As we continue to consume at unsustainable rates, dealing
with waste is becoming a tending topic.
When we think of waste, we think of something that is no use. We usually associate the term with
solid waste; the kind we send ‘away’ to one of our many growing piles of
unwanted substance. However, if we
think beyond solid waste and start asking ourselves whether waste really is
something of no use, we find some interesting things.
The concepts from How Will We Conduct Business, “using waste
as a resource”, made me think of waste in a different form. For example, a car is of no use to you
until you need to drive somewhere, so technically when it is parked it is
waste. Furthermore, if something
is of no use to someone, it doesn’t mean there is no use for it elsewhere. The idea of not allowing products to
become waste until it has fully reached its life cycle is where I’m
headed.
One of the detrimental problems our environment is facing is
the over production of products.
According to Benyus, manufacturing production has doubled in size since
1970, essentially producing an abundance of products that are unnecessary in
our environment. I want to propose the concept of sharing and trading. Since I’ve started this class, I have realized
that I do not necessarily need to own something, but rather simply have access
to it. In order to cut back on
waste we need to fully utilize products and not let them go to waste. In the interiors industry, the over
productions of furniture pieces can be seen as harmful to our environment. The concept of sharing and trading would
help consumers eliminate unwanted furniture pieces that they own by sharing or
trading them for something they may essentially need. This could potentially lower over production of furniture
and could essentially help our environment more towards a sustainable future.
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteI like your concept on trading and sharing instead of buying new products. How might this concept be implemented to those who refuse buy anything used? Is this idea similar to the re-sale shops and Craig's list?
Larissa,
DeleteThe concept behind this is not to spend any money at all. I actually didn't think about those who refuse to buy anything used. I personally like to buy antique furniture and I thought this would be a great way to exchange furniture. For example I thought if someone wanted to get rid of a furniture piece and needed some other type of furniture piece they could exchange it with someone else that has posted their items on the website.
Hi Olivia,
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a really simple and an easy to implement strategy. Like Larissa, my mind went strait to Craigslist. They have a whole list of free stuff for each area. My sister got her dresser for free off there. What other ways would you use to try and spread the word of products people don;t want anymore?
Hey Laura,
DeleteI'm not very familiar with Crag's list but other ways that I could spread the word about unwanted waste, could possibility be by asking people to donate their products to thrift stores and implement that whatever is donated can not be resold. The idea behind my concept is to start limiting the over production of furniture and this could potentially help.
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting point of view on what waste is. I really enjoyed seeing a different interpretation of waste and I agree with you that we do not really need to purchase something when we just have to borrow it from someone. Do you think it would be difficult to implement the process of sharing or trading in the interiors industry? Would companies be willing to produce less if they are not making a profit off of the traded pieces?
I definitely think it would be hard for companies to produce less because our industry is known for over producing products but I think if the government set regulations to how much companies could produce, I think it would be possible.
Delete