GRG 342C - My Sustainable Economy: Consumption and Development

This assignment, likely for a course such as GRG 342C, delves into the relationship between personal consumption habits and sustainable development. It begins with a table analyzing the production aspects of five commonly used goods, examining their environmental impacts and social conditions. The assignment then reflects on whether these consumption habits contribute to sustainable development and how much control individuals have to alter them for a more socially and economically just economy. The solution discusses how companies innovate to improve environmental, social, and economic impacts, and how taxes and charges influence consumption habits. It emphasizes the importance of conscious consumption and suggests ways to promote a more sustainable and just economy through responsible product use and lifestyle choices. The document concludes by referencing relevant academic literature on sustainable consumption and production.

Running head: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
Sustainable economy
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
Category Brand Product Product Parent
Name & HQ
Key Input,
type & origin
Place of
Manufacture
Innovatio
Energy
Valvoline Oil Ashland Inc Petroleum jelly India Easy pour
Food and
beverages
Diet coke
coke
Coca- Cola Carbonated
soda, water
salt, sugar
Atlanta, Georgia Packaging
glass cont
Textile
Hoffman Fabric Hoffman Thread, labor,
machine
California Artful scre
Mechanical
Ford Motor car Ford Engine, tyre US Expansion
in 3D prin

2SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
Info Tech Apple
Cell phone Apple Camera,
motherboard,
software, IoS
system,
US Its ecosyst
Part One : Table
Part Two: QUESTION
By examining the varied aspects of production for your commonly used goods, do you see
past patterns of development that reflect past and current economic, social and
environmental relationships? Explain. Would you say that your consumption habits
contribute to sustainable development? Explain. Finally, how much control do you believe
you have to alter your consumption habits to reflect a more socially & economically ‘just’
economy?
Answer:
Over the years, the companies operating under the given industries have been developing due to
its innovations in production of goods and development in business operations (Tukker et al.
2017). For instance, in case of energy sector, the energy resources have been better utilized and
its total proportion in primary energy mix has been increased. The production of oil has been
kept under low oil price situation, which in turn assures national energy security. This has been
the key to solve environmental issues, resolves social problems and increases oil price. Similarly,

3SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
coca- cola also installed several technologies and equipment’s on bottling production lines,
which in turn reduces its environmental, social and economic impact. Furthermore, Apple
company also introduces new software in its product development and the Ford motor also
develops engines and installed technologies in developing its cars. This in turn reduces
environmental impact and improved economic and social impact. As per Hoque (2013),
promoting sustainable production and consumption are vital aspects of the sustainable
development that depends on attaining long – term economic growth. Sustainable mainly refers
to environment, economic and social features of the product. It focuses on the consumption
patterns of households and governments (Reisch, Ulrike and Sylvia 2013). As price of all these
products have increased with change in pattern of product development, taxes as well as charges
on these products influences my consumption habits towards sustainability . For instance, in case
of charges, personal transport is the most general target for incentives as well as subsidies to
prompt me for purchasing low emission or hybrid fuel vehicles. Moreover, changing to
conscious, green, eco- friendly and responsible consumption habits, it contributes to sustainable
development. Moreover, sustainable consumption also led to entailing of new forms of product
use in several areas (Lorek and Joachim 2014). I believe I have to alter few consumption habits
in order to reflect more socially and economically ‘just’ economy. I have to be fully aware of the
responsibility within every sphere of influence and use social- sustainable products for
improving the society and the economy. In addition to this, I have to be use the products for
longer time and be keen in buying common utilization of goods and be critical towards my own
lifestyle for highlighting economically and socially improved economy.

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References
Hoque, Naimul. 2013. "Analysing Sustainable Consumption Patterns: A Literature Review".
Development 56 (3): 370-377. doi:10.1057/dev.2014.13.
Lorek, Sylvia, and Joachim H. Spangenberg. "Sustainable consumption within a sustainable
economy–beyond green growth and green economies." Journal of cleaner production 63 (2014):
33-44.
Reisch, Lucia, Ulrike Eberle, and Sylvia Lorek. "Sustainable food consumption: an overview of
contemporary issues and policies." Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy 9, no. 2 (2013):
7-25.
Tukker, Arnold, Martin Charter, Carlo Vezzoli, Eivind Stø, and Maj Munch Andersen, eds.
System innovation for sustainability 1: Perspectives on radical changes to sustainable
consumption and production. Routledge, 2017.