Regardless of the product we want to buy, there are a number of aspects to take into account in order to consume responsibly. Before buying any product, we have to ask ourselves three questions:
Do I really need it?
In order to decide if they need it, they can propose other alternatives to the purchase: repair a product before buying another one, use systems for sharing, opt for the second-hand products, maybe there’s a department or service next to us that has a product like the one we need and isn’t using it.
What environmental and social impacts accompany this product or service?
In addition to the economic aspect of a product, we have to evaluate many other associated elements, such as the energy consumption required to manufacture it, the resources used and the generation of waste. Here we present some aspects to take into account before choosing the product we will buy:
- Avoiding single-use products, as it implies a high increase in the consumption of resources and waste is generated in a short time.
- Choose long-lasting and/or reusable products. This reduces the energy and resources needed to produce new ones.
- Choose productos fabricados con materiales reciclados i/o with materials that are recyclable. If it is not possible to separate the different types of materials in a product, it is better to look for an alternative.
- Buy products that generate little waste, and especially to avoid unnecessary packaging. There are many products that can be bought in bulk, making single-use packaging unnecessary.
- Inform yourself about the working conditions in which the products have been made that we buy, in order to avoid situations of child labour exploitation, forced labour, or where workers’ rights are not respected.
- Buy only the quantity of product that we really need. Buying more product than necessary can be a waste of resources.
Is there any other alternative on the market that is more responsible and respectful of the environment?
In order to identify products that consume less energy, generate less waste, are reusable, generate little waste, respect the working conditions of the workers, among other aspects, we have tools such as labels or ecological certificates. To put it very simply, there are two types: the energy efficiency label and eco-labels.
Energy efficiency labels are an information tool that facilitate a quick and easy comparison of different models and brands of different products taking into account its efficiency: less energy consumption and less economic waste. The products are classified in seven categories, from letter A (the most efficient) to letter G (the least efficient). The eco-labelling is a voluntary method to which companies and organisations can adhere in order to certify the environmental performance of products and services. They allow us to identify products and services that present conditions with environmental advantages compared to others of similar characteristics or performance. There are several eco-labels, the best known of which are the EU Ecolabel, the Blue Angel, FSC and PEFC certification for wood-based products, TCO and Energy Star for electronic appliances, and Fairtrade for fair trade products.