When we talk about the sustainable economy, it often sounds like something big and distant. As if it were only related to governments, companies or decisions that seem far removed from our daily lives.
But it is much closer to home and it relates to how we buy, what we choose to use and the little decisions we make on a daily basis. The sustainable economy is not an abstract concept. It is a way of behaving that considers the impact we are making today on the future of the planet.
At Ecoalf we have spent years working with this idea, trying to ensure that every decision has meaning beyond the moment it is made.
What do we understand by sustainable economy?
In simple terms, the sustainable economy refers to how we can use the planet’s resources more consciously and think beyond the present. It means avoiding snap decisions that seem to work but that actually have an environmental impact on the planet. Therefore, the sustainable economy involves doing things with more thought. Producing without wasting, consuming without excess and always seeking the most sustainable options.
Why is it important to change our consumer habits?
We have become accustomed to buying quickly and replacing things even faster. If something breaks, if something goes out of fashion, or if it simply ceases to be appealing, it is replaced by something else.
This cycle has consequences on resources, on the environment and also on how we value what we have. The sustainable economy arises as a response to that, to make us rethink the way we consume.
The idea is not to make everything perfect but to make it a little better. So that what is produced has a longer lifespan and what is purchased is actually used.
How to apply the sustainable economy on a day-to-day basis
You don't have to make big changes immediately. In fact, you can start with some very simple things.
Buying with more thought
Before buying something new, stopping for a moment helps more than you think. Think about whether you need it, if it suits you and if you can see yourself using it in the future. Many impulsive decisions don’t occur with this little "stop”.
Choose things that last
When something is well made and you use it for years, it changes your relationship with consumption. You don’t need to replace it constantly and you get much more out of it. Opting for durability is one of the keys to a more balanced economy.
Consider how things are made
You don't need to know everything, but you do need to start looking a little further ahead. The materials, the origin, the production method, every little detail matters when you choose with more information available.
Make the most of what you already have
Repairing, reusing or giving a second life to something you already have is also considered part of the sustainable economy. Using things for as long as possible avoids producing more.
Fashion also plays an important role in the sustainable economy
Clothing is one of the most obvious examples. Choosing sustainable clothes designed to last, made with more responsible materials and designs that don’t depend on a specific trends helps to reduce unnecessary consumption.
It isn’t about having less clothes but rather that the ones you have make sense. Use them, take care of them, and keep them for a long time.
A gradual change
The change to a sustainable economy won’t happen overnight. It will involve little decisions, with more conscious choices and a different relationship with consumption.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It is enough to try. Ultimately, it is about going a little slower, better appreciating what we have and choosing with purpose. And, although this seems small, changes more than you think.