Conscious consumption: start today with energy, water, and more!

Countdown: seven years and about one hundred days. That is the deadline for the climate crisis to become irreversible (at the time this post was written), according to the climate clock, installed on September 27 in New York. 

More than ever, we need to invest in the conscious consumption of energy, water, food, and the like, to reverse this alarming scenario and put a more sustainable reality into practice.  

Speaking of which, did you know that climate change affects not only our future, but also our present? Global warming, for example, causes glaciers to shrink and new occurrences of floods (due to rising sea levels), hurricanes, and storms (due to high water temperatures).  

The act of consuming consciously can mitigate all of this as more people acquire products that are truly necessary and do not cause environmental damage. Want to better understand how to practice this type of consumption? Just follow along with us!

What are the principles of conscious consumption?

Below, we have listed the 12 principles of conscious consumption, according to the Akatu Institute, with the goal of generating well-being for everyone, preserving the environment, and at the same time reducing waste:

1. Plan purchases in advance, aiming to buy less and better;

2. Evaluate the impacts of your consumption, taking into account the environment and society as a whole;

3. Consume only what is necessary; after all, we can live with much less;

4. Reuse products and packaging, checking what can be repaired, transformed, or reused;

5. Separate waste for recycling, which is essential to conserve natural resources, minimize environmental degradation, and even generate jobs;

6. Use credit consciously, checking if a certain purchase can wait and also if it is possible to pay the installments without compromising family income;

7. Know and value the socio-environmental responsibility projects of brands, as this goes far beyond simply looking at the price and quality of a product;

8. Do not buy "pirate" or smuggled goods, as a way to contribute to the generation of stable jobs, as well as to combat organized crime and violence;

9. Adopt an active stance in favor of improving products and services, sending suggestions and even constructive criticism to companies;

10. Spread the relevance of consuming consciously by passing information on to family members, friends, and coworkers;

11. Hold public figures accountable, with an emphasis on policies that make sustainability initiatives viable;

12. Reflect on your own values and check what can be changed in your consumption habits.

But what characterizes consumerism (or "irresponsible" consumption)?

Consumerism is related to excessive consumption, especially when we talk about unnecessary or superfluous items. Such attitudes harm sustainable development because the depletion of resources compromises the ability to meet the needs of future generations.

By the way, since the release of The 3 R’s in 2006, the concept of the 3 R's of sustainability has gained new ramifications. Therefore, in addition to the three original words, people now also talk about: rethink, recover, take responsibility, refuse, repair, reintegrate, and pass on.

The benefits of the conscious consumption of energy, water, and food

Consuming consciously brings countless advantages, including:

• Preservation of natural resources, which are scarce;

• Reduction of the greenhouse effect and solid waste, especially e-waste (computers, phones, batteries…);

• Generation of income for those who work with selective collection and recycling;

• Savings of resources through the reuse and repair of objects;

• Minimization of traffic in cities by encouraging alternative means of transportation;

• Decrease in the carbon footprint, which contributes to mitigating global warming.

Tips for consuming even more consciously

Conscious energy consumption

• Take advantage of natural light and turn off lights in empty rooms;

• Fuel vehicles with alternative fuels (alcohol and biodiesel) or switch to an electric version;

• Gather a good amount of clothes before starting to iron them;

• Do not leave the refrigerator door open for too long;

• Prefer fluorescent lightbulbs and appliances that consume less energy.  

Conscious water consumption

• Opt for quick showers, if possible using bar shampoo, conditioner, and soap;

• Fix dripping faucets and remember to turn them off while brushing your teeth;

• Reuse the water from the washing machine rinse cycle to flush the toilet, for example;

• Leave food out of the refrigerator for a while so it doesn't thaw under running water;

• Wash the sidewalk and the car using buckets of water instead of hoses.

Conscious food consumption

• Buy food directly from local producers;

• Choose seasonal fruits, as well as fresh vegetables and greens;

• Check the expiration date of products to prevent them from spoiling quickly;

• Make a list before going shopping to avoid making unnecessary stockpiles;

• Look up recipes to reuse stems, leaves, seeds, leftovers, etc.

And who is already investing in (more) conscious consumption?

Below we have selected some sustainability inspirations, starting with relatively simple practices that make all the difference, up to business models designed to generate value for everyone involved, directly or indirectly. Check it out!

• In the energy market: clean energy is one of the key points for preserving natural resources. In fact, since 2017, Serena's 100% renewable energy generation has prevented the emission of 568 thousand tons of CO₂, equivalent to the emissions of 240 thousand cars in a year;

• Green architecture: in addition to international highlights (the NY Times headquarters and the Oslo airport), in Brazil, sustainable architecture is also solidifying, such as Casa Folha in Rio de Janeiro, Casa Container in Curitiba, and Casa Sustentável in Brasília;  

• In the music world: the band Coldplay suspended concerts until they could find sustainable alternatives to promote their albums, while singer Billie Eilish is likewise working to make her tours greener;  

• In organizations: sustainability in companies can encompass various actions: saving paper, avoiding disposable cups, recycling ink cartridges, encouraging alternative transportation, turning on the air conditioning only when necessary, etc.  

What's more, companies looking for investors can benefit greatly by adopting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) aspects.

Here, we work with clean and accessible energy because we believe that sustainability transforms the world. And the best way to be sustainable is to practice the conscious consumption of energy, water, and food while investing in social and environmental projects.  

Did you like the post? Also check out:

• 8 simple and effective gestures to make your company sustainable

• Sustainable Carnival: is it possible to decarbonize it?

• How Distributed Generation helps reduce electricity expenses

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