SHARING RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS, PRIVATE COMPANIES & GOVERNMENTS

 

 

One of the most interesting and difficult areas I've come across regarding sustainability is the debate of how responsibility of necessary actions towards a more sustainable future should be shared.

Who is responsible for making the change? How do we define it? Is it a moral question of right and wrong, and if so, whose moral compass are we to follow? How to or who can determine whether we should focus on a bottom-up or a top-down approach?

It's very human to try and find someone (else) to blame when it comes to dealing with problems. They make us uncomfortable, especially if we are forced to take a closer look at our own actions and attitudes.

I have talked to people who think the responsibility is completely on our governments and legislation; how the laws around protecting the environment should be changed to be more strict, and the corporate world has to be forced to be more involved in finding solutions through regulations and global ground rules around emissions, waste management and product design. As Linq Consulting mentions here, I think we can all agree that more funds are required in sustainability research and development.

I have also had conversations with people who believe that the biggest change will have to happen on an individual level. That we as consumers set the tone of supply and demand, and private companies will eventually need to drastically adapt to our changing needs. As long as enough of us turn into eco-warriors, the world will start to slowly change for the better.

I think we are finding the best way forward somewhere in between. As with almost anything to do with humans and development, there is no black and white - so many shades of grey exist between the two. I find this a soothing thought; it makes me feel somewhat powerful as an individual, and somewhat hopeful about the way policy-makers will be changing the playing field.

As long as we live in a capitalist system, it will always be a delicate dance between providers and consumers; I fully believe in the power of many coming together demanding change, but I also respect the system enough to understand that these things take time. Sustainability is such a broad term and we have to narrow it down to different areas of responsibility to get closer to a shared goal.

Too often the narrative around the subject of climate change is focused on who's to blame, the reasons behind why we are where we are and what/who caused it. I find it more important to focus on the solutions and possible steps ahead, because they are the only ones that will create a different path. After all, we cannot change the past, no matter how much we focus or ruminate on it. All that really matters is what we do now and how we plan to act moving forward. 

Remember the first principle of circular economy? To end this post on a positive note, here are a few examples of how waste = food is being implemented in a few different companies:

1.    ResQ Club: working in cooperation with restaurants selling food surplus by the end of day with a good discount to avoid waste

2.    Thrift+: online thrift shop selling good quality used clothes, shoes and accessories from high street & designer brands

3.    OddBox: online food provider putting together boxes of "wonky" fruits & vegetables sourced directly from producers to avoid waste (produce is wrong shaped, not pretty enough, there's too much... would otherwise be thrown away)

4.    AGCO Reman: agricultural machinery manufacturer's range of remanufactured products; using end-of-cycle components to put together new products

This selection of examples is a reminder that there are already so many beautiful minds around the world innovating new services and products based on circular economy practices. Let's keep up the good work and vote with our wallets when we can to encourage more positive change!

Anna x