The new year is a time when many people will adopt resolutions. This year more people than ever are adopting sustainable resolutions that help to reduce their footprints. Becoming more sustainable consumers does not mean a lower standard of living, just a higher level of intentionality about encouraging more sustainable products, systems and services.
According to recent marketing research, only about 20% of European consumers make choices about their shopping habits based on the sustainability of a product. In North America that number is even lower, so we have all long way to go before consumers are truly sustainable. But increasing levels of consumer activism give us reason to believe that we are on the cusp of a major change in consumer attitudes.
Here are some basic green resolutions for consumers worth adopting in 2012:
Buy products with the smallest environmental footprint
Buy second hand
Buy e-books rather than print
Recycle
Turn off the lights
Switch to LEDs
Do not buy bottled water
Turn down the heat
Use public transit or ride a bike
Stop eating red meat
Reduce waste
Harvest rainwater for landscaping
Plant a garden
Compost
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
