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tÉLÉCHARGEZ ICI ! le dernier numéro du magazine - Reims ...

tÉLÉCHARGEZ ICI ! le dernier numéro du magazine - Reims ...

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More and more, the French would like to consume <strong>le</strong>ss, and<br />

differently. In the last “Ethicity” survey (The French and<br />

responsib<strong>le</strong> consumption - March 2012), 88% of French peop<strong>le</strong><br />

declared that the economic crisis should be an opportunity for<br />

us to take a fresh look at our way of life and the way we<br />

consume. I have observed the emergence of this trend over the<br />

four years that I have spent researching for the Ecofrugal<br />

Guide.<br />

NEW PERSPECTIVES<br />

These new types of behaviour and new ways of consuming are<br />

varied and ec<strong>le</strong>ctic. To describe them we speak of shrewd buys,<br />

of good deals, of energy saving, of collaborative consumption,<br />

of voluntary simplicity, of frugality, of negative growth, of<br />

resourcefulness, of system D... But whatever the word that is<br />

chosen to describe this behaviour and the motivation that<br />

underlies it, such practices invariably are an attempt to re<strong>du</strong>ce<br />

your environmental impact and to save money.<br />

HOW TO GO BACK<br />

TO THE PAST<br />

TO PREPARE FOR<br />

THE FUTURE<br />

But are these ecological, economical practices, which I call<br />

eco-frugal, really new? Our forefathers ate organic, local,<br />

homemade, seasonal food every day. They were locavores without<br />

knowing it, well before the word existed. Today, more and<br />

more consumers are in favour of such dietary practices. They<br />

want to fight against food waste, to make their own compost,<br />

to have their own vegetab<strong>le</strong> garden like our forebears did. The<br />

return of bulk buying (coffee, rice, pasta etc.) reminds use of the<br />

old groceries when hyper-packaging didn’t exist.<br />

Are non-polluting modes of transport (bicyc<strong>le</strong>s, trams, walking,<br />

car sharing etc.), known as green transport in the language of<br />

sustainab<strong>le</strong> development so recent?<br />

12|13

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