It’s Not Sustainable Consumption, but Different Consumption
“It takes a village.” When it comes to living a more sustainable life,this adage couldn’t be more true. It takes everyone, including the businesses that produce the products we consume every day, to make changes that will impact our lives and help this great place called Earth survive for many years to come.
A panel discusses sustainable business practices at SB'12
Since attending the Sustainable Brands conference back in June, we’ve been thinking a lot about this and the thought leaders and industry experts who are pushing companies to be more sustainable in the way they do business. Our team was re-energized by the discussions surrounding the challenges of using less “stuff,” and how we can apply fresh thinking and new approaches to our business of making cereal for a better product and a better world.
The facts are alarming. If we keep using the earth’s resources and consuming the way that we have been, by the year 2050, the earth will not be able to replenish the resources we use. Scientists say the planet will be “unrecognizable.” But the good news is, people, and more importantly businesses, are working together to try and find new solutions that will make a difference. With the prevalence of social media, people are more connected than ever before and have more opportunities and more power to drive change than ever before.
Simon Mainwaring, author of the New York Times best-selling book, We First, and guest speaker at this year’s conference, summed it up best by noting “brands have the power to build communities, generate consumer loyalty, and most importantly, use the power of social media to create a positive impact on the world.” So true. Furthermore, Hunter Lovins with the Bainbridge Graduate Institute referenced a study that said 90% of the people wouldn’t care if 70% of the brands went away tomorrow. That means that you, the consumer, only believe in the positive impact of 20% of ALL of the brands that exist today. That’s why it is our responsibility to provide a product that supports your beliefs and values, is a product you can believe in day in and day out, and helps you live an overall better life. At MOM Brands, we work hard at this and take it very seriously as we try and find better ways to produce a better product that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg—as that isn’t “sustainable” either.
At the end of the day, we believe that what it all comes down to is quite simple. It’s really not about sustainable consumption, but different consumption. How can we push ourselves to think differently about the things we use? (We think “Bag the Box” does this.) How can we innovate to provide a better product? How can we reduce the amount of energy, waste, resources and money that goes into making and producing the things we buy? Because after all, isn’t the most sustainable consumption less consumption?
There were so many great lessons and insights from the Sustainable Brands conference and so many great examples of companies who are making great strides to do business more sustainably. We are proud to be in this “village” of people driving for change. No one has it all figured out yet, but the good news is, we’re making progress. And with your help, we know we can get there.
We encourage you to start thinking about how you are rethinking sustainability and using products or services differently in your own lives. Please tell us: what are some of your ideas?
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Koann