5 Factors for Sustainable Consumption

The following 5 factors are Sustainable Life App’s way of categorizing sustainability, it is companies that target to excel in one or more of these areas that we feature on our app for users to find near them. These factors can be read about in greater detail in the Sustainable Life App Ebook, found here

Impact on Human Health 

What is it?

Consumer products are increasingly being made with harmful ingredients that are un- and under-regulated by our governments. Exposure to these chemicals can cause long-term health problems like infertility, cancer, and a host of other problems. The long term effects of products are rarely studied before being used in consumer products, our regulatory boards prefer to ban products after finding out they are unsafe, rather than learning they are safe before permitting them. 

Why does it matter?

Li and Suh, researchers at the University of California Santa Barbra released a report in 2019 detailing the unique issues of harmful chemicals in consumer products. The report explained that a lot of the danger comes from the proximity of these products to our day to day life. Exposure is more frequent and intense when a harmful ingredient is in a consumer product, compared to industrial or building materials, and reaches a lot of people. The effect of exposure is also not fully understood, being variable with co-exposure alongside other chemicals and variable exposure circumstances. Once a product is created with a harmful ingredient it is hard to remove from circulation, as even the products or containers being recycled can keep the harmful product in circulation. 

How can SLA help?

Sustainable Life App allows you to search for companies from grocers to salons to home good stores and beyond that monitor the ingredients in their products according to the following filters:

Environmental Impact 

What is it? 

Consumer products impact the environment through their sourcing, production, final consumption, and disposal. The most sustainable companies are those that follow a circular economy model. The goal is to create and consume in a way that has minimal negative impact on the environment. 

Why does it matter? 

Consumer goods can negatively impact the environment at every step of their life cycle. When sourcing materials limited natural resources can be depleted, or the environment can be harmed in the extraction and preparation of raw materials. Production processes can create pollution, contaminate waterways, or waste materials. Shipping the materials and products from location to location creates pollution, and the actual consumption of the product can have negative environmental impacts. Finally, products can be disposed of prematurely, disposed of unsafely or improperly, or be made from material that does not allow for responsible disposal. All of these factors can cause land deterioration, deforestation, air and water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. 

How can SLA help? 

Sustainable Life App allows you to search for companies from repair shops to refilleries to organic farmers and beyond that monitor their environmental impact according to the following filters: 

Respect for Human Rights 

What is it? 

The creation of consumer goods, from raw material extraction to manufacturing to agriculture, often favours profits over humane and safe working conditions. Companies focused on respecting human rights ensure that their employees experience safe working conditions, fair pay, that no child labour is used in the production of their goods, and that revenue to the company is not being misused.

Why does it matter? 

As of 2016 there are an estimated 152 million child labourers around the globe, 60% of whom work in the agriculture sector. Without proper regulations companies are able to exploit labour; employing children, putting employees at risk with unsafe work conditions or close contact to unsafe materials, and even censorship or surveillance of their workforce. Beyond their own employees, companies can also harm the communities they work in, releasing toxic chemicals into their air, water and land, or violating the rights of indigenous people and their land. It is only when consumers question they integrity of the products they purchase, and make sustainable decisions, that financially driven motives of consumer product manufacturers are diverted towards sustainable choices that respect human rights. 

How can SLA help? 

Sustainable Life App allows you to search for verified brands that respect human rights in their employment and production practices. You can use the app to search for companies according to the following filters: 

Respect for Animal Rights 

What is it? 

The creation of consumer goods can harm animal rights in two key ways: animal testing and the consumption of animal products. 

Why does it matter? 

Many companies use animal testing as a way to meet safety regulations for cosmetics and other consume goods products. These animals are harmed when unsafe products are tested on them, they are abused to test skin and eye irritation, and are killed to test long term impacts and carcinogen levels in products. Animals are also harmed in the production of meat, eggs, and dairy products. Factory farming is a result of high demand for these products and leads to inhumane breeding practices, unsafe living conditions, and unhappy lives for many animals. There is also a severe environmental impact of these factory farms. 

These harmful practices can also be avoided, with many humane options for product testing through lab grown tissue, substitutes for animal products, and ethical agriculture. 

How can SLA help? 

Sustainable Life App can help you find brands that are certified cruelty free, and retailers that vet all of their products to be cruelty free. It can also help you find grocers and restaurants with vegan products or more ethically sourced animal products. You can search for goods according to the following filters: 

Respecting Your Core Values/Socio Economic Outlook

What is it? 

For consumers this pillar is about consuming in accordance with your own values and beliefs, while being aware of the impact your consumption has. For suppliers this pillar is about putting their power and production behind their core values and beliefs, and the stewardship owed to the people and the land. 

Why does it matter? 

The decisions we make with our purchases, and the decisions companies make with their production, distribution, and community involvement are integral to upholding the other four values discussed in this post. We have to make the decision to support companies that believe in what we believe in, and are doing their part for the communities they serve. These companies must understand the influence they have over the environment and their communities and make choices that are driven by more than just profit. Listening to your core values and making purchasing decisions that align with them are the best way for you to make an impact. 

How can SLA help? 

Sustainable Life App allows you to search for businesses near you and online that align with your specific values. The factors listed above cover a wide range of values that allow people to consume in ways that are more sustainable and in line with their values. You can additionally search for companies with the following filters: