beginning of their production through their final disposal.” (Goleman, 2009)
Product Life Cycle5 stages:
ExtractionProductionDistributionConsumptionDisposal
ExtractionProducts are made of raw materialsRaw materials are sourced from nature,
often coming with impuritiesCommon raw materials for products:
Rocks and mineralsPlantsWater
Extraction: Rocks and MineralsOften mined from mountains,
underground, caves etc. as oreInvolves clearing vast expanses of land,
often with vegetationDestroys natural habitats
Uses chemicals in order to soften the ground for diggingContamination of soil, groundwater,
nearby bodies of waterMay even involve mountaintop removal
Extraction: Rocks and MineralsContains impurities (minerals in trace
amounts only)Purification involves large amounts of energy,
water, and chemicals“Most of the ore-and an ever increasing amount, as
high grade sources disappear-ends up as waste.” (Leonard, 2010)
According to Dirty Metals: Mining, Communities, and the Environment, “Chemicals used in processing contaminate at least 90 billions tons of waste ore per year globally…”
Extraction: WaterOften used in numerous industrial and
domestic processes, usually in very large amounts256 gallons of water for 1 T-shirt!36 gallons of water for 1 cup of coffee!
Can easily be contaminated by a plethora of pollutants
Toilets: water contaminated with domestic waste
Extraction: PlantsFound in many places in natureOften cut down for wood, pulp (paper
making) and other materialsUN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO): Net decrease of 6M hectares/year from 2000-2010
Threat to biodiversity, loss of habitats and valuable tools to mitigate climate change and pollution
ProductionRaw materials put together to create final productMajority of raw materials synthetic
Not too much known about possible health and environment impacts
Some highly toxic and can contaminate the environment
“Low-dose exposures over time can have tragic outcomes…reduced intelligence, lowered immunity, ADD, infertility, cancer, etc. “ (Colborn, T. et al., 1996)
ProductionDone in manufacturing plants
High energy and resource demandWaste products from manufacturing
process leech into soil, air, water
DistributionProcess of delivering products to where they are
needed i.e. stores, warehouses etc. including selling to customers
Goods transported by trucks, ships, planes, trains, etc.Emit large amounts of carbon dioxide and other
harmful gasesAs of 2005 contributed to 23% of the world’s
emissions, including developing nationsEmissions from transporting goods linked to lung
cancer and cardiopulmonary ailments which can be lethal
ConsumptionActual usage of the product until it is replacedMarketing lures many people to buy new
products, even when they are not truly neededPlanned obsolescence
Defined by Brooks Stevens, an American industrial designer as, “instilling in the buyer the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than necessary.”
According to Annie Leonard (2010), “In planned obsolescence, products are intended to be thrown away as quickly as possible then replaced.”
ConsumptionExample of planned obsolescence:
Cellphones have an average lifespan of only 1 year
New generations/iterations of certain models are introduced very quickly, prompting consumers to replace their current phones, even if they are in good working condition
Phil SchillerVice President for MarketingApple, Inc.
ConsumptionGlobal Footprint Network (GFN)-an
organization measuring overall ecological footprint of humans and of individual countriesCurrently, consumption is at 1.5 earths
per year, or 50% more resources than the planet can sustain
If all nations had consumption patterns akin to the US, we’d consume the equivalent of 5.4 earths!
