What is Mindful Consumption?

Mindful consumption is the ability to be aware of one’s resource usage, ranging from electricity and water usage to purchasing decisions (The University of British Columbia, n.d.). Did you know that the fuel and energy sector is the leading contributor to pollution, with food production and fast fashion sectors in second and third place (Davda, 2024)? For such a consequence, the common denominator is us consumers; hence, we must apply mindful consumption to reduce wastage, pollution, and even unethical labour practices (The University of British Columbia, n.d.). Examples include buying clothing from secondhand marketplaces, leaving as little food wastage as possible, and switching off electrical appliances when not in use.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Which is Best?

According to the Government of Singapore, “Reduce” is the most impactful (2021). The best way to eliminate wastage is to prevent its creation; reusing is runner-up (Government of Singapore, 2021). However, it is important to practise good recycling etiquette, such as knowing what can be recycled and washing food recyclables thoroughly so as not to contaminate the efforts of others.

How to Practise Mindful Consumption

Whenever you make a grocery run, create a list of what you need to buy by planning meals in advance (Gueverra, 2023) and only purchasing what you need for the week or so; more frequent grocery runs whilst purchasing less each time may contribute to less food wastage from spoilage. This is especially applicable to those with a smaller family unit or who dine outside more often.

Secondly, choose quality over quantity. Instead of looking for the cheapest option, invest in a more durable product that can last longer! Not only does this reduce wastage, but it is also sustainable for our wallets (Gueverra, 2023). 

Written by: Adalee Loh

06/2024

References

Davda, K. (2024, February 6). Top 10 most polluting industries in the world (2024). Oizom. https://oizom.com/most-polluting-industries/ 

Government of Singapore. (2021, April 1). How to reduce, reuse, and recycle (in that order). https://www.gov.sg/article/how-to-practise-the-3rs# 

Guevarra, D. (2023, April 15). Mindful consumption: Living consciously for a better world. Medium. https://medium.com/thefreshwrites/mindful-consumption-living-consciously-for-a-better-world-445a1825dd4c 

The University of British Columbia. (n.d.). Mindful consumption guide. (https://sustain.ubc.ca/resources/mindful-consumption-guide