Consumers and sustainability

Question 1

What is human sustainability?

Answer 1

Martin & Schouten (2014) - The opportunity for all people to maintain fulfilling, productive lives while preserving or replenishing the natural and economic systems that make their well-being possible

Question 2

Describe a sustainable company

Answer 2

Mattioda et al (2013) - A sustainable company must generate profits, protect the environment and improve the lives of those whom interact with it. This must occur in a way that its commercial interests, the environment and society intersect.

Question 3

Which principles do those who press for sustainable practices hold?

Answer 3

• Wants are culturally influenced and strongly
shaped by marketing
and other forces.
• The earth’s resources are finite and fragile.
• The earth’s carrying capacity for waste and
pollution is very limited.
• Quality of life and personal happiness do not
always increase with more consumption and want
satisfaction

Question 4

What does the world bank (2012) have to say about climate change?

Answer 4

We’re on track for a 4 degree warmer world marked by extreme heat waves, declining global food stocks, loss of ecosystems and biodiversity, and life threatening sea rise

Question 5

What is materialism?

Answer 5

The importance people attach to worldly possessions

Question 6

What is dematerialisation?

Answer 6

It occurs when fewer resources are used to create the same or equivalent benefits

Question 7

What are three ways to dematerialise?

Answer 7

• Limit the quantity of materials used in
packaging
• Move from disposable goods to higher quality
durable goods
• Convert from traditional ownership of durable
goods to shared ownership, shared use or
rental programs

Question 8

What are the 4 steps to the natural step framework?

Answer 8

1. Design products to be manufactured from
   renewable, reclaimed and non-toxic and
   organic materials (e.g. Seventh generation household
   cleaning products)
2. Design products for more efficient, carbon
   neutral storage and transportation (e.g. small
   and mighty laundry detergent)
3. Design products for safe, carbon neutral
   operation (e.g. Burley bicycles fitted with trailers)
4. Design products for disassembly,
   remanufacturing and materials recovery
   (e.g. Patagonia using recycled materials and having a
   ‘common threads garment recycling programme)

Question 9

Name some new opportunities that could arise to help climate change?

Answer 9

• Carbon engineering (capturing co2 from air)
• Solar pannels
• Eating less meat
• Localisation (growing foods locally)
• Sustainable packaging

Question 10

what is sustainable labelling?

Answer 10

Labelling that certifies that a product meets social or environmental performance standards

Question 11

what do Grunert, Hieke & Wills (2014) have to say about sustainable labelling?

Answer 11

• At the general level, consumers express concern with
environmental issues.
• At the product-related level, this concern diminishes.
• Consumers have limited awareness of sustainability labels,
but can guess their meaning.
• Level of use of sustainability labels is low

Question 12

What is Greenwashing?

Answer 12

It occurs when companies don’t live up to the environmental claims they make causing consumers to react negatively

Question 13

What is product stewardship?

Answer 13

Understanding, controlling and communicating a products environmental, health and safety related effects through its life cycle, from production to final disposal or re use