Sustainable consumption can take many forms, from using old bread to brew beer to virtual fireworks on smartphones. Knärzje, a start-up in Frankfurt, brews Germany’s “first organically certified zero-waste beer” from stale bread collected from local bakeries. Meanwhile, Amsterdam has banned private fireworks and instead introduced augmented reality fireworks on smartphones through Feelgood Vuurwerk, with proceeds going towards making sleeping bags for the homeless.
For web search, Ecosia uses income from search ads to plant trees, boasting that it has planted 170 million so far. The Fairphone, a Dutch-made smartphone, promises that owners can replace critical parts at a fair cost, with CO₂ emissions of 30% lower than conventional devices. Even consumer products such as dixi toilets have been revamped, with Kompotoi offering wooden outhouses that do not rely on chemicals and instead compost waste for fertilizer.
Those looking to reduce or eliminate their use of fish products can turn to plant-based alternatives, such as vegan fish fingers and shrimp, or even lab-grown fish cells. Bluu Seafood, a Fraunhofer spin-off in Lübeck, has developed fish fingers made from cultivated fish cells and plant proteins. Pilot production is scheduled to begin this year, with approval expected in Singapore, which is a pioneer in the introduction of synthetic meat.
Finally, Acer has introduced an exercise bike with eKinekt for the summer, which generates electricity to charge smartphones or power devices. Merging work and exercise, the bike comes with a height-adjustable desk on the handlebars, allowing users to pedal upright or lean forward for different modes.
Sustainable consumption takes on many forms, from reducing waste to producing alternative products, and can have a significant impact on reducing environmental damage.
