26 seconds.
That is the duration of our latest REvolution Project video on resource consumption. And while our intention is some shock factor, we thought the issue was worth 26 seconds of people’s time. That’s all we ask – less than half a minute of your life to get some perspective and hopefully wake up.
After all, the average North American adult presently is consuming 25 tonnes of resources per person per year.1
Why does resource consumption matter?
Some people might say – why does this matter? The grocery store shelves are always lined. There is always gas at the pump. There is always clean water coming from the faucet.
We forget though that this is not necessarily a given. The extreme weather patterns this year have had a tremendous impact on farmers’ crops – in fact, some yields have been greatly reduced or lost altogether. This puts extreme pressure on our food supply and farmers’ livelihoods.
We live in a false sense of security. A false sense of abundance.
That’s exactly why we made this video. We wanted to shed some light into resource consumption and give perspective into how much we consume in comparison to those who live elsewhere.
Yes, the truth is shocking – it affects us all
Is it not crazy that a North American is six months old when they have consumed the same amount of resources as someone in the developing world does in their entire lifetime?2
Shouldn’t we have a problem with that?
“It’s not my problem” is a common phrase, but resource consumption is the problem of each and every one of us. As someone recently pointed out, this is the “tragedy of the commons.” Many people contribute to a single problem, and are not willing to change out of self-interest. They will continue to deplete a resource even when it is clear that in the longterm, this does not make sense for anyone.
So if we don’t know or realize these things, how can we know to do anything about it? If we are aware of the impact of our actions, we may make other choices.
It’s easier than you think through smart solutions
The good news is that there are solutions out there which reduce our resource burden and are also smart and easy. They are solutions that can help the environment and make sense for business and people. Here are just a few:
Boomerang Paint – recycled paint. This organization takes partial cans of leftover paint and remixes it into new colours. The quality is excellent and it is half the cost the price of regular paint.
Bonded Logic – insulation made from old blue jeans. This sustainable building material is made from post-consumer recycled denim.
ReStore – donated home and building materials for sale. ReStores take donated items from homes and businesses and resells them to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.
Check out our blog on Cool and Eco Marketing Ideas as well for ideas.
Join the REvolution.
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