Introduction
The world is facing a major resource crisis. We’re running out of the materials we need to survive, and that’s not even counting climate change. Experts have been warning us about this for decades, but things still aren’t changing fast enough. In other words: we need to act now if we want to protect our future. As consumers and workers in a capitalist society, there are lots of ways we can make changes at home or work that will help mitigate these problems so everyone can have as much fun in their lives as possible without compromising the well being of future generations—but it won’t be easy! It’s time for us all to step up our game with these simple tips:
Everyone knows that resource efficiency is important.
Everyone knows that resource efficiency is important. It’s a good idea to be resource efficient, and being more resource efficient will help us build a better future for everyone. If you’re not already doing everything in your power to become more sustainable and reduce the amount of waste you produce, then there’s no time like the present!
If we want our planet Earth (or whatever planet this may be) to survive long enough for our descendants to enjoy its beauty and bounty, then we need to start thinking about how we can use less resources now so there’ll be more available later on down the line when they’re needed by other people living on other planets who haven’t gotten around yet like us here today.”
Resource efficiency is really complicated.
Resource efficiency is a big topic. It involves lots of different aspects of business, including manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, sourcing materials and products, selling to customers (and buying from suppliers) and much more.
It’s not easy to figure out where to start when it comes to improving your resource efficiency. While there are many ways you can do this–from using less energy in your office or factory, through rethinking how you source materials for your products–the good news is that they don’t have to be complicated; they just need some time spent thinking about what matters most for your business.
The ROI of resource efficiency is difficult to calculate.
ROI is a good way to measure resource efficiency. However, it can be difficult to calculate because it’s hard to know what the baseline is. For example, if you’ve already done some work on improving your resource efficiency in one area (for example, switching from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs), then how do you compare that investment against investments in other areas?
It’s hard to know what to do first when you’re trying to be more resource efficient.
If you’re like me and have been trying to get your house in order for a while now, the thought of tackling all of these things at once may seem overwhelming. And that’s OK! Start small and focus on one area at a time.
You will make mistakes along the way; that’s how we learn! But don’t let some failures stop you from moving forward with other projects or tasks that could help your home become more resource efficient.
The good news is there are lots of resources available online (like this blog!) where people share their experiences and knowledge so everyone can learn from each other’s successes–and mistakes!
There’s a common misperception that more expensive products are more sustainable, which isn’t true
There’s a common misperception that more expensive products are more sustainable, which isn’t true. There are many factors that affect the price of a product–including its packaging, where it was made and how much energy was used during production. Sustainable products may cost more up front but can save you money in the long run because they use fewer resources and last longer than their conventional counterparts.
The government has a role to play in making sustainability easier for companies.
The government has a role to play in making sustainability easier for companies. Government can help with incentives and regulations, education and funding.
The role of government ranges from providing a legal framework that allows companies to make decisions based on their sustainability goals, all the way down to providing funding or loans for specific projects that support those goals.
We have a lot of work ahead of us as consumers, but there’s also lots we can do within our companies to make sure we’re doing right by the planet
As a consumer, there are a lot of things you can do to make sustainability easier. You can buy sustainable products and services. You can support companies that are making progress on resource efficiency and other environmental issues. You can learn more about what’s happening in your community and help spread awareness of these issues by talking to others about them–in person or online!
As an employee at a company that wants to make the world better, there are also some big ways you can help make this happen:
- Educate yourself on how your organization is using resources (materials, energy) throughout its supply chain–and how those resources could be used more efficiently
- Look for opportunities within your company’s business model where reducing waste or saving money would benefit both shareholders’ bottom lines as well as society as whole (i.e., customers’ wallets).
Conclusion
So, what does it all mean for us? Well, we have a lot of work ahead of us as consumers, but there’s also lots we can do within our companies to make sure we’re doing right by the planet. We need to be aware of how our decisions affect not only ourselves but also other people around us–and remember that even small changes can add up over time!