: Consumption

News from Population Matters.

  • Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

    Doughnut Economics: Bold Blueprint for a Sustainable Future – Part Two

    As part of our series exploring alternative economic models, this is the second edition looking at Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics. This framework seeks a thriving economy with equality and a minimum standard of living for all, while not taking more from the planet than it can afford to give.

  • Photo by Anna Sullivan on Unsplash

    Doughnut Economics: Bold Blueprint for a Sustainable Future – Part One

    As part of our series exploring alternative economic models, today we look at Doughnut Economics. Through integrating the need for social equity within planetary boundaries, this framework champions a thriving but sustainable economy that respects both human and environmental limits. 

  • Mobile phones

    From lightbulbs to smartphones: the practice of Planned Obsolescence

    Planned obsolescence is a strategy where companies intentionally create products with a limited lifespan. It’s a practice that’s intended to maximise corporate profits at the expense of consumers and at great cost to the natural world.

  • Black Friday: Waste or Want?

    For Black Friday many stores slash prices leading to one of the busiest shopping days of the year. But what about the environmental impact?

  • Bike repair

    Don’t bin it: Repair and reuse! 

    Today is International Repair Day, a day to think beyond the consumerism of the modern world and focus on getting more from what we already own.

  • The real cost of an iPhone

    Population Matters’ new report examines how consumption is killing our planet, and how Apple, and all of us, can help to save it.

  • Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

    Greenwashing: what is it and why does it matter?

    Greenwashing. You’ve almost certainly heard of it, but what exactly does it mean and what is being done about it? We look at the practice and why we should be vigilant against corporate claims to be “green”.

  • Photo by Pascal Meier on Unsplash

    Could you go flight free for one year?

    There’s no doubt that we’ll only address our environmental challenges by doing things less, and few things will raise your emissions so much as taking a flight.

  • Happy Shopping?

    Where does the compulsion to buy come from? In this guest blog, Clinical Psychologist Dr Vikki Barnes explores the science behind why it feels good to shop and how to feel better without buying.

  • Taking Action at the Apple Store, London

    With a population of 8 billion and counting, we’re using up the renewable sources of 1.7 Earths. If we continue on our current trajectory, we’ll require 3 Earths by 2050. …