trends and future of sustainable development - TransEco

From a social perspective, an “ecological maximum” needs to ensure a decent lifestyle. Sociallysustainable consumption emphasizes an equal share in natural resources use and a sufficient quality oflife. The environmental concern of limiting the use of natural resources should not lead to an increasingdeprivation or a diminishing quality of life. Thus, an ecological maximum has to meet the requirementsof a socially sustainable minimum consumption or "decent minimum". Decent minimum refers to thesufficient level of resources to fulfil needs, participate in society and ensure human dignity (Bradshaw etal., 2008). Hence, we need to clarify what are the products and services included into a decent minimumand how they meet the limitations of an ecological maximum. We will apply a methodology where bothaspects of decent lifestyle are concerned (see also Druckman and Jackson, 2010).In this study we use the decent minimum reference budgets to assess the amount of naturalresources required to ensure a decent minimum consumption in the present Finnish society. The naturalresource consumption is calculated as material footprint. The results are compared to other studies andto the sustainable level of resource use. The objective of the study is to clarify how close a decentminimum consumption in present Finland is to the maximum ecological limits of consumption? First weshortly discuss the two dimensions of decent lifestyle and different aspects to define the sustainableconsumption level.2. The two dimensions of decent lifestyles2.1. Socio-economical approachIn the consumer society lifestyle is highly connected to consumption patterns, which from their siderepresent individual identities and social status. Consumption is related to social processes, like socialbelonging and individual differentiating and it is one aspect of social stratification. (e.g. Jackson, 2005.)Goods can have various meanings and they are not merely “service-producing machines” but a part ofour cultural and personal identity. When new products enter to the market they become an “inherentpart of society” (Heiskanen and Pantzar, 1997, 425-426).As the consumption patterns change over time and in various social contexts, the understandingabout the socially acceptable consumption differs from other societies with different goods defined asnecessities. To put it simple the “decent minimum” would contain necessities to fulfil physical needs, asdrinking water, food, clothes and shelter. However, in the affluent consumer societies like Finland, thedecent lifestyle refers to a more complex understanding about consumption and necessities. Essentialconsumption has become relative, which makes it more challenging to define. (e.g. Soper 2006.)Delimiting the needs and wants is difficult when consumption possibilities tend to increase. New goodsenter the market all the time. Good examples of such goods are computers and mobile phones, which aretoday necessities in socialising and going on many errands.In this paper a decent lifestyle in socio-economical terms is specified on the basis of the quality,quantity and price of the goods and services required for a decent life. One way to investigate what arethe products and services that are presently regarded as a part of the socially acceptable level of living isthe reference budget. Reference budget shows what kind of minimum level of consumption is required toguarantee enough resources to fulfil the basic needs, ensure a human dignity and offer sufficient203