Most of us don't really know where all our products come from or where they go when they're disposed of. All we know is if something works lets get it and when it's bad in the trash it goes. This process is often referred to as the cradle and the grave. In the video The Story of Stuff there is an explanation of all the processes that create the products we all use today. In economic terms, begin with extraction through to the very end disposal. Not only was the process given step by step, but the effects of how it affects the climate and humans who are exposed as well.
The process begins with extraction also known as trashing the earth. Here is where forests get destroyed and resources get over used. It's amazing that each minute for this process 2,000 trees are cut. Now looking at just our country alone, the United States, it's astonishing how much of the earth's resources we use up, about 1/3 for just one country. We use more than we get which leaves us with less resources and having to go destroy other places to satisfy our needs. The second process is production where these products get put together. I'm sure you think the problem is the regular pollutions the factories let out and the dangers they put their workers in, but did you consider all the toxic chemicals being put in to create the items around you? One of the most toxic is BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants) and believe it or not, they are pretty much in everything we own, pillows, clothes, couches, the list goes on. In just one year there are four billion pounds of toxic chemicals released. With such a high amount this affects us in ways some never thought possible, for example breast feeding can now be toxic. Since mothers are exposed to these chemicals so are their organs, which means chemicals can be passed on from breast feeding. The next process is distribution, where all these “goodies” are sold. This may not seem like a huge deal, but have you ever wondered if the price you're paying for these items is paying for the amount spent to create it? This is called externalising cost, simply meaning that what you're paying for is not toward the amount it cost to create it. After this comes consumption. Now before we talk about the consumers let's take a moment to talk about the producers and their plans. Businesses have two ways of thinking towards the items they sell; planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence. Lets start with planned obsolescence, this is the plan to make an item that won't last too long so consumers eventually have to throw it out, but they still will buy from that same company. Now perceived obsolescence is when a businesses tries to make more money by coming out with the next “new” thing. A great example would be cell phones, such as the Apple Company and iphones. They've made I believe four different types, each one fairly similar like the iphone 4s and iphone 5, the only noticeable difference is they changed the look which is exactly what perceived obsolescence is. Which leads me to the final process: disposal. Since 99% of the stuff we buy as consumers is trashed within six months, there have to be places where it all goes. Most know there are landfills where the garbage is dumped, but sadly some garbage is burned, which is maybe just as bad as the production process. Burning all the garbage we produce, we are letting out all the toxics into the air and harming ourselves and our planet more than we would have thought possible at the beginning of the process.
Watching this video was amazing, it's something everyone should watch or at least be aware of. Now I'm a lot more aware of how much destruction is put into the products I use every day. It's scary to think that we are slowly killing ourselves and that nothing has been done to stop this process. Cradle to the grave, that is exactly what this is all about. We start with one thing and once it's all used up it's done and normally never to be reused again. Things need to start changing now. As humans who want to live for as long as possible we need to take a stand. Before we know it the longest we'll live to will be 40. 40 unhealthy and sick. I know that's not the life I want to live.
The process begins with extraction also known as trashing the earth. Here is where forests get destroyed and resources get over used. It's amazing that each minute for this process 2,000 trees are cut. Now looking at just our country alone, the United States, it's astonishing how much of the earth's resources we use up, about 1/3 for just one country. We use more than we get which leaves us with less resources and having to go destroy other places to satisfy our needs. The second process is production where these products get put together. I'm sure you think the problem is the regular pollutions the factories let out and the dangers they put their workers in, but did you consider all the toxic chemicals being put in to create the items around you? One of the most toxic is BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants) and believe it or not, they are pretty much in everything we own, pillows, clothes, couches, the list goes on. In just one year there are four billion pounds of toxic chemicals released. With such a high amount this affects us in ways some never thought possible, for example breast feeding can now be toxic. Since mothers are exposed to these chemicals so are their organs, which means chemicals can be passed on from breast feeding. The next process is distribution, where all these “goodies” are sold. This may not seem like a huge deal, but have you ever wondered if the price you're paying for these items is paying for the amount spent to create it? This is called externalising cost, simply meaning that what you're paying for is not toward the amount it cost to create it. After this comes consumption. Now before we talk about the consumers let's take a moment to talk about the producers and their plans. Businesses have two ways of thinking towards the items they sell; planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence. Lets start with planned obsolescence, this is the plan to make an item that won't last too long so consumers eventually have to throw it out, but they still will buy from that same company. Now perceived obsolescence is when a businesses tries to make more money by coming out with the next “new” thing. A great example would be cell phones, such as the Apple Company and iphones. They've made I believe four different types, each one fairly similar like the iphone 4s and iphone 5, the only noticeable difference is they changed the look which is exactly what perceived obsolescence is. Which leads me to the final process: disposal. Since 99% of the stuff we buy as consumers is trashed within six months, there have to be places where it all goes. Most know there are landfills where the garbage is dumped, but sadly some garbage is burned, which is maybe just as bad as the production process. Burning all the garbage we produce, we are letting out all the toxics into the air and harming ourselves and our planet more than we would have thought possible at the beginning of the process.
Watching this video was amazing, it's something everyone should watch or at least be aware of. Now I'm a lot more aware of how much destruction is put into the products I use every day. It's scary to think that we are slowly killing ourselves and that nothing has been done to stop this process. Cradle to the grave, that is exactly what this is all about. We start with one thing and once it's all used up it's done and normally never to be reused again. Things need to start changing now. As humans who want to live for as long as possible we need to take a stand. Before we know it the longest we'll live to will be 40. 40 unhealthy and sick. I know that's not the life I want to live.