Page 50 - Sustainable Development Goals_ EN booklet 2022
P. 50
Responsible
consumption
& production
Earth provides us an abundance of natural resources, but humans are
not using it responsibly. Our resources consumption rate vastly exceeds
what earth can provide for us and for future generations. This extensive
use is effectively the key cause of the increasing shortage of natural
resources and violation of the balance with nature. This is compounded
by technological development that has allowed for mass producing a
wide range of products (such as clothing, dining utensils, books and
more).
In our product-intense age, the term “consumption culture”, referring to
a socioeconomic system that encourages the consumption of products
and services and transforming it into a key value in modern society has
developed – shopping has become a leisure activity, for pleasure and
sometimes even an addiction.
In this context, the term “ecological footprint” should be recognized
– this is an index for the human demand for ecosystems on earth –
meaning that the area of ground and water required to satisfy needs
and receive the waste of a population of a given lifestyle is quantifiable.
Primary Challenge \ Identifying sustainable alternatives for
manufacturing and industrialization processes, while following
the principles of sustainable development
Responsible consumption and production / P. 50
