I’ve been thinking quite a lot about how the sustainability movement will be affected in these times of economic turmoil. While I think it’s possible that the trends through education about sustainability could be reversed, it’s much more likely, in my mind, that the crisis could be the springboard to take the movement to new heights. The interaction of and products is becoming a focal point, people are beginning to question the methods and processes by they receive food, products, and the like. Milk scares in China, genetically modified foods intergrating themselves in the food system, the types of products used, the labor required to make it… people are beginning to ask the questions and evaluate their purchases based on production.
Less dollars floating around the economy means that people will be more stringent with what they spend on, and consideration of the methods of production is a newly important criteria by which consumers make economic decisions. It’s also a new way for businesses to distinguish themselves for greater market share during these tight economic times… all of which means that the sustainability movement might be poised to make some really, really great progress!
An interesting letter from the US Green Building Council regarding this issue can be found here.
Say it!