Are consumers the key to 21st century environmentalism?
Tapping into self interest to encourage environmentalism.
Consumerism and environmentalism have not in the past been seen as compatible, but there is no reason not to make it so that they are in the future.
Popularize ways that consumers can purchase “offsets” to benefit the environment as part of purchasing decisions.
William Mcdunough says “waste equals food, so lets eliminate the concept of waste.” Regenerative production processes and local businesses/perspectives are contagious.
Currently only a small majority of people practice buying green.
People recycle more when they have to pay for their trash disposal.The financial component has caused people actions to change.
There are huge untapped resources in capitalism to bring to bear…where do we find it?
How do you have it be a cycle which has its own benefits? Our systems don't incentivize things in the right direction. How can we get something about consumption to act like this?
Co-mingling recycling could reduce the potential benefit/value of the recycling process to the municipality. eg. selling recycled aluminum.
What about clear plastic bags that prove you are recycling?
City of Boulder CO taxes citizens on size of house and number of cars. City is proud of what they are doing and that has an impact.
Tradeoffs…
Upper income /self interested component vs. lower income folks need government carrots and sticks to get the these green consumer items.
5 year lifecycle costs are too short…lifecycle expectations need to be longer for everyone from green consumerism.
How do you convert the picture to a self interested one?
Green thinking and building is contagious. Focus on the great stories.
Award green points in a national consumer system for purchasing green stuff (solar etc.).
Linkages….programs/benefits development agrees to fund in return for development permits, e.g.
Communities need to be pushed to make decisions.