The sustainable materials management hierarchy lays out post disposal treatment processes in order of impact. Typically, at the top of this list is source reduction and at the very bottom is landfill or incineration. When it is understood that more than 50% of our carbon footprint is associated with the goods we use and consume, this order of preference seems pretty clear. Every manufactured item we encounter in our daily life required production, packaging and transportation before it was taken off the shelf or delivered to our door. Many of these product’s lifespans are measured in months or just a few years before they enter the end of life hierarchy and much of their embedded energy is lost.
To improve individual climate impact, our highest priority should be extending product use as much as possible and reducing unnecessary consumption. Certainly this is a lot easier said than done in our modern consumer society and is particularly apparent during this time of year at our collective peak consumption. While most everyone enjoys the tradition of giving and receiving, this doesn’t have to involve constantly purchasing new products. As we head into a new year and many of us are looking for resolutions, consider some of these ideas next time you are ready to fill a shopping cart.
Repair:
If you have durable products that served you well but are showing signs of wear, consider repairing or restoring them before jumping to replacement. If you decide it’s time for an upgrade or change, it may still be worth the effort to pass these items to others who can continue to use them.
Share:
There are many benefits of sharing items rather than owning them. Generally shared items can be used without the responsibility of maintenance and additional long-term ownership costs. In many cases shared items will be newer or of a higher quality than one may be able to afford if purchasing on their own. Consider car and bike share programs, tool rental, libraries or apparel rental.
Buying used:
There are plenty of deals to be had purchasing second hand. It may be a bit more time consuming than ordering something up from Amazon, but can also come with the thrill of a search, finding something unique and usually saving some money over new. This is usually where I start, especially when it’s time for larger investments and I have rarely regretted the choice.
Image credit to WasteOnline
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