Knowledge System

Consumption

Use of final goods and services as well as basic necessities for survival by individuals as consuming entities; represents intermediate processes between population and environment, includes what, how, and how much is being consumed.

I. ACTIVITIES & CONDITIONS

A. Consumption

II. SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEMS

A. Resource Use & Depletion

1. Scarcity of goods and services

a. Availability
b. Affordability

2. Livelihood & Production

B. Waste Accumulation

1. Forms of waste

a. Solid
b. Liquid
c. Gas

2. Type of waste

a. Degradable/non-degradable
b. Recyclable/non-recyclable

3. Spatial condition and distribution of waste
4. Mobility of waste
5. Effects of waste accumulation

a. Nature's assimilative capacity
b. Human habitat
c. Bio-diversity

III. SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

A. Waste Management & Minimization

1. Treatment of waste

a. Landfills
b. Incinerators
c. Recycling

2. Waste Collection

a. Central collection agency
b. Public-private partnership
c. Private collection agencies
d. Individual disposal

3. Waste minimization behavior

a. Household disposal 
b. Waste separation
c. Waste reduction

4. Improving the Production Process

IV. SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, & REGULATORY SOLUTIONS

A. Changes in Consumer Behavior

1. Reduce excess consumption
2. Reduce luxury consumption
3. Purchase multi-purpose goods
4. Purchase goods that require less input in use
5. Substitution for environmentally sustainable goods and services

a. Renewable/nonrenewable
b. Choosing products with lower toxicity level
c. Using more home-made products

6. Maintenance

B. Mechanisms for Consumption Change

1. Market System

a. Relative accessibility of products
b. Relative price of products

2. Regulations

a. Standards
b. Prohibitions
c. Taxes/subsidies

3. Value changes