Questions regarding Sustainable Production and Consumption

Below follow questions which help gain an understanding of the concepts in this overview. Stars (★) are an indication of the level of difficulty of the question or concepts.

Note that translations form Dutch into English have been done by ChatGPT, there may be errors. 

Some themes have suggestions for sources, however, they usually won't provide complete information.

System Earth

Degenerative

What are the limits to growth? ★★

The economic model of growth is reaching its limits. Growth cannot continue indefinitely. Explain this with the help of an explanation of the terms GDP and planetary boundaries. Give some examples of these limits. In addition, explain what the essential needs of humans are and how they relate to consumerism.

Sources:

•  https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries/the-nine-planetary-boundaries.html

Regenerative

What are alternatives to economic growth? ★★★

There are various alternatives to economic growth. Three of them are: doughnut economy, triple bottom line, and nested approach. Describe these models.

Source:

• Fischer, J., Manning, A. D., Steffen, W., Rose, D. B., Daniell, K., Felton, A., ... & Wade, A. (2007). Mind the sustainability gap. Trends in ecology & evolution, 22(12), 621-624. 

Effects, Impacts & Risks

Depletion Of Resources

Where does our stuff come from? ★★

The raw materials we use to make products come from somewhere. Give examples of (at least) three different raw materials, one of which is extracted from the biosphere, one from the lithosphere, and one from the technosphere. Explain what is meant by these three spheres and indicate for each example whether it is a scarce raw material and whether it is a renewable raw material.

Sources:

• https://earthhow.com/spheres-of-earth/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthroposphere

• https://www.euchems.eu/euchems-periodic-table/

What makes a production process run? ★

When producing a product, resources other than materials are also needed. Give two examples of production processes in which labor and energy play a large or small role.

Pollution

What types of pollution are there? ★★

Examples of pollution resulting from production include overfertilization, greenhouse gases such as CO2, toxicity, waste (including littering, incineration, and landfills), and plastic. Provide an example for each of these categories of how this pollution can occur.

Nutrient pollution, CO2, Toxicity, Waste, Plastic

Social

Who is affected? ★★

A simple way to look at the impact on people is to think in terms of Here and There. Here refers to what is happening in the global north (of course, the interpretation of "here" depends on where you live), There refers to what is happening in the global south. Give examples of some impacts (at least labor conditions and annoyance) of production and consumption on people and explain what the term 'externalization' means and discuss at least labor condition impacts.

Sources:

•  https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/

Production

Proposition of value

How does a company add value? ★

In a value proposition, a company formulates how it adds value to the customer (or society as a whole). Look at at least three companies and how they present this (often this can be interpreted from the home page; you can do this fairly freely) and indicate which terms from the tree diagram above are reflected in it.

Sources:

• Some varied examples of companies and their mission statements:

  • https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-company/who-we-are/our-values.html

  • https://www.fairphone.com/en/story/

  • https://www.wren.co/careers (scroll down)

  • https://company.wizards.com/en/who-we-are

  • https://www.tullowoil.com/about-us/our-purpose-strategy/

  • https://www.treedom.net/en/

Circularity

How can we make products without depleting resources? ★★★

Explain what is meant by circularity in production using the cradle-to-cradle design approach. Describe what is meant by a cycle, and provide examples of what could be described as a cycle in the life cycle of a product. Additionally, provide an example of renewable energy and its role in cradle-to-cradle.

Sources:

• https://partnersforinnovation.com/en/

Design perspectives

In what ways is sustainable design approached? ★★

Of course, there is no exhaustive description of the ways in which sustainable design is approached. It helps to view these approaches from the perspective of designers. An example of such a perspective is Design for Recovery, where the design takes into account that materials, components, or energy carriers can be reused. One way to compare design perspectives is Design for X, where X represents a specific perspective - and in the context of sustainable or circular design, this has a sustainable interpretation. Provide at least five additional examples of Design for X that align with sustainable production, and compare where in the production chain these perspectives primarily intervene.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_for_X  

• https://www.plateconference.org/product-design-framework-circular-economy/

Analysis / Systems Thinking

How can you obtain more information about (the sustainability of) the entire life cycle of a product? ★★

In your answer, use the concepts of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and/or supply chain analysis, and describe how the process works. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, so that can be reflected in your answer as well.

Sources:

• https://ecochain.com/knowledge/life-cycle-assessment-lca-guide/

• https://www.hhc.earth/knowledge-base/lca-example-eggs

Consumption

Awareness of values

What are values and how does awareness of values contribute to (sustainable or not) consumption? ★

In your answer, address the tension between different personal values and how awareness of values can change consumption behavior.

Choosing conciously

How can companies and individuals use the 7R model to produce more sustainably and consciously? ★★★

Describe the model and explain how each R can be applied in practice, both at a personal and company level.

Sources:

• https://medium.com/@beta__i/the-7-rs-of-the-circular-economy-11d27e933f01

How do I choose a sustainable product? ★

When choosing a (sustainable) product, you can take into account various factors. In your own reflection, explain what factors you might be sensitive to, why companies have an interest in responding to them, and how you can make a choice without having complete information.

Influencing

How can (sustainable) consumption be influenced? ★★★

Use the following terms: certification labels, nudging, resistance, motivation, education, lobbying.

Sources:

• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022242919825649 (academic)