The intense global competition to exploit, procure and manage certain natural resources (fuels, minerals, metals, water, biomass, clean air, etc.) has lead to scarcity and price instability of these raw materials and also to the degradation of ecosystems and changes in the climate system.
That is why it is necessary to change our production and consumption modes to use the earth's resources in a more sustainable manner and to reduce the negative impacts on the environment. This implies creating value with less material and consuming differently.
Here are some examples of actions that help to limit the pressure on resources:
- increase recycling of materials and reuse roduct components;
- replace the most critical resources by other more efficient ones that have less impact on the environment throughout their life cycle (during phases of extraction, transportation, processing, consumption and waste disposal);
- extend the useful life of products;
- increase reuse or exchange of products.
The effective, sustainable use of resources should also apply to all natural resources. It should cover food, fish stocks, fertile soil, wood, water, clean air, biomass and ecosystems.
The quest for efficiency should not be pursued at all costs. We should learn and recognize the new risks connected to the use of natural resources.