DisposalDiscarding of products that are a.) no
longer useful, b.) no longer wanted, or c.) both
Options for end of life disposal:Landfills and open dumpsIncineratorsDumping in waterways and litteringCompostingRecyclingReusing
Disposal-Landfills and DumpsOpen dumps-waste is dumped in an open
areaAttracts flies, rats, other disease carrying
organismsGases emitted cause air pollution and
foul odor, leachate causes water pollution
Disposal-Landfills and DumpsLandfill-engineered facility where garbage is covered
by a layer of soil daily, includes leachate and gas collection and treatment systemsInevitably leak due to liner rupturing under immense
pressure, polluting soil and groundwaterLeachate contains many toxic substances such as
heavy metalsEx. Manganese-->damage in areas of the brain
responsible for movement, possible link to Parkinson’s
Some gases produced, when burned can cause adverse effects
Disposal-IncineratorsReduces volume of waste by as much as 90%
(Hufemia, 2007)Can be used to generate electricity (waste to energy)Generates ash (particulate matter), which may contain
heavy metals and must be disposed of in landfills and gaseous emissions
Generates organic compounds such as dioxins, some of the most toxic man-made substancesCarcinogen, linked to birth defects, infertility,
learning disabilities, etc.Trivia: Philippines-only country to ban garbage
incinerators
Disposal-Dumping in waterways and litteringAesthetically unappealingCauses land and/or water pollutionClogs drains
Flooding during heavy rainCan be ingested by organisms, poisoning
them
Disposal-CompostingOnly for biodegradable wasteDegraded into organic matter which can be
used to fertilize soilRestores nutrients to soil, maintains
ecological balanceAids in plant growth
Disposal-RecyclingOnly for recyclable materialsReduces the need to extract more resourcesExtends the usable time period of materials
before they become wasteMuch less energy is used to manufacture
products from recycled material than virgin materialAluminum recycling-up to 95% energy savings
vs. aluminum ore extraction and purification!Reduces carbon dioxide emissions
Disposal-ReusingSome used materials can still be used
again before having to be disposedEx. Paper where front side has been used,
Plastic bags from grocery shopping, etc.Extends the usable lifespan of materialsReduces need for sourcing virgin materials
Avoids impact associated with extractionLess carbon dioxide emissionsLess energy used
What can be done on your part?Awareness! Be informed about how environmentally
friendly your product actually is!Goodguide.com-website that assesses a myriad of
products based on environmental impacts, now has an iOS app
Greenpeace’s Guide to Green Electronics-Evaluates electronics producers in terms of their overall environmental impact, updated yearly
View product LCA’s if possibleBuy products with proper environmental certificationBuy locally made products
Causes less overall pollution and GHG emissions than non-local equivalents
What can be done on your part?Buy products with less packaging
Less packaging=less materials=less harmTake part in proper waste segregation and reduction
3 R’sComposting, if possible
Reject products that are highly toxic to human health and the environment
Do not throw away or replace products that are still in good working conditionAlternatives include handing down to
siblings/relatives, selling, take-back programs or maintenance
ConclusionEach part of a product’s life cycle has considerable
environmental impactsOur role as consumers is to reduce impact where
possibleBuying products which cause less environmental
harm benefits us as wellLesser health impacts
We should also be mindful of how to properly dispose our waste and reduce the amount of waste produced
Remember:“There is no away.”“One man’s trash, another man’s treasure.”
Bibliography Bilton, N. Disruptions: You Know You Can’t Live Without Apple’s Latest Glass Rectangle:
New York Times (October 29, 2012). Retrieved November 9, 2012, from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/disruptions-know-cant-live-without-163824479.html
Goleman, D. (2009). Ecological Intelligence. New York: Broadway Books.
Hufemia, A. (2007). Resource Recovery…Begins With Me. In Emilyn Q. Espiritu, Ph.D. (Ed.) Introduction to Environmental Science : Managing Resources for Sustainable Development (pp. 212-230). Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
Leonard, A. (2010). The Story of Stuff. New York: Free Press
Aluminum Recycling: Chicago Recycling Coalition. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.chicagorecycling.org/aluminum.htm
Dioxins & Furans: The Most Toxic Chemicals Known to Science: Energy Justice Network. (2012). Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/
Manganese Exposure and Diagnosis of Manganism or Manganese poisoning: Brayton Purcell LLP. (2012). Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.welding-rod-dangers.com/illness/illness_manganism_detect.htm
State of the World's Forests: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. (2012). Retrieved July 21, 2013 from http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i3010e/i2010e.pdf
World Footprint: Global Footprint Network. (2013) Retrieved July 20, 2013 from http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/world_footprint
Imageshttp://sydney.edu.au/facilities/images/
Sustainable_campus/procurement/product_lc(large).jpg
http://mountainjustice.org/facts/images/MTRsteps.jpg
http://www.blueenvironmental.com/images/imgLandfillDiagram.jpg
Thank you for listening!Questions?
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