The sustainability of our consumption

Australia’s carbon footprint is the third highest in the world according to a recent study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology.

Source: Journal of Industrial Ecology

Diana Ivanova, a researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and a co-author of the study, said in a statement: “between 60 to 80 per cent of the impacts on the planet come from household consumption.”

Evidence from a Neilson report indicates that consumers say they are willing to pay for ethical and sustainable products and services.

“If we change our consumption habits, this would have a drastic effect on our environmental footprint.”

However, Dr Gary Buttriss, Lecturer at the ANU College of Business and Economics, said: “the general evidence is that while our attitudes are changing, our behaviour isn’t.”

“We are consuming our way to oblivion … people don’t realise how their behaviour can contribute to the problem.”

Yet many people do not understand the consequences of their consumption on their ecological footprint.

“It is not unusual for my students to do the [ecological footprint] test and say ‘if everyone in the world lived like me, we would need three to five Earths’”, said Dr. Buttriss.

Some organisations are tackling this by providing more transparency. The non-profit Ethical Consumer Group based in Melbourne has developed a phone application called Shop Ethical! It provides ratings on the environmental and social record of companies behind well-known consumer brands based on an extensive database of products and companies.

Nick Ray, of the Ethical Consumer Group said: “[People’s] interest in ethical and sustainable products is increasing… we have a growing audience.”

As their web site notes, “Your dollar is your vote.”