UNIT 7 The Consumer Sustainability


Sustainability means having a balanced approach to buying goods and services by taking the environment into consideration.


The concept of sustainable development means protecting the environment for future generations. A responsible consumer will support sustainable consumption when making decisions on buying goods and services.


A consumer should:


 Be educated: • Consumers should be aware of the concepts of sustainability, ethics and climate change.


• They should know where the goods they purchase come from and buy fair trade and ethically sourced products.


 Be responsible:


• Shop around and get the best price product which is ethically sourced, manufactured and sold.


• Reduce the amount of waste they produce. The average consumer produces 4.5 pounds of waste each day.


Summary


Environmental: Taking care of our planet.


• Is the production process sustainable?


• Does the company use green energy?


• How does the company dispose of waste?


• Are the products made from recyclable materials?


• Does using the product damage the environment?


• Is there unnecessary packaging? Globalisation


Ethical: Right and wrong.


• Were goods produced in a low-wage country?


• Does the organisation pay the minimum wages?


• Were the workers underage and exploited?


• Does the company adhere to health and safety laws to protect the employees and consumers?


Sustainable:


Meeting the needs presently without compromising future needs.


• Are the goods that consumers purchase impacting on the planets limited resources?


• Are the organisations using fossil fuels which are non-renewable, e.g. oil, coal, diesel and petrol?


• Are vital resources such as water being used carefully?


Globalisation means the world is shrinking, and the economies and societies of the world have merged into one large economy and society.


Globalisation has provided the consumer with greater choice and new markets. Global companies sell global brands (see Unit 21).


EXAM PREPARATION!


State ‘ethical and sustainable consumption’. Explain the term using examples. Apply it to another unit.


P. 98


Go to page 98 in the activity book and practise questions on ethical and sustainable consumption.


141


STOP! WRITE IT!


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