Green consumer day is observed globally on the 28th of September every year. The aim of celebrating this day is to raise awareness among people about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. We call them the 3Rs. Green consumerism is directly related to sustainable development and sustainable behaviour as it protects the environment for both the present and future generations while directing people to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

When did green consumerism begin?

In western societies, green consumption emerged during the 1960s and the early 1970s. At that time, many people suffered from health issues caused by industrial pollutants. Therefore, people paid attention to protecting the environment and decreasing health issues by becoming green consumers with the help of eco-friendly products.

Who is a green consumer?

Even though there is no universally accepted definition of a green consumer, the most adopted description is that a green consumer is very concerned about the environment and, therefore, only purchases environmentally friendly or eco-friendly products.

What are eco-friendly products?

Products with little or no packaging and products that are made from natural ingredients without causing pollution are called “eco-friendly products”.

What are the 3Rs?

REUSE

Reusing is the act of taking old items that you might consider throwing away and finding a new use for them or using them again for their original purposes. There are many ways to reuse the things that we have.

We can refill a water bottle instead of buying a new one and switch from using plastic bags to reusable, environmentally-friendly bags such as cloth bags. If we have a cloth bag, we can use it for buying goods. We can reuse it. Therefore, we do not need plastic bags anymore. We can reuse containers and glass jars to store food. Also, we can use old bowls and bottles to grow small plants. We can update our computer instead of throwing it out and getting a replacement.

REDUCE

Minimizing the amount of waste that we produce is called reducing. There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste that we produce.

We should buy what is needful and essential to reduce the waste that we produce. Making compost using vegetable and fruit peels, egg shells, leaves, etc. is another way to do that. If we can choose products with less packaging, it also helps reduce the amount of waste released to the environment. Buying secondhand items and donating used goods is another effective way to reduce waste production.

There are many benefits of reusing and reducing. Greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change will be limited, helping to sustain the environment for future generations and reducing the amount of waste that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators are some of them.

RECYCLE

The process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products is called recycling. There are three steps to recycling materials. The first step is collection and processing. The second step is manufacturing. And the final step is purchasing new products made from recycled materials.

There are many benefits of recycling. Reducing the amount of waste that will need to be sent to landfills and incinerators, conserving natural resources (timber, water, and minerals), preventing environmental pollution, saving energy, and helping to create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries are some of them.

To raise awareness of the 3Rs, many environmental organizations and institutions organize programs such as awareness sessions, walks, and exhibitions that promote eco-friendly products as well as distribute handouts to disseminate knowledge on green consumerism. These programs help to create many green consumers and eco-friendly societies.

Thus, on this green consumer day, let us minimize the use of products that are harmful to the environment and find alternatives which will indeed help to protect the environment. As Ian Somerhalder says, “Going green doesn’t start with doing green acts, it starts with a shift in consciousness.” Let us all be responsible for our future and contribute to a greener world.

Written by: Rtr. Tavindya Minoth

Graphic Design by: Rtr. Vidushi Pathirana