Happy 4th! Can US Consumer Behavior Help Sustainability?
Amish,Michael Kenneth
If you wonder whether your actions on sustainability in your UF department or office actually do help change behavior on sustainability, there may be some good news to support the cause.
An LA Times article recently highlighted in a new national
survey as part of the Yale project on Climate Change Communication, that “Consumer behavior
has become an important way Americans express their values and concerns, leading to new products and services, creating and destroying markets, and influencing the policies and actions of companies large and small”.
According to the research, more than half of all respondents at least occasionally consider environmental impacts when deciding whether or not to buy a product.
When considering a purchase for your office, try to ask these questions first:
-Can I buy it used or borrow it? Some purchases like office supplies and furniture can be found through
Asset Management’s surplus warehouse first.
-What is it made of? Purchases like office paper can have 100% post-consumer recycled content. Try to avoid extra packaging that is not recyclable and will only be used once. Items with recycled content for instance, are often listed with a green
icon in myuf Market Punchouts: 
-Where was it made/grown? Food can often travel 1,500 miles from farm to table, so try to look for
local Florida produce to support the local and regional economy.
-How was it made? With food, was it grown organically? If it is clothing, was it
fair trade certified
or made with sweatshop-free labor? Look for “Made in the USA” labels which indicate compliance with our labor and environmental regulations as well as lowered transportation impacts.
What other purchasing best practices towards sustainability has your department, college or office put into place?
Thanks for all you do and hope you have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Sustainably Yours,
-M
Michael Amish
Office Of Sustainability
PO Box 113111
University of Florida
