Materials and Consumption PGCE d&t September 15 Richard Brett

1 The using up of a resource 2 An amount of something that is used up What is ‘Consumption’? 1 The using up of a resource 2 An amount of something that is used up 3 The purchase and use of goods and services by the public (Dictionary)

Design for the challenge of sustainability in the 21st Century Consumption If we continue in our current approach – the ‘business as usual’ model…we will need the following to meet our future needs… This indicates unequivocally that our current trajectory of consumption CANNOT be sustained! ‘Spaceship Earth’ Design for the challenge of sustainability in the 21st Century

Consumption - why do I consume? Because… I really like shopping I need cheering up I can afford to I want to show off It’s ok… we recycle It was cheap It was expensive You can’t take it with you It’s for my hobby It’s an investment There’s nothing else to do …to fulfill a desire Because… I need it The last one is broken/lost/obsolete I don’t have time to make/mend/find/borrow one To save time To save money …to fulfill a need

Consumption - why is buying stuff good? It feels good having new stuff I feel special I like having what everyone else has got Because I worked hard and now I’m going to enjoy it Because buying things makes us feel happy for a little while To create jobs To keep the economy on track It’s morally acceptable/encouraged It’s my duty as a good citizen Because increased sales and economic growth are desirable goals

“Show your confidence… Show you’re not afraid. Go to restaurants “Show your confidence… Show you’re not afraid. Go to restaurants. Go shopping” Rudy Giuliani addressing New York citizens post 9/11 attack

In 2008, the wealthiest 20% of the world accounted for 76 In 2008, the wealthiest 20% of the world accounted for 76.6% of total private consumption, The poorest 20% accounted for 1.5%

Consumption - population none yr 0 1 billion 1804 2 billion 1927 123 yrs 3 billion 1960 33 yrs 4 billion 1975 15 yrs 5 billion 1987 12 yrs 6 billion 1999 12 yrs 7 billion 2011 (31st Oct) From about 50,000 B.C a total of approximately 106 billion people have been born, Making the current global population roughly 6% of all people who have ever lived. (Population Reference Bureau 1995)

Oil consumption per capita 2003 Consumption - oil Oil consumption per capita 2003 North America 1,593.1 litres per person Developing Countries 59.2 litres per person World Resources Institute.

Consumption - plastic

Consumption - plastic Plastics consumption is growing about 4% every year in western Europe. 7% of total plastic waste is currently being recycled 57% of litter found on beaches in 2003 was plastic WasteOnline

Consumption - food miles Food we eat typically travels between 1,500 - 3,000 miles from farm to our dinner plate. (+25% from 1980 and 2001) (Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University) 76% of apples consumed in the UK come from overseas About 70% of all fish eaten in UK originate in foreign waters (www.independent.co.uk)

Every year worldwide we kill: Consumption - meat Every year worldwide we kill: 40 billion chickens 1 billion pigs 300 million beef cattle 500 million sheep and goats 130 million tonnes of fish 35 million animals for fur (www.animalethics.org.uk)

12 % of the world’s population uses Consumption - water 12 % of the world’s population uses 85% of its water (The Institute for Food and Development Policy) In the UK the average person uses 150 litres a day, incl.50 litres a day to flush toilets 1.8 billion people with a water source within 1 km, but not in their house, consume around 20 litres per day. (The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 litres day.) (www.globalissues.org)

Design for the challenge of sustainability in the 21st Century Consumption - one planet living By 2050 at current consumption rates we will need: 8.5 planets to absorb CO2 emissions 6 planets worth of steel 3.5 planets to sustain cement supply 3.5 planets to meet timber demand If we continue in our current approach – the ‘business as usual’ model…we will need the following to meet our future needs… This indicates unequivocally that our current trajectory of consumption CANNOT be sustained! If everyone in the world lived like an average North American we would need 5 planets to live on If everyone in the world lived like an average European we would need 3 planets to live on (www.oneplanetliving.org) ‘Spaceship Earth’ Design for the challenge of sustainability in the 21st Century

Consumption - global CO2 emissions Global population 7.3 billion (+1.15%pa) Global CO2 emissions 29.8 billion tonnes Global average CO2 emissions 4.1 tonnes per head (Stern Report recommends 2-3 tonnes per head by 2050) USA 20+tonnes Europe 10-15 tonnes (UK 9 tonnes) China 5 tonnes India 1 tonne Africa <1 tonne

Consumption - social issues The failure of additional wealth and consumption to help people have satisfying lives may be the most eloquent argument for re-evaluating our current approach to consumption. Individuals often face personal costs associated with heavy levels of consumption: financial debt time and stress associated with working to support consumption time required to clean, upgrade, store, or maintain possessions consumption replaces time with family and friends. Aggressive pursuit of a mass consumption society also correlates with a decline in health indicators in many countries, as obesity, crime, and other social ills continue to surge. (www.worldwatch.org)

newscientist.com/article/dn20868-psychiatric-illness-is-biggest-source-of-europes-ill-health.html

I bought a $7 pen because I always lose pens and I got sick of not caring Mitch Hedberg