Unsustainable Consumer Behavior

Answer

Unsustainable Consumer Behavior

Unsustainable consumer behavior refers to buying or purchasing trends by a consumer, which does not take into consideration the environment and the welfare of the future generation. Sustainable behavior, on the other hand, refers to a character which ensures that the current and the future generations’ welfare are well taken care of.  In the recent past, both the governmental and non-governmental organizations have raised concern on the behavior of the consumers which are not environmental friendly to the green environment.   This paper analyzes a personal experience on unsustainable consumer behavior.

Personal Unsustainable Consumer Behavior

   In the past two days, I have had difficulty maintaining a sustainable consumption behavior despite having vast knowledge on the dangers of unsustainable consumer behavior. The following are some of the consumption practices in which I displayed unsustainable consumer behavior in the last two days:

Careless Disposal of the Non-Biodegradables

Being a consumer in the early twenties, I am very active in the market.  My purchase patterns ranges from clothes to light food among others.  While some of these products have good packaging materials which can easily be decomposed, a good percentage have packages which cannot be decomposed. An example is the take-away soft drink, which is packed in a plastic bottle. In the last two days, I have consumed about 4 bottles. Upon finishing, I disposed the plastic bottle in undesignated places. This is despite the obviously noticeable communication on the bottles about how they are supposed to be disposed. I have also bought ice-cream, which is also packed in a tiny polythene paper, which can disposed easily and at times even unconsciously.  When these items land of the ground, they cannot be easily decomposed, hence remaining very dangerous soil pollutants.

Soaps and Detergents

Soaps and detergents are essentials that one cannot do without. In the process of their consumption, these products may or may not degrade the environment, depending on the chemical composition as well as how the soap is handled. In the past two days I have consumed some soaps which have very strong scent, which I knew interfered with the normal air aroma.  Being chemical based, the residue of the soap, which I have consumed in the past two days, might have found its way into the ocean waters, hence interfering with the normal cycle of oxygen and other essential gases.

Consumption of Toilet Cleaners

In order to ensure that my toilet is having a nice smell and bacterial free, I usually spray it, and wash it with antibacterial almost every day. The spray, has metals which is dangerous for the respiratory system. The antibacterial on the other hand, has heavy metals which cannot be dissolved. Despite this, the residues of these products are disposed in oceans, which is a great risk to the aquatic life.

Use of Colored Products

In the past two days, I have bought colored products such as nail paints among others. The paints are not easily decomposed. This, therefore, makes these products not environmental friendly. These, among others, are some of the ways in which I have displayed an unstainable consumer behavior in the past two days.

Consumer Resistance/ Obstacles

These are   antagonistic steps and attitudes which consumers tend to have against the steps taken to ensure that there is a sustainable behavior. These tends to derail the whole process, as the consumers are the people directly involved in the proposed measures. Some of the resistance or obstacles that consumers display are as follows:

Sticking to their Taste

Consumers tend to stick to their tastes even if it is very obvious that continuous purchase of those products degrade the environment. For example, strong scent colored nail paints and varnishes have adverse effects on the environment though many consumers prefer them.

Making Price the Chief Determinant for Demand

Consumers tend to argue that alternative products are not pocket friendly. An example is the alternative detergents which would be considered more environmental friendly, are perceived to be more expensive, as compared to the ordinary soaps. Many consumers claim these products are too expensive and are at times not easily accessible in many shops, as compared to the ordinary soaps.

Fear of the Unknown

Many consumers tend to stick to their preferred brand of products, even if they seem to be having some side effects. This is due to the fact that most consumers fear the unknown, which may happen when they change the consumption pattern.  Some of  consumer fear the side effects, while others are just reserved about other products.

Solutions to Resistance/Obstacles

Making the Alternative Products Affordable

The government in collaboration with other concerned parties should ensure that the alternative products are sold at a competing prices, with products whose consumption are otherwise considered unsustainable. This can be achieved through tax obligations monitoring.

Rigorous Campaign

A continuous and rigorous campaign should be done to enlighten consumers on the dangers of unsustainable consumer behavior. This will not only ensure that they are enlightened, but will also reduce consistently the level of unsustainable behavior.

Promotion of Processing of Environmentally Friendly Products

In order to get uproot the challenge of the unsustainable consumer behavior, the various authorities concerned d should promote processing of environmental friendly products.  This will oblige the consumers to purchase these goods as they will be dominating many shelves.

Personal Reflection

Based on the above concern, I am planning to change my consumption pattern so as to adopt a sustainable behavior. I will prefer consumption of electricity as opposed to carbon based fuels and try my best to be natural or else avoid paints.