Thursday 7 April 2011

Social Impact

Carbon Footprint -

A Carbon Footprint is the total amount of CO2 (carbon dioxide) or other greenhouse gases emitted during a product's lifetime, including production, use and disposal. Everything  we buy, make and use has a carbon footprint. As Carbon Footprints has a massive effect on the environment, manufacturers are pressured to reduce their's.

Reducing fossil fuels, cutting down on engery consumption and following the 6 R's are all effective ways of reducing Carbon Footprints.


Fair Trade -

Based in the UK, Fair Trade was set up to help reduce poverty among farmers and workers in different parts of the world and make sure that they are getting paid the correct price for their produce and not getting ripped off.

Producers and Traders must:

-Ensure a fair and stable price is agreed
-Investigate in projects that enhance social, economic and environmental development
-Emphasise the idea of a partnership between traders and producers
-Make sure

THE 6 R's!

REDUCE - Reduce amount of non-renewable resources used

REFUSE - Refuse extra packaging

RE-USE - Re-use products for the same or different uses

REPAIR - Is it necessary to buy a whole new product?

RECYCLE - Must recycle objectes that can be recycled like paper, card, some plastics...

RETHINK - Do we need to rethink the way we buy and dispose of products?

Sustainability

NON-RENEWABLE

Limited resources that will one day eventually run out. Examples are oil, ores and minerals. They are made from  natural resources being compressed for thousands of years, and using machinery are dug up from miles underground. These are called finite resources. They produce waste and emissions that are harmeful to the environment.


RENEWABLE

Renewable resources are natural resources that last longer than non-renewable resources. It is important for the environment that more of these get used in manufacturing products today. This would help the environment and also help safegaurd the supply of products and services. Many timber products carry the FSC (Forrest Stewardship Council) logo, which proves that the timber used in the product is from a renewable, managed forrest.


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