Read the following article from The Consumer’s Association of Ireland website (thecai.ie) about the European Commission’s Generation Awake campaign. Answer the accompanying questions.
WAKING UP TO LIVING LIGHTLY – THE EU
GENERATION AWAKE CAMPAIGN By Clodagh O’Donoghue
The Generation Awake campaign is an ongoing initiative of the European Commission that seeks to help people consider their consumption habits and the consequences on the environment, natural resources, quality of life, health and well-being… Consumers can play their part by thinking about the lifespan and impacts of the products they buy.
1. What is the aim of the Generation Awake campaign?
Suggestions on the Generation Awake website for reducing your environmental impact include using recyclable bags for shopping, choosing product refills over single-use containers, and if you do need a product that you will use only once – such as a book or a tool – borrowing or renting rather than buying. Wherever they have the choice, consumers are advised to buy reusables over disposables – for example, opting for rechargeable batteries over regular disposable batteries – and to think about repair potential when purchasing new products.
2. List three ways that the Generation Awake campaign suggests consumers can reduce their impact on the environment.
