3. Facts about Consumption

Food, electronics, cars, clothing. Consumption of everything is constantly rising because we are becoming wealthier, and the world's population is growing.

Producing and transporting everything we buy requires resources. The environmental impact of a product varies significantly, but all products contribute to depleting the Earth's resources and contribute to the climate and biodiversity crisis. However, consumption is not the same worldwide. Here in the Nordic region, we have high consumption, and if everyone were to live like us, we would need about 4 Earths to have enough resources. Our consumption, therefore, has significant consequences for the Earth we inhabit. Hence, we need to change the way we produce and consume.

There are various things we can do to reduce environmental impact:

1. Reduce: First and foremost, we must reduce our consumption. Less consumption will result in less environmental strain. This can be achieved, for example, by producing better, more durable products and using them for longer periods, reducing the need for frequent production of new items.

2. Reuse and recycle: Another approach is to shift from a linear economic system, where we produce, consume, and discard, to a circular economic system, where we reuse or recycle resources for new products instead of discarding them.

3. Renewable energy: We need to use less fossil energy (such as oil and coal) and instead rely on renewable energy sources (such as hydropower, wind, and solar energy). This makes the energy used in the processing and transportation of products less detrimental to the climate.

4. Reducing harmful substances: Additionally, we can reduce the emission of harmful substances to the environment. This can be achieved by using fewer chemicals in production or substituting them with chemicals that are gentler on nature.

Unfortunately, the problems are getting larger. Our consumption of raw materials is increasing, as is the emission of CO2 and the loss of nature and biodiversity. However, there are bright spots that we need to hold onto and develop as quickly as possible. This includes, for example, our opportunities for reuse and the use of renewable energy.

All Nordic countries have goals to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2. These goals are becoming increasingly ambitious. However, critics argue that the actions taken so far do not fully align with the set objectives. In a broader perspective, the European Union, the United States, and China also have goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

All Nordic countries are also working to varying degrees on a circular economy. It is estimated that the Nordic countries are approximately 6% circular at the present time (2023).

There are also consumer trends moving towards a more sustainable direction. The longer we use the things we already have, the fewer new items need to be produced. Examples of this include:

1. Bottle and can deposit systems: In the Nordic countries, around 90% of bottles and cans with a deposit are recycled. Recycling packaging with a deposit leads to a significant reduction in greenhouse gases and plastic pollution.

2. Electric cars: Electric cars are also gaining ground in the market. Electric cars have their challenges, including in the production of batteries, but they reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and offer the possibility for us to reuse/recycle batteries.

3. Food waste reduction: Many businesses place a strong focus on reducing food waste. The less we waste, the less our food production needs to be, reducing the overall strain on the planet.

Instead of discarding the T-shirt when it's no longer in fashion, it can be given or sold for reuse so that someone else can enjoy it. This means that fewer new T-shirts need to be produced. To facilitate the reuse of the T-shirt, it helps if it is of high quality so that it can withstand multiple uses.

If the T-shirt is damaged or too worn for reuse, it can be sorted for recycling. The materials can then be used to produce new products. Instead of using resources to cultivate new cotton, the old cotton is repurposed to create a new product.

When producing T-shirts, we can use materials that are less harmful to the environment. Examples of such materials include organic cotton, bamboo, and reused or recycled textiles.

Producers can change the way they manufacture T-shirts to make it more environmentally friendly. They can use cleaner energy sources, reduce water usage, and minimize the use of hazardous chemicals. This is better for both the environment and our health when wearing the T-shirt.

By using materials that don't travel long distances and producing T-shirts locally, we can reduce transportation and pollution. This helps protect the environment and reduces the overall carbon footprint.

Construction and facilities plays a crucial role in our society as it creates the buildings, roads, and infrastructure we all depend on in our everyday lives. However, construction is also a significant negative factor when it comes to resource consumption and environmental impact.

Materials such as concrete, steel, wood, and insulation need to be extracted from nature and produced in factories, requiring substantial amounts of resources and energy. The transportation of these materials to the construction site and the construction process itself also lead to the emission of harmful substances and CO2. Additionally, waste production during construction poses a significant challenge, generating large amounts of construction waste with negative effects on the environment.

Construction is, therefore, a source of significant stress on our planet. That's why you, your fellow students, and your future colleagues are extremely important pieces, both for our society as it is now and for tackling some of our most significant challenges on the path to creating a more sustainable world. There are areas where we can make a big difference when it comes to the construction sector.

To mitigate the issues associated with construction, there are several possible solutions:

1. Durability and energy efficiency: One of the most effective methods is to construct more energy-efficient, resource-efficient and durable buildings. The longer a building lasts, the fewer new buildings we need. And the less energy the building requires, the less energy we need to produce.

2. Reuse and recycling: Additionally, through the reuse of construction materials, we can reduce the production of new building materials, and by recycling construction materials, we can alleviate the burden associated with the production of other materials.

3. Reduced transportation: By minimizing the transportation distances for materials and using local resources, we can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. This is beneficial for the climate.

Unfortunately, the construction sector still faces significant challenges. Resource consumption remains high, and CO2 emissions from construction activities contribute significantly to climate change.

However, there is increasing awareness of the need for sustainability in the construction sector. Building regulations in the Nordic countries are becoming stricter in terms of sustainability. There are also initiatives to promote the recycling of materials in the construction sector.

It starts, among other things, by you and your classmates being trained to work with reuse in construction and being able to take it with you when you go out to be part of a sector where sustainable construction is increasingly in demand.

The Nordic countries have set goals to reduce CO2 emissions from construction. For example, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden have decided to lower greenhouse gas emissions in new construction. There are also incentives to promote green building principles, such as support programs providing funds for sustainable construction projects.

Consumers play a crucial role in promoting sustainability in construction. There is a growing interest in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly residences and buildings. Many consumers demand green certifications that confirm a building's sustainability, such as the Nordic eco-label Swan Label. The number of Swan-labeled buildings doubled between 2020 and 2022.

There is also an increasing demand for recycled materials in interior design and construction projects.

One of the best and most obvious things we can do to reduce our environmental impact is to decrease our production of bricks. We do this by reusing the ones we already have in new constructions. Bricks are highly durable and have a very long lifespan if we take care of them.

Instead of demolishing old buildings and bricks, we can employ gentler demolition methods. This increases the possibility of reusing the bricks instead of them being destroyed.

However, sometimes it's not possible to reuse the bricks in new constructions. This might be due to hazardous chemicals or the type of mortar used. In such cases, the bricks can be crushed and recycled as filling material under roads or as reinforcement for other building materials. While recycling doesn't reduce our brick production, it allows the bricks to substitute for the use of other materials.

We can use other building materials that are less resource-intensive and more environmentally friendly. This could include composite materials, wood, or bricks made from recycled materials.

Those who manufacture bricks can reduce the use of energy in production. They can also utilize renewable energy and decrease the use of harmful chemicals. This is beneficial for both the climate and the environment.

By producing bricks closer to construction sites, we can reduce the transportation distance. This limits CO2 emissions and decreases pollution. It also creates shorter supply chains and reduces the environmental impact of constructions.