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Introduction

Sustainable consumption and production is about promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. It helps to reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, while also strengthening economic competitiveness and reducing poverty (Sustainable, n.d.).
The research question we developed was ‘What cultures have developed sustainable consumption programs? What are these different cultural groups doing to combat this issue?’
Significance- Fast fashion has an environmental impact due to clothing waste

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Class Handout - Key Definitions

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Review of Literature (Theoretical Framework)

Cultural Theory- the idea that “people tend to perceive danger and respond to risk in different ways and that these different ways tend to encourage the development of different social structures” (Cultural Theory, n.d.).
Cultural sustainability can be defined as “maintaining of cultural beliefs, cultural practices, heritage conservation, culture as its own entity, and attempts to answer the question of whether or not any given cultures will exist in the context of the future” (Cultural Sustainability, 2018).
Used as a framework in energy-related issues
Topics include: mobility, water and carbon uses, and water carbon-related outcomes

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Review of Literature (Sustainable Consumption as Discussion)

Sustainable consumption and production defined by the Oslo Symposium is , “the use of services and related products, which respond to basic needs and bring better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service product so as not to jeopardize the needs of further generations.” (Sustainable Consumption and Production, n.d.).
This study in particular put forth a framework for a ten-year program, that would range from programs based around sustainable consumption to those based around consumption patterns.
Relevant findings were developing more eco-friendly practices to encourage sustainable management

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Class Handout - Activity

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Review of Literature (Apparel and Accessories)

Be able to determine whether the product was ethically produced through the supply chain
Utilize vintage stores, shop fair trade, or order custom clothing
Donate to recycling program
Pass down clothing instead of throwing it out

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Conduct Interview to Collect Data

To collect our data, we collectively interviewed 8 individuals. These individuals ranged in age from 20-52. The ethnicities included african american, caucasian and asian. The education level of these individuals were juniors, seniors, and graduate students and their income ranged from less than 10,000 to more than 25,000
The questions we asked were designed to obtain data regarding whether or not these individuals were involved in sustainable consumption.

Describe what type of person you (interviewee) are in terms of social relations with family, friends, and community members, extent in which they accept/reject social change, whether or not they are interested in sustainable consumption, etc.
Do you like to purchase sustainable apparel products, which are environmentally friendly?
In which way, are you adopting sustainable consumption behavior, relating to apparel?
Do you own any environmentally friendly apparel/products in general?

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Class Handout - Sustainable Practices

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Method & Results

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Method & Results (Findings)

Several of our interviewees represent the individualist culture type. The individualist enjoys innovation, individual choice and personal freedom.
One interviewee states, “I own reusable coffee filters, and I recycle at my house.”
Regarding apparel, Patagonia was a prominent company in regard to environmentally friendly products.
Another one of our interviewees represented the hierarchist culture type. This culture type is strongly bonded and very different. They maintain social relations through old friends and family and are resistant to social change.
One interviewee stated, “I have always made my purchases based on brand loyalty”

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Class Handout - Final Questions

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Conclusions and Implications

The adults we interviewed were less likely to recycle due to exposure they received growing up. Where as, college aged students are more influenced to recycle because it is apart of their everyday life.
“Ohio University has set a goal of recycling 80% of all waste generated. Campus recycling is responsible for maintaining, monitoring, troubleshooting, and upgrading the recycling and solid waste at all campus buildings” (Ohio.edu/recycle).
“China recently stopped accepting plastic products from other countries creating a global plastic crisis”(Ohio.edu/recycle). This goes to show that China is making drastic steps to stop the use of plastic materials throughout their country.
Plastic is non-biodegradable and releases harmful chemicals into soil. Here at Ohio University we are combatting this issue by starting to cut down on the use of straws at several off campus businesses.

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References

Baker, S. (1996). Sustainable development and consumption: The ambiguities ‐ the Oslo

ministerial roundtable conference on sustainable production and consumption, Oslo, 6–10 February 1995. Environmental Politics,5(1), 93-99. doi:10.1080/09644019608414249

Cultural sustainability. (2018, June 19). Retrieved October 15, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_sustainability
Cultural Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2018, from https://www.triarchypress.net/cultural-theory.html
Douglas, M. & Wildavsky, A. (1982). Risk and culture: An essay on the selection of technological and environmental dangers. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Giacomo, M. R., Loprieno, A. D., Tarantini, M., Preka, R., Litido, M., Furphy, A. D., . . . Gabarrell, X. (2014, July 30). Eco-innovative Practices for Sustainable Consumption and Production: What are the Possible Benefits for Companies? Retrieved October 15, 2018, from http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/4/3/242/
Ohio University. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2018, from https://www.ohio.edu/recycle/
Stephenson, J. (2018, May 30). Sustainability cultures and energy research: An actor-centred interpretation of cultural theory. Retrieved October 15, 2018, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618305437
SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2018, from http://www.greenstrategy.se/sustainable-fashion/fashion-consumption/
Sustainable consumption and production. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2018, from

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/

Sustainable consumption and production .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2018, from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainableconsumptionandproduction
Sustainable fashion. (2018, October 13). Retrieved October 15, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_fashion
United Nations. "Agenda 21" (PDF): Sustainable consumption and production. (1992). Retrieved

September 24, 2018, from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf