Contemplating Our Consumption Habits
In a thought-provoking discussion led by broadcaster Kim Hill, a panel of experts, including Sharon Humphreys from Packaging New Zealand and Dame Juliet Gerrard, the former Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, addressed the pressing issue of plastic pollution. The panel aimed to influence consumer behaviour and reduce packaging waste.
According to the panel, what is important to individuals will significantly impact their consumption habits. Sharon Humphreys emphasized the importance of changing the entirety of consumption habits, encompassing both quantity and quality. She believes that individuals must think about how they consume.
Dame Juliet Gerrard agreed, stating that getting people to be more mindful of packaging is a complex problem. However, she believes there are tools available to understand how to achieve a cultural transformation. She used the example of sunhats to illustrate this, citing that 20 years ago, kids didn't wear sunhats at school, but now they do, demonstrating a cultural shift in behaviour.
The panel also discussed the importance of considering the credentials of the products when purchasing. Dame Juliet Gerrard suggested that the last part of the report at the end of the year will be led by psychologists interested in changing behaviour.
The change in consumption habits is considered a significant social question and involves a broader social behavioural picture. The panel's discussion focused on projecting individual values into consumption habits.
While specific strategies or examples suggested by Sharon Humphreys and Dame Juliet Gerrard during the discussion were not found in the available search data, discussions by experts like them often emphasize a mix of consumer education, promoting product packaging innovation, encouraging reusable or recyclable materials, and creating policy frameworks that support sustainable consumption. These strategies typically include raising consumer awareness about environmental impacts, labeling for recyclability, and fostering collaboration between government, industry, and consumers to shift purchasing habits towards less packaging waste.
Further details about the specific insights from this particular panel discussion would require access to the panel's transcript or summaries not covered here.
- In the realm of environmental science, altering individual lifestyle choices, such as embracing sustainable living and home-and-garden practices, can significantly influence plastic pollution and packaging waste, as discussed by the panel.
- Sharon Humphreys, a member of the panel, advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of consumption habits, emphasizing the need for a balance between quality and quantity, with a strong focus on conscious consumption.
- Dame Juliet Gerrard highlighted the challenge of influencing societal behaviour with respect to packaging, yet she is optimistic that through the use of education, innovative product packaging, and governmental policy-making, a cultural shift towards sustainable living can be achieved, as demonstrated by the rise in kids wearing sunhats to school.
