Sustainable Life

A sustainable life cannot be realized until consumers support companies that think of the future seriously by engaging the companies and buying their products or services. According to Ms K. Tatsumi, the Executive Director of the Nippon Association of Consumer Specialists, people have a choice in deciding the sustainable society they are envisioned and wanted to. While we are kept complaining about unscrupulous of businesses of polluting the environment, producing unhealthy food and charging excessive price, the consumers have actually neglected their responsibility and rights. Having the purchasing power means the consumers have a choice of selecting goods or services of their preference. Consumers might consider the factor of price, quality, accessibility, safety, health, hygiene and also environmental carbon footprint. If we, the consumers collectively prioritise the environmental carbon footprint as main concern, then I believe the market forces will tell the businesses what to do and how to do, fast. The businesses will change and embrace good environmental practice, design for environment, strive for Eco design and other environmental friendly production to fulfil the need expressed by the consumers. By doing so, then people will be guaranteed of having a sustainable life.

In summary, the consumers' choices can change the global environment and our Mother Nature. In order for the consumers to make an informed choice, availability of information on the useful life of products or the life cycle assessment of products should be there. Having information readily is not sufficient still, consumers have to be sensitive to the information and keep updating ourselves on the availability of green products or services. With that, action is ready.