Maximise Utility Value

Finding a Balance between 
Environmentalism and Consumerism

My mind has been contemplating for a long while, on the growth of consumerism against the degradation of environment. We all know that the production of new products consumes earth's resources, and discarding of used products leads to increase of dump and environmental hazard. So, can we find a way to reduce both.?

 

In good old days, a lot of resources were shared, not just by the family but by the neighbourhood itself, which included Telephone and Television too. But, in a world of growing privacy and personal preferences, this is not possible anymore. However there are things than can be shared among friends and relatives, to cut down not just on cost, but also the impact on the environment.

Unfortunately the word borrow has been linked to shameful virtues such as beg, borrow or steal.  So, instead of using the word borrow, we can use the term "being open to exchange things", so that it becomes a mutual benefit and an environmental conscious decision too.

A simple example would be to exchange books with friends instead of buying them. You don't have to buy something new, for just reading it once.

Another example could be, let's say if you have a cake oven or barbeque grill at home, which you sparingly use,  you can tell your friends and relatives that they can take it whenever they want for any of their family occasions, instead of buying a new one. And in return, there will be things that our friend have, which we don't have to buy just for an occasional use. So, it is just a give and take philosophy and not something to feel embarrassed about. So, before you decide to buy something new, see if you can manage to get it within your close network. The only criterion is to return the things on time, as committed and in the same condition we took it from them.

In Western Countries, there is growing interest in the culture of Community Living, such as Apartment, Township or Row houses where there are neighbours using common facilities, such as the kids play area, walking track, fitness centre, swimming pool etc. In addition to enjoying the common facilities, people have come up with the idea of sharing the things that are sparingly used, such as repair tools, garden maintenance equipment, books, etc. So, they have a common place, where inmates of the community leave their personal belongings of such nature, so that it can be used by others too. So, whenever someone needs something, they just go there to see if any of the items they require for temporary use, is available. If it is there, they just take it, use it and leave it back after usage.

There are many things we can do on these lines, if we give a deeper thought.

•        Car pooling to reduce fuel consumption.
•        Food sharing at restaurants, to avoid food wastage.

My thought is not against enjoying any comforts or convenience, but to extract maximum value of any product before it reaches the dump yard, which not only saves money but also the environment.

June 5^th is celebrated as “World Environment day”.  This year let us pledge our allegiance to find a balance, by maximising the utility value of things beforewe discard them.  This can ensure that we enjoy the best of both worlds.

D. Senthil Kannan,

  Managing Trustee, PALMS, Tuticorin.

  Author of "Transformational Thoughts" - A Journey of learning 

  Email: senthilkannand@gmail.com