Navigation

Wikis Explained

Back to Green Thing

Actions

Explore all the product actions organised by how they help you REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

Overview

Consumer spending is rampant. We need to adopt leaner and greener purchasing practises

Considerations

• Nature of product and its durability.
  • Is the product designed to be repaired or is it disposable?
  • Longevity of product - one shot use or reusable?
  • Is the product designed with inbuilt obsolescence?
• Choose product on the basis of necessity.
• Can use of product be avoided by taking a different approach?
• Try and achieve more with less.
• Are there any substitute materials that are less wasteful in use?
  • 93% of production materials do not end up in saleable products - Envirowise
  • 80% of products are discarded after a single use
  • 99% of materials used are discarded in the first six weeks
• Do you need new products of will nearly new do?
• Does a product have to be pristine?
  • Using blemished products reduces waste.
• Reuse or borrow before buying new.
• Recycle when options for Reduction and Reuse have been exhausted.
• Recycling can be energy intensive. It takes energy to transport and process waste.
• Avoid unnecessary and excess packaging.
• Choose locally produced where feasible
• Fairtrade focus for imported
• Use Life Cycle Analysis to identify a product's ecological impact.