This December, from the Xarxa Punt TIC, we want to spread projects, initiatives and campaigns that promote sustainable purchases, the second life of devices and the reuse of products. The aim is to show other ways to consume, buy and give gifts during the Christmas holidays.
So, this week, we talk about it with Carla Liébana from LaCoordi:
- Why is it necessary to place special emphasis on responsible consumption during these months?
At LaCoordi, we work on responsible consumption throughout the whole year, but it is clear that during the months of December and January we need to emphasize it due to the strong consumerism that surrounds the Christmas holidays. For this reason, these weeks, we take the opportunity to remember the negative impacts that our consumption has (pollution and human rights violations in opaque and exploitative production chains, among others) and promote to reduce them, by buying less or by doing so to projects linked to transformative economies that respect human rights and environmental rights unlike big capitalist companies. In this sense, we spread the web jotrio.cat, where, in the resources section, you can find data and alternatives from different sectors, such as, for example, food, textiles or electronics, three key sectors during the Christmas holidays.
- What are the figures in the electronics sector?
Electronics is a very complex industry, in which we can distinguish three particularly problematic phases. First, there is the extraction of minerals, which often involves corrupt business, child exploitation and even armed struggle (a key fact being the 'blood minerals' and the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the 90s). At this point, it should be borne in mind that it is estimated that more than 200 different minerals are needed to make a mobile phone. Secondly, we find the production of electrical and electronic devices in factories located in Asian countries, such as, for example, China, India or Malaysia, where working conditions can be described as modern slavery (exhausting hours, derisory wages, exposure to toxic products and a long etcetera). Thirdly, we must point out what happens to the waste of these devices when they are thrown away, whether they work or not, and highlight that many end up in Africa. Currently, there is talk of 350,000 tons of mobile phones, computers and refrigerators illegally leaving Europe every year and ending up in uncontrolled landfills on the neighboring continent. Specifically, in Ghana, there is one of the largest technological landfills in the world, which occupies about eleven hectares and pollutes the environment of the nearest community, where it is estimated that about 40,000 people live there, who sadly fall ill from the toxicity of materials dumped without control.
- Currently, what concrete alternatives are there?
Unfortunately, one hundred percent fair electronics does not exist, because the production chain of the devices is very complicated. However, there are alternatives such as the Fairphone mobile phone, which ensures that the minerals used do not come from conflict zones and promotes a modular design to make it easier to repair parts and gadgets do not become waste easily. In this sense, we must also take into account collectives such as, for example, Restarters Bcn, which fight against programmed obsolescence by organizing meetings open to the public to repair small household appliances such as computers, mobile phones or toasters. In the same way, there is the Electronics Watch initiative, aimed at public administrations, which seeks to use its purchasing power to negotiate with the big capitalist companies and demand improvements in the supply chains, which includes the conditions of the workers.
- Along these lines, you are working on two awareness campaigns. What do they consist of?
One of the transversal objectives of our organization is to bring transformative economies closer to young people. In this sense, for us, it is very enriching to be able to work with students from different stages. A few weeks ago, we did a small training on the textile industry as part of a project of the Institut Quatre Cantons del Poblenou in the city of Barcelona that is ending these days and in which the students have carried out a campaign of awareness on the subject aimed at the educational community. Also, we have been working in a collaboration with design students from the Higher School of Design of Plastic Arts of Catalonia. His proposal has focused on anti-consumerism and the fact of living the holidays by valuing bonds and meetings with loved ones and not gifts. Although we promote solidarity economic alternatives, the first point of our decalogue is to reduce consumption and buy only if necessary.
- Finally, what would you tell a person to opt for sustainable shopping?
First of all, I would tell him to keep in mind that we buy way more than we need. It is clear, for example, that the figures for food waste increase in many households during the holidays. Regarding clothes, I would tell her to stay out of fashion and try to extend the life of clothes by wearing them more, mending them or exchanging them. When it comes to electronics, I would tell you that you don't need to buy a new cell phone even if the latest model is out. If after thinking critically about all this, you choose to consume, consider fair trade products and sustainable clothing from the social and solidarity economy sector.