The Ultimate Checklist to Evaluate Product Sustainability
As I shop for products for my clients (and myself!), my biggest issue is that there’s never enough transparency. Where is the product made, what is it made from, who made it — I want to know it all so that I can assess the social and environmental sustainability and the quality of the product. You really have to dig for this information, if you can find it at all.
It’s impossible to make an educated decision if you don’t have all of this information. In the process of shopping for products for my online shop, Seek, all of this led me to look more into cost-benefit analysis and how it applies to consumer behaviour and sustainability. I decided to create a cost-benefit analysis for each product in relation to the environmental and social impact of the product.
I became fascinated by how consumers make decisions when choosing products — and how everyone is doing their own mini cost-benefit analysis every time they make a purchase. The data shows that consumers base their purchasing decisions largely from their existing knowledge base, their financial means, and their personal values. It’s also well reported that a subset of consumers buy with altruistic values. In other words, in the case of the sustainability, they choose to buy more sustainable products because they benefit the environment, even though they cost more financially.
With all of this in mind, and using a cost-benefit analysis framework that was built by The Organization of Economic Development (OECD), of which Canada is one of the founding members, I set out to create my set of standards for choosing products.
Here are the 6 criteria that I use to measure the environmental and social sustainability of each product that I purchase:
Is the product free trade/ethically manufactured: It is well documented the importance of paying fair and living wages to individuals in less developed countries. In doing so, one of many positive benefits is that there is a better chance of women and children becoming educated. This enables the most vulnerable a chance to get out of poverty and an opportunity to make decisions that can help the well-being of their community and environment. Some say this might be the first step towards fighting climate change.
Is the product part of the 5 R’s of the Circular Economy (Recycle, Rethink, Reuse, Redesign, Reduce): Is the product made from recycled products? Can it be directly recycled, reused, redesigned? Keeping the product in the economy reduces destruction of the environment.
Timeless over Trendy: Long lasting products reduce the extraction of materials from the environment, which can both positively indirectly and directly affect the environment. Choosing products that can stand the test of time, reduce overall environmental impact.
Is the product environmentally labeled: Labels such as FSC approved wood, or OEKO-Tex are certifications that are granted to products based on a set of criteria established by the third-party organization. These labels are extensive and can encompass products with low/no VOC emissions, to a certification of organic. The list goes on depending on the product. Strict environmental guidelines are the driving force behind these labels.
Is the product manufactured within a country with controlled environmental standards: Each country has their own set of environmental standards that companies need to adhere to. Unfortunately, the lack of standards or minimal ones in some countries can not only be disastrous to the environment itself, but typically the most vulnerable populations are the most directly affected with disease and other health consequences as a result. Understanding where and how a product is manufactured is of paramount importance. Ask the questions.
Is the product natural/biodegradable: When a product leaves the circular economy and ends up in landfill, the importance of the product being natural and biodegradable is paramount. When a product is completely biodegradable, the product breaks down into earth and ultimately gives back to the environment.
It’s this set of criteria that I will use to enhance our customer’s purchasing knowledge so that they can do their own cost-benefit analysis of a product as they browse our product line at Seek, and beyond. I hope you can use this checklist to make your own, intentional and informed decisions when purchasing new products for you home.
Seek Home will be launching soon, so stay tuned!