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Alessandra, Roving reporter

Sustainable consumption - consuming for the future

Jeans, jackets, sneakers, iPods, fast food - sound like your usual shopping list? Nowadays spending money to keep up with the latest trends is a necessity as we are continually told by friends and the media what's hot and what is apparently not.

In 2003 alone, a global report showed that combined youth spending in eleven major economies, including Australia, exceeded a massive US$750 billion per year - enough to give every child in the world a primary education. With that in perspective, it seems this consumerist society has engulfed our generation and it's time we reassess our spending habits.

What is sustainable consumption?

Tess, 16, defines sustainable consumption as "consuming the right amount of food, water, everything together and making sure that there's enough for the future." Likewise, Lucy, 16, says it is "keeping to what is essential for you and also being wise about it."

Sustainable consumption isn't an abstract idea that only radical hippies and greenies are concerned with. But rather, it's something we all play a role in. It involves limiting the amount of things we consume, whether it be processed foods, clothes or electricity, to satisfy only our basic needs, therefore reducing our negative impact upon the earth.

Why is it important?

"Overconsumption is costing us the earth," says Chuck Berger, Australian Conservation Foundation's Director of Sustainability Strategies. Since 1950 consumption of water, grain and beef has tripled and we use six times the amount of paper products - it appears this past half century has been one of high indulgence.

This super quick, super cheap and super big lifestyle is having a detrimental affect on the environment, with one Mc Donald's Quarter Pounder requiring around 2000 litres of water to produce. With an estimated 75 per cent of adolescents eating fast food at least once a week, it seems that washing cars and long showers are not the only culprits of water wastage.

What role do young people play?

A 2001 survey by imagineOz (new window), a youth task force, showed that 78.8 per cent of young people said the environment was an important issue. Louise, 16, agrees, stating she is most concerned about global warming and the ozone layer. With awareness gradually growing, few young people are yet to recognise the direct link between consumerism and the environment- a crucial cause of many of today's issues.

As young people, we are not only one of the largest groups of consumers but also the leaders of the future. It seems that the means for change is ultimately in our hands.

The ecological footprint test

The ecological footprint test (new window) is a way of measuring how much we use as individuals, a country or a global community in relation to how much we have. It measures our consumption in 'global hectares' and also how many 'earths' we consume.

Bravely, I decided to complete the test. After answering a few simple questions about diet, transport and waste it's scary to admit that we would need 2.4 planet earths for everyone to live my lifestyle.

Currently, as a global nation, we would need a massive twelve earths to meet our average consumption levels. Realistically, there's only one planet earth and with NASA yet to find another, it's time we all made some small steps towards a one-earth lifestyle.

What can I do?

Take the ecological footprint test so you know where to start. Then try implementing a few of these simple strategies into your everyday lifestyle:

• Skip a meat meal. Meat products contribute to over half our ecological footprint and impact the environment severely. Try cutting down one serving of meat per week and enjoy vegetarian alternatives instead.
• Instead of driving, walk to the milk bar or drag out that old bike.
• Sell or donate unwanted goods such as clothes or books. Likewise, buying secondhand goods from op shops or garage sales is a great way to buy new clothes and save some money.
• Turn appliances off instead of leaving them on standby and you can save up to 5 percent from your electricity bill.
• Try spending money on services instead of goods. For example, go see a film or get a massage rather than indulging in some retail therapy - these activities have less of a negative impact on the environment.

Studies show that young people not only influence their friends' habits but can also have a major impact on their family's consumption patterns as the best way to influence others is through example.

Try encouraging family and friends to take the test and make similar changes to their lifestyle where possible.

There are some great resources online that can help you come up with other strategies that can minimise your own ecological footprint:

• Natural Strategies (new window) - tips for a sustainable lifestyle
  
• I Buy Different (new window) - tips for how to shop sustainably
  
• Australian Conservation Foundation (new window) - environmental resources and guidelines
  

By implementing some of these strategies and investigating these organisations, you can help save the environment, save our resources and save yourself some money. Not to mention, it will put my conscience at ease for leaving my computer on endlessly while writing this article!

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