a most responsible consumer – advisable changes in western life style patterns (as of 2009)

• 7 sets of clothes at most for the winter, and 7 sets of clothes at most for the summer
• less things but of better quality and durability; sorry, no Primark
• do not use cheap, one-use-only stuff
• think twice before buying stuff, think twice before buying anything; do you really need it?
• refill, reuse and recycle
• share things, share expertise, ex-change things
• don’t be enslaved by things
• do not iron clothes: ironing is useless and high energy-consuming
• do not wash your clothes daily (particularly, the trousers, sweaters, jerseys, etc.) just after a single use, unless they are really dirty
• consume less of everything
• use less water, save as much water as possible; there are a thousand tricks to save water; you are smart, you’ll find many; just don’t be lazy
• use less energy, save as much energy as possible; there are a thousand tricks to save energy; you are smart, you’ll find many; just don’t be lazy
• Earth resources are finite; even the energy from sunlight is finite; we can’t grow indefinitely (and of course there is a clear trade solution between global world population and average level of luxury, wellbeing, commodities, etc.; that if we manage to have global wealth equally distributed and not concentrated in a handful of super-rich)
• eat less meat and dairy products, particularly from cows
• eliminate superficial, useless stuff like ties
• the best product is the one that has been produced the closest to you and is seasonal:
    o reason 1: This way you support your region’s agriculture and industry.
    o reason 2: This way less energy is wasted in transport and carbon emissions (and other pollutants) are reduced.
• do not buy products from trans-national corporations (highly renown brands) or products at Dollar stores (Todo a 100 o Todo a 1€):
    o reason 1: If you do so, you’re likely supporting industries featuring quasi-slavery labour regimes in developing countries.
    o reason 2: If you do so, you’re likely supporting also non-green industries.

 

 

Matata Beach, Rotorua, Central North Island, New Zealand (2013)