Green & Responsible Consumption

Definition

Green and responsible consumption is a consumption model that promotes waste reduction, protects environmental well-being and resources efficiency. Green and responsible consumers make the best use of everything in their daily lives to reduce waste and pollution, striving to achieve environmental protection and natural resources conservation by minimising the use of natural resources.

Description

Individuals and enterprises bear personal and social responsibility respectively in promoting green and responsible consumption. Personal responsibility aims at avoiding waste by individuals through assessing whether a consumer product is “needed” or “wanted” before consumption. On social responsibility, products are produced, transported, sold, and disposed of in a way that damages the environment. Through the consumption behaviour, consumers can encourage manufacturers to improve their production and distribution methods, reduce energy and resource consumption, protect the environment and make the best use of natural resources.

The European Union (EU) has formulated a clear plan for green development and circular economy, with a view to making more efficient use of resources and utilizing environmental innovations, starting from raw materials, production, consumption, waste reduction, and management respectively, to move towards carbon neutrality and sustainable development.

The European Union Green growth and circular economy

Resource efficiency: Using resources more efficiently and turning waste into a resource.
Eco-innovation: Designing smarter products which are produced and used in a manner that encourages material recycling and waste reduction.
Raw Materials: Ensuring natural resources are used in the most efficient way and without depleting the planet's resources.
Production: Improving the overall environmental performance of organizations and products throughout their life-cycle.
Consumption: Harnessing people’s purchasing power to choose environmentally friendly and energy-efficient goods, services and works.
Waste prevention and management: Preventing products and materials from becoming waste and turning waste that cannot be avoided into a resource.

Sustainable consumption can be achieved through the 5R approach:

1. Reduce: Zero waste conserves resources and minimizes pollution.
2. Re-use: Avoid using disposable products.
3. Recycle: Recycling and sorting out recyclable materials, encourage stakeholders to reduce waste and to recycle.
4. Re-evaluate: Choose products made of environmentally friendly materials, such as biobased plastics.
5. Rescue: Protect natural ecology and endangered species.

Green Payment

To encourage reduced use of paper, including receipt printing, some merchants have started to implement green payment schemes. Consumers can use an app to record the amount of paper saved and convert it into carbon credits, which can be exchanged for rewards of different value, providing an incentive for consumers to adopt green payment.

Step in Changing Consumer Behaviour

Incentivize people to change their behaviour to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with carbon pricing, and the accumulated charge will be used as donations or preferential loans to green organisations or businesses, or even subsidise additional incentives for consumers to purchase low-carbon and eco-friendly goods, thereby encouraging consumers to change their consumption habit and purchase more green products, and promoting sustainable consumption behaviour.

Case Study

Little Thrifty hopes to practise green and responsible consumption in his everyday life. The Green Credit Card not only offers shopping privileges at designated merchants for green products and services but also allows cardholders to accumulate gift points for reward redemption. Some green credit card issuing banks or financial institutions will even donate a portion of cardholders’ spending to help develop green projects, such as protecting tropical rainforests and endangered species. By using a green credit card, you can help develop a green economy and enjoy discounts at the same time.