Sustainability

We can phrase it more accurately by actions we CANNOT do:

  • We CANNOT “Increase concentrations of substances from the earth crust in the biosphere”
  • We CANNOT “Increase concentration of synthetics (man-made molecules) in the biosphere”
  • We CANNOT “Destroy and alter habitats and eco-systems by physical means (eg. mining, farming, etc.)”

Environmentally this
implies:

  • The earth temperature has to be stable within its natural variations
  • Supply of food has to be sufficient
  • Biodiversity has to be maintained
  • The Eco systems must be able to absorb the manmade emissions which cannot be avoided

 Sustainability

Sustainability has become a much used word. To clear the confusion, we define sustainability by its original definition:

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Brundtland, 1987

Consumption Footprint in the EU

Division of consumption footprints in EU.

This illustration presents the most recent results of the consumption (including trade) in the EU, calculated based on life cycle assessment (LCA). The Consumption Footprint is divided into five areas of consumption:

  • Food (including beverages, confectionary products, etc.)
  • Mobility (both road-, rail-, and air transport)
  • Housing (both multifamily house and single family house)
  • Household goods (including furniture, clothing, personal care product, toys, etc.)
  • Appliances (including cleaning and cooking appliances, electronics, lighting, washing and dishwashing machines etc.)

The environmental impact of a range of representative products in each area of consumption has been calculated through LCA’s assessing all 16 environmental impact categories. They have been multiplied with their consumption intensity, then weighted and finally summed up to a single score.

LCA allows for assessing supply chains and modelling drivers of pressures on the environment and the associated environmental impacts. The overall EU Consumption Footprint has increased by 4% from 2010 to 2021 (as a single score). Food consumption appears as the main driver of impacts, followed by housing (especially for space heating) and mobility (especially due to the use of private cars).

Read more at The Consumption Footprint Platform

We are on a mission – we start with climate change

Sustainability is a large word, that covers multiple aspects of environmental and socail implications.

At MÅLBAR, we have decided to start focusing on the climate change measured by CO2eq, as we see this as the main driver for several of the environmental challenges, we all face.

We are very well aware of all the other aspects and look forward to be bringing measurable data into these discussions too in the future.

We are on a mission – we start with climate change.

Our screening tool is user friendly, simple on the outside, complex and detailed on the inside

Back To Top