Constant Consumption?

It seems at the moment that we are surrounded by big companies, especially supermarkets, who have suddenly decided to ‘go green’. Not that that’s a bad thing – we’ve used and abused this planet for so long that it’s overdue for some looking after. But these companies bring up a complete contradiction – we’re encouraged to consume endlessly as long as we use a bag made from recycled plastic to carry all our unnecessary products home.

Whilst the amount of plastic bags in use is clearly an issue and a needless waste of resources, the amount of energy needed to make them is tiny. To produce the more ‘eco-friendly’ bags, more energy is needed, so are they really good for the environment? The trouble is that the majority will buy a ‘bag for life’ but if spontaneously go to the shops the likelihood is that the bag will be lying forgotten in the cupboard at home. So not only is that wasted, but the customer then needs more regular plastic bags to replace it. Maybe shops should start to wean their customers off plastic bags – stop providing them and the customers will have to remember to bring their own…

The new trend for fashion designers to comment on this issue is a good way to encourage publicity and awareness of the subject, but is this just a fad that will die out in a few months? And again we have the same contradiction – surely the most environmentally friendly thing that designers as a whole can do is stop designing unessential products and encouraging this constant consumption?

Images from www.flickr.com