Although the definition of sustainability is articulated in various ways online, most convey the notion that sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the present without causing detriment to society, or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This refers to any action or process we perform causing little or no harm to the natural world or living creatures, including other humans.
Over the years the term “eco-friendly” has been added to our understanding of sustainability. It is understood that you cannot be sustainable in terms of resource utilisation while destroying the environment.
Sustainable activity and environmentally friendly activity go hand in hand when we talk about what it means to be sustainable. Part of the path to living a sustainable, fulfilled life is making conscious decisions each day about how we live.
Why is sustainability important?
Sustainability is important because the Earth has limited resources, despite society often acting like resources are limitless.
Although governments and large companies should take a great deal of the responsibility in ensuring Earth’s resources aren’t wasted beyond repair, and for implementing sustainable changes and solutions, it’s important to see the value in our personal changes.
Consumers often desire, and expect, to be provided with the cheapest and fastest options, wanting everything ‘now’ and being reliant on needing instant gratification. Anything else instils the feeling of being unfulfilled and frustrated.
The demand for brands to provide this instant gratification is created, but most importantly can be suppressed, by us. If we continually demand change through positive actions instead, companies will have to adapt to survive.
If society continues down the path it is on, it could make the planet uninhabitable, physically, socially, and economically, for future generations.
Fortunately, the world is starting to notice what is important and where we are going wrong with sustainability. Sustainable practices are becoming more commonplace in homes and workplaces. Nowadays sustainability is regularly in the media and hopefully that will initiate some positive actions in society.
What makes a sustainable product?
If the production of a product requires non-renewable resources, damages the environment, or results in harm to individuals or society, it is unlikely to be considered sustainable. A product is usually considered sustainable if it:
Doesn’t deplete natural, non-renewable resources: A sustainable product is made from renewable resources; in other words, resources that can’t be fully depleted.
Doesn’t directly harm the environment: The production, distribution, and/or consumption of the product uses as little energy as possible, and minimises and responsibly disposes of waste. Almost no action is completely free from environmental impact, so most environmentally conscious companies strive to minimise negative impact.
Wasn’t made in a socially irresponsible way (for example, forced or child labour and health or safety concerns): A socially sustainable business is one that practices fair and equal hiring, hiring a diverse range of different people and ensuring they have a voice in the organisation. Socially sustainable businesses also care about the health, wellbeing, and success of their employees — as well as the residents of the cities and countries in which they operate.
What we are we doing about this?
We mentioned above how we as consumers create or suppress the demand for products through the decisions we make when purchasing.
What we are aiming to do is provide you with a means to purchase in a sustainable conscious way by providing you with options of good quality products, alongside good quality, sustainable, and eco-friendly focused products, that can hopefully become the norm in the future.
We are not trying to force you to change, but hopefully make your sustainable conscious decisions easier when making a purchase.
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