Do I really need it? On consuming less and circular thinking

You will rarely see Prof Dr Ir Karine Van Doorsselaer make an impulse purchase. Before she buys anything, the teacher of Materials Science and Ecodesign in the Product Development programme (University of Antwerp) always asks herself a few questions first. For her, shopping is not a relaxing leisure activity, but always consciously asking questions and making choices. The first question is always: do I really need it?

"If you think about that carefully, the answer is often no. I once read about a woman and she always asks herself that question. And then she waits a month. Then, if it turns out she really needs the product, she buys it. But usually she forgets about it by then. I'm not saying people should wait a month but by sleeping on it overnight, you can counteract impulse buying. A good step to start consuming less."

"You have to look at every purchase in a broader context. 'Do I really need it?' 'What are the different options?' For example, to wash your hands, it is much better to use a bar of soap than liquid soap tapped from a disposable pump bottle. 'Can I possibly borrow, rent or find the product second-hand?' 'Where did it come from?' 'In what conditions was it made?' 'Is the product repairable?' 'If I no longer need it: where will it go?' 'Can I take the product back to the shop or to a recycling centre?' Yes, shopping that way does require some effort."

"By consuming less, many people think of tightening their belts, eating dry bread or showering in the dark. For me, it means dealing consciously and with great respect with the products themselves, the raw materials from which they are made and with nature. It is about looking and thinking differently about what and how we consume, it is about circular rather than linear thinking.

In our current disposable society, people think linearly. Products are made, used and then discarded. And that often means landfill or incineration. This throw-away mentality contributes to environmental problems, climate change and resource depletion. So things have to change.

Circular thinking means closing the loop: keeping products in the loop as long as possible. Primarily through reuse, repair and maintenance. If that is not possible, we are going to compost or recycle the materials. Thinking that way also means treating our products with respect. For me, that is what consuming less is all about."

"In the early part of last century, people got outfits when they got married and 50 years later they still had those products. After World War II, you saw more and more disposable products. The industry needed a boost and with quality products that last for decades, you don't keep selling. Along with this came the rise of plastics. In itself a good invention, because plastics are made from a petroleum waste product. They cost nothing and fitted perfectly into the disposable mentality.

Finally, much of the production moved to low-wage countries, making it very cheap to produce. A €5 T-shirt contains blood, sweat and tears of workers from low-wage countries, often including children. And we buy it, barely wear it or send it back because we don't like the colour. Did you know that 60 per cent of all purchases are returned? And that some of it is simply destroyed? It is cheaper to put the scissors in than to check that the garment is not damaged or dirty."

"By extending the lifespan of a product. The government could impose a lower VAT rate on repair or could introduce a carbon tax on products coming from the other side of the world. We should also factor the environmental impact into the cost price of products: how much water, energy and raw materials are needed during production, but also during use and dumping of the product?

Moreover, all players can work together to close the circle: the government can provide guidelines, legislation and incentives. Industry needs to market solid products that last, are repairable and made from recyclable materials. Everyone can help."

"Your consuming behaviour is very important. Do you want to keep buying disposable products? You can also think about how you can help close the cycle. How long do you use a product? Do you maintain it properly? Do you get it repaired? How do you discard it? Do you pass it on to friends or take it to the recycling centre or the dump site?

Do you want to use products rather than own them? For example, do you need a fancy car to go for hours in traffic jams? Or do you go for public transport, a shared car or share bikes?"

"Even as a teacher, you can foster that awareness and critical thinking. Explore, ask questions. Lack of water becomes a challenge for the future! Together with pupils, investigate what water is used for, where it comes from and where it goes. Encourage awareness and learn to treat this precious resource with respect.

Be creative, too. In a classroom, there are often a lot of things. Take the toys out of the classroom. What will children do? Can they make up their own toys? Encourage them to be creative, explore what does or does not fit into the circular economy. Go outside, visit a recycling shop or composting facility and let your students ask questions."

"Yes. You start living more consciously. When I go to sleep, I contemplate the day: I went for a nice walk, I had a nice chat, I enjoyed nature. Becoming more conscious gives quality to life. The meaning of life is not buying a new car every four years, but consciously enjoying who you are, the people around you and the things you really need."