How can we reduce carbon emissions as individuals?

We can reduce carbon emissions as individuals by asking two questions,

1. where does this come from?
2. where does this go after we use them?

If we switched to 100% renewable energy tomorrow, we would only have cut 55% of total global carbon emissions. The remaining 45% is related to the products we use, which can be tackled if we design our economy to be circular.

What does that mean? As consumers in a circular economy, we are the link between where we get products and where they go after usage. We want to get our products from ethical sources, and when the products leave us, we want to give them to organizations that will put the materials back into reuse. Doing these makes us responsible consumers, and we’d be able play our part in reducing the remaining 45% of carbon emissions.

That’s why we ask the two questions before we buy anything.

“Where does this come from?”

Ask, “Where does this come from?” Things you should check includes:

• Does the brand make sure they have minimal impact on the environment when they manufacture them?
• Do they use renewable energy for their machines?
• How much water do they use? What do they do with the water after it’s dirty?
• Do they use environmentally friendly materials?
• If the company says “biodegradable,” does the company really know what the word means?
• Do we know if the item was produced without sacrificing someone’s pay or welfare?
• Does the brand build the livelihood of the people who makes the products?
• Does it have excessive packaging?
• Are there secondhand that I can get rather than buying something new?
• How durable is the product?
• Does the company ask you to buy a new version every time it releases something new?
• Do you really need it?!

“Where does this go after we use them?”

The second question to ask is, “where does this go after we use them?” Some considerations include:

• Does the product contain composite materials that make it hard to recycle?
• Do I know how to take steps to recycle the material?
• Is there an organization near you that can recycle, reuse, upcycle, or at least do proper disposal? (They are also people who know what can truly be recycled, especially those “biodegradable” materials!)
• Can I repair it?
• Can it be reused by someone else once I have no use for it?
• Do I know how to compost it?

If there are some questions that you find difficult to answer, maybe you can hold back the decision to purchase till you are confident of your ability to handle it.