When is a product sustainable

Was this product developed by the hands of a mistreated workforce? You can think of sustainability in terms of individual products and overall organizations. With a better perspective on the definition of sustainability, you can make better choices as a consumer.

Jenna is a freelance writer and business consultant who covers business, technology and entrepreneurship. She's lectured for several universities and worked with more than businesses over the course of the past 15 years.

She's a mother of two kids, and loves to go camping, hiking and skiing with her family. Skip to content. By Jenna Cyprus Jul 7, Sustainability , sustainable products , what-sustainable. Almost no action is completely free from environmental impact, so most environmentally conscious companies strive to minimize negative impact.

Socially sustainable businesses also care about the health, wellbeing, and success of their employees — as well as the residents of the cities and countries in which they operate.

Sustainability Through Processes vs. Actions Some companies optimize their processes and resources for sustainability, while others improve sustainability through actions; some companies strive for both.

Is This Product Sustainable? For example, you can look for labels that indicate that the product: Was made from recycled materials; Was made from renewable resources; Is percent biodegradable, or; Was manufactured using ethically sourced labor. Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have the water, materials and resources to protect human health and our environment.

More simply, when assessing a product, sustainability relates to the source and type of materials that go into the product, the origin of where it is made, cost of manufacturing and transportation, life span, and reusability or recycling capability. The Art Institute of Portland Industrial Design Instructor Jim Arnold says that some of the key items consumers can take into account for sustainability are electronics, vehicles, clothing and toys.

When shopping, look out for certifications to help identify if a product is sustainable. The FSC label ensures that the forest products used are from responsibly harvested and verified sources.

Another symbol to look for is the recycling symbol and numeric coding, which consumers can use for personal recycling. Arnold also recommends considering if a product is pre- or post-recycled. Pre-recycled is scrap that is generated during the normal manufacturing process that is recycled back into its raw material state.

There are increasing number of fashion brands, restaurants or furniture that are starting to embrace this concept to bring life to their business. There are of course certain characteristics that have to be met. Few of this includes the following:.

Sustainable products are hitting two birds with one stone. It has environmental and human factor in mind.