4.11 Consequences, ethics and sustainability

Question 1

What are the consequences of increased knowledge and awareness of global events through broadcasting?

Answer 1

This has led to calls for increased rights and changes across the world:
-The Arab spring uprisings brought protesters onto the streets with women challenging their governments for the first time
-Organisations such as Amnesty campaign for more human rights as global awareness increases
-Environmental pressure groups such as just stop oil challenge the world to find new and better ways of meeting people’s needs sustainably

Question 2

How many earths would be needed to supply everyone’s resources at the same level as the UK

Answer 2

3.1

Question 3

What are the four ways which we can move towards sustainable living?

Answer 3

-responding locally: transition towns
-fairtrade
-ethical shopping
-recycling

Question 4

How can we respond to sustainable living locally?

Answer 4

Transition towns
These are places trying to reduce their carbon footprint and increase resilience. It believes local economies are vital to healthy communities, and that change can be driven by ordinary people. It promotes:
-reducing consumption by repairing or reusing items
-reducing waste, pollution and environmental damage
-meeting local needs through local production

Question 5

Where is the world’s first transition town?

Answer 5

Totnes in Devon

Question 6

What was the aim of the Bristol pound in 2012?

Answer 6

It aims to encourage people to spend in local independent businesses in Bristol rather than in TNCs.

Question 7

Why did the Bristol pound have a global economic threat?

Answer 7

-it reduces the demand for new items from oversea as most developed economies actually rely on the throw away culture for economic growth

Question 8

What are the benefits of transition?

Answer 8

-Every £10 spent in local businesses is actually worth £23 to the local economy through the multiplier effect. The same £10 spent in a supermarket is only worth £13 locally, because the profits are returned to headquarters in other countries
-reduces transportation distances

Question 9

What are the downsides of transition?

Answer 9

-consumers face high prices TNCs can better local businesses
-reduction of use of TNCs may cause unemployment in LICs
-some products are more efficiently produced elsewhere from an environmental point of view
-some services e.g. transport, are coordinated centrally so it’s hard to influence them

Question 10

What is an ecological footprint

Answer 10

A measure of how much biologically productive land and water an individual requires to produce all the resources it consumes, and to absorb the waste it generates.

Question 11

What is the purpose of fairtrade?

Answer 11

it aims to return a bigger proportion of the revenue to producers or growers.

Question 12

What does Fairtrade guarentee?

Answer 12

-better quality of product
-improved environmental sustainability

Question 13

What percentage of Starbucks coffee was made with fairtrade coffee beans in 2014?

Answer 13

Only 8.5%

Question 14

Which TNC is particularly known for using Fairtrade?

Answer 14

M&S
Only sell fairtrade tea and coffee, plus naturally died clothes and fabrics

Question 15

What is M&S’s plan A?

Answer 15

Plan A 2007 was introduced by M&S in 2007 as they recognised the growing trend in ethical consumerism
The plan sets out 100 commitments to source responsibly, reduce waste and help communities over 5 years
Plan A 2020 has been devised with new commitments to try and make M&S the world’s most sustainable retailer.

Question 16

What are some of the features of the Plan A 2025 commitments?

Answer 16

By 2022, all M&S packaging will be widely recycled
-aim to halve food waste from M&S stores by 2025
-By 2025, all edible surplus food from M&S stores and direct food suppliers will be redistributed to charities
-By 2025, all key raw materials M&S use will come from sustainable sources

Question 17

How successful has M&S’s plan A been?

Answer 17

Zero waste to landfill from M&S since 2012
2.8 million garments donated through the M&S shwapping initiative in one year
they have saved 2.8 billion carrier bags as a result of the 5p charge since 2008

Question 18

What are the positives of ethical consumerism?

Answer 18

Promotes individual action and empowers ordinary people to offset their environmental damage
There are billions of consumers so potential impact could be massive
Consumers drive market demand for goods and therefore can force firms to change and cause bottom up pressure
Doesn’t require government intervention or telling people want to do (libertarian) – inform people and let them choose (more democratic)

Question 19

What are the negatives of ethical consumerism?

Answer 19

Consumers easily get confused with so many different labels and messages
People often feel their own contribution is too insignificant to change anything so don’t bother
Often people opt for the unethical choices or aren’t prepared to pay higher prices for more ethical products
Buying reliably ethical products may mean buying from HICs and less from LICs with lax laws etc. (development gap)
Buying ‘organic’ means more land must be used to grow the food

Question 20

What are the problems with Fairtrade?

Answer 20

However by having a higher fair trade price it actually leads to more overproduction of the good which in turn can actually causes price to fall
There is little evidence that fair trade has lifted many producers out of poverty. Most of the certified organisations come from richer, more diversified developing countries (e.g. Mexico, SA)
Inefficient way to help producers. Consumers pay premium prices but most goes to supermarkets and only 10% trickles down to the producer.
Can lead to overreliance and dependency
Consumers are also often confused by what is and isn’t free trade – Blurred by labels or changes to products

Question 21

How much waste did the UK generate in 2012?

Answer 21

200 million tonnes

Question 22

What shows the improvement of recycling in the UK?

Answer 22

In 2014-15, the total amount of waste recycled was 43.7%, compared to 12% in 2000
In 2000-01, 79% of local authority waste was sent to landfill. By 2013-14, that figure had fallen to 31%

Question 23

What is the ongoing problem with recycling?

Answer 23

Recycling percentages vary between local councils. South Oxfordshire has achieved 67.3% in 2014 and nine other councils achieved over 60%. But the London boroughs of Newham and Lewisham are the lowest with just 18%

Question 24

What scheme in the UK has majorly reduced plastic waste?

Answer 24

paying 5p for a bag