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Europe’s ecological
consumption footprint:
• 23% food
• 10% recreation and
culture
• 5% alcoholic beverages
• 2% clothing
• 1% communication
Food consuming and obesity
More than 53% of the EU
population is estimated to be
overweight, and the numbers
are increasing (EEA 2010).
The Global Footprint Network shows that 23% of Europe’s ecological footprint
related to consumption is attributed to food, 10% to recreation and culture, 5%
to alcoholic beverages, tobacco etc., 4% to hotels and restaurants, 2% to clothing
and 1% to communication (WWF 2006). In terms of an individual’s ecological
footprint, consumer goods alone account for 14% of an average citizen’s footprint
in the UK (Bio-Regional and CABE 2008).
The implications of consumption in Europe are far reaching as many of the impacts
caused in the EU are not actually felt in the EU, but in other parts of the
world where goods are produced. The true costs of environmental and resource
degradation to societies outside Europe are not reflected fully in the prices of
goods and services (EEA 2010a).
Current consumption patterns also lead to social impacts, such as obesity (increased
intake of sugars), heart disease (fatty foods and smoking) and cancers
(exposure to hazardous chemicals). Consumption-related health risks such as
overweight and obesity are of great concern because they are linked to such
serious health problems as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and several types
of cancer and can reduce life expectancy. While the causes of obesity are complex,
the root of the problem is increasing calorie intake, coupled with a more
sedentary lifestyle.
The use of chemicals in consumer products also has significant environmental
and health impacts. This includes the use of persistent and bio-accumulative
organic compounds, endocrine-disrupting chemicals and heavy metals in plastics,
lubricants, textiles, cosmetics, dyes, flame retardants, wood preservatives,
electronic goods, and food packaging. Many of these chemicals can leach from
products and can, in some cases, be found in the environment at levels high
enough to pose health concerns. This is also the case for chemical compounds
at low levels that can, when combined with many other substances in the environment
or with long term exposures, impose negative impacts on unborn,
very young or vulnerable children. Exposure to these chemicals is thought to be
linked to declining sperm counts, genital malformations, and impaired neural
development and sexual behaviour, as well as obesity and cancer (EEA 2010a).
Trends toward sustainable
consumption:
• Increased awareness of
sustainability
• Increased awareness of
the potential for savings
• Emergence of
collaborative consumption
• Increased availability of
sustainable products and
services
• Growing awareness of
need for community
Trends towards more sustainable consuming
There are examples of positive developments in recent decades that are shaping
our consumption that that are setting a course toward sustainability.
There is, for example, a greater awareness of sustainability issues in general. A
2009 poll showed that a slim majority (55%) of EU citizens buying or using products
are, in general, aware of their most significant impacts on the environment
that arise from the product (European Commission 2009). While this relatively
high level of awareness is a positive development, it needs to be treated with
caution: awareness alone is no guarantee of changes in actual behaviour.
The good news is that young people aged 18 to 25, in particular, believe that their
generation is consuming too much and want more information on how they can
reduce negative impacts of their consumption (OECD 2008).
In the aftermath of the economic crisis of 2008, this has been matched by a
growing awareness of the potential for cost savings and the risks of large investments,
reinforcing the values of thrift and frugality through product sharing,
swapping, lending, and online trading (see Figure 4).
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SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES: TODAY’S FACTS & TOMORROW’S TRENDS