“What do you need to solve the climate crisis? The answer is, everyone.” This quote from climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe highlights the importance of collective action, which is crucial in the travel industry. In this blog post we explore three ways in which travel for tourism can be conducted more sustainably: eco-tourism, carbon emissions offsetting, and global environmental projects.
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After Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, Singapore’s GDP increased by 0.2%. Do concerts have such substantial economic implications and are Southeast Asia’s ‘competition states’ jostling to attract the investment and growth opportunities that come with them?
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Whether lazing by the seaside during the summer, or escaping to exotic beaches during the winter, coastal regions have always been a space for relaxing. This form of travel is called ‘Coastal Tourism’, which is defined as the temporary movement of people to aquatic environments or ‘blue spaces’.
The post Beaches, when did they stop being sexy? appeared first on Progress in Political Economy (PPE).
Are alternative milks a suitable replacement for dairy milk? A paradigm shift is occurring in milk consumption, with plant-based alternatives gaining traction due to perceptions of their positive environmental impacts.
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Donating clothes is a common practice for many. When people no longer have use for their clothes, when they no longer fit, or when they simply no longer like them, donating seems like a much better option than throwing them out. We think that by donating our clothes, we are contributing to both an environmental, and a social good. However, this seemingly altruistic practice may in fact be doing more harm than we realise.
Most donated clothes are never resold locally and are instead exported to other countries, with countries in the Global North being the largest exporters, and countries in the Global South being the largest importers. While some garments are then resold within the importing country, an estimated 40% of second hand clothing imports are declared to be unsuitable for reuse or resale, subsequently ending up in landfill, and worsening already struggling waste management systems. This begs the question of whether this practice is best described as ‘dumping’ rather than ‘donating’.
Avocado consumption has been politicised not only as a threat to American national security, but also as a reason why young Australians find it difficult to afford housing. Meanwhile, the contested politics of avocado production can be understood in terms of different visions of sustainability.
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It pains us to admit that in today’s fast-paced world, there is constant pressure to be stylish and relevant. Take blue jeans for instance - the never-ending list of new trends or the infinite number colours, cuts and styles seem to justify our temptation. We are pressured to be new and different, yet forced to conform.
Amidst this desire, many of us are aware that the costs of our purchases are much more than the dollar sum at the check-out. The thought that our new pair of jeans is likely produced by an impoverished, underpaid labourer in South-East Asia lies dormant at the back of our minds, as does the knowledge that its production will emit somewhere between 33 and 80 kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere. However, the vast distance between our everyday lives and the reality of hot sweaty factories and smoggy skies renders the gravity of our purchase insignificant. After all, what’s the hurt in just one more pair?
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Bluetooth headphones are essential and addictive, you might even be using a pair now. Following Covid-19 pandemic headphones have become vital for work, while also being essential tools for personal privacy, in work, entertainment or fitness activities. These varied applications have made them indispensable in modern life, influencing work, leisure and well-being. Headphones can therefore be linked to the capitalist obsession with enhanced productivity and the modern desire for escape. Widespread headphone use has also garnered cultural significance with subcultures like hip-hop, making Bluetooth headphones fashion accessories and status symbols, which have established a thriving market for affordable and luxury models. This surge in popularity has made headphones the core of an industry characterized by rapid innovation.
The post Unplugged: The Environmental Detriment of Bluetooth Headphones appeared first on Progress in Political Economy (PPE).
You probably have at least ten tote bags at the back of your cupboard. The humble tote bag has a knack of accumulating in a way like no other. Yet, while these reusable cotton bags may seem good in principle, they have a much larger environmental impact than appears at first glance.
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Producing approximately 23 billion pairs of shoes each year, the global footwear industry is marred by significant environmental and ethical challenges. Despite the industry's substantial output, only about 5% of shoes are recycled, leaving the majority to exacerbate landfill issues globally. Although not as prominently discussed as fast fashion garment production, the environmental footprint of footwear manufacturing is equally concerning. Production processes often involve toxic chemicals, extensive water use, and high dependency on fossil fuels. Additionally, factories are typically situated in developing countries to take advantage of cheap labour and lenient environmental regulations, contributing to a significant carbon footprint—1.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, narrowly behind the aviation industry.
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