challenge #2 : consumer goods

Dear participants,

This week, we are exploring a crucial topic: consumer goods.

Every item we purchase—a piece of clothing, an appliance, a skincare product—has a story: raw materials had to be extracted, it had to be manufactured, transported and, often, discarded too quickly. These steps consume a lot of energy and generate CO₂ emissions. Reducing our consumption and adopting more sustainable habits is a concrete way to reduce our environmental footprint.

🌍 Why it matters?

The production, transport and end-of-life of our consumer goods account for a significant portion of our carbon footprint.

In 2023, each Swiss citizen generated an average of 14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per year, more than double the global average.  If the entire world population lived at the same rate as Switzerland, it would take about six Earths to sustain this level of consumption and emissions. 

Every new item requires energy, water and raw materials; manufacturing a single pair of jeans requires around 7,000 litres of water and 20 kg of CO₂! This is equivalent to 34.7 home deliveries (1 kg parcels) or 631 episodes of Game of Thrones streamed!

Consumer goods (textiles, electronic devices, household products, cosmetics, etc.) account for a significant portion of this footprint, as 70% of the environmental impact during manufacturing and transport. 

This means that our purchasing decisions here directly influence emissions and environmental pressures elsewhere. Understanding  this ‘offshore’ dimension of our footprint is essential for making more responsible choices and better guiding our consumption.

Extending the life of objects, buying second-hand, repairing, renting or sharing can immediately reduce this demand for resources, lessen the impacts generated at each stage of production, and support a local circular and more resilient economy.

Challenge #1: Reduce and choose your purchases wisely 🛍️

Objective: consume less and better.

Concrete actions:

  • Try a ‘month without new purchases’, favouring second-hand items or bartering.
  • Choose sustainable products: repairable, modular or with spare parts.
  • Take your own cup/thermos/water bottle with you for tea, coffee, and water. This avoids the use of disposable containers, which generate a lot of waste and require energy and resources to be produced.
  • Make your own cleaning products or cosmetics (homemade laundry detergent, multi-purpose cleaner). A natural bicarbonate spray bought at the supermarket will do just as well if you want to save time.
  • When shopping, prioritise quality over quantity: one durable item rather than several disposable ones.

💡 Tip #1 :

Make a note of every impulse purchase on your phone and come back to it a week later – often, the urge will have disappeared! Still want it? Maybe you can buy the same thing second-hand!

💡 Tip #2 :

Try one of the homemade cleaning product recipes suggested by Zero Waste Switzerland in this guide.

Challenge #2 : Reuse, recycle, repair ♻️

Objective: give your items a second life and limit waste.

Concrete actions:

  • Learn how to repair items: to extend the life of your clothes, electronic devices, furniture or bicycles.
  • Refurbish and buy refurbished: donate your electronic devices to be refurbished and choose to buy refurbished devices rather than new ones.
  • Borrow devices that you rarely use.
  • Donate or exchange items you no longer need: clothes, books, furniture, accessories.

💡 Tip #1 :

Turn your items into sustainable adventures!
 Take part in MACO workshops to learn how to repair your devices or furniture, discover the world of textiles and upcycling with Histoire sans chute, or give your items a second life at the Repair Cafés run by the Fédération romande des consommateurs

💡 Tip #2 :

For items you only use occasionally, visit La Manivelle and borrow them instead of buying them.

💡 Tip #3 :

For your electronic devices, consider donating them for reconditioning via NoOPS.

Challenge #3 : Responsible fashion and personal care 👗

Objective: Choose ethical, local and sustainable products for your body and home.

Concrete actions:

  • Switch to solid soaps, bulk shampoos and toothpastes.
  • Use refillable razors, washable cotton pads and wipes.
  • Opt for a menstrual cup/menstrual disc, period panties or cloth pads.
  • Buy ethical, local or second-hand fashion clothing.

💡 Tip : 

Before throwing away an item of clothing, ask yourself: “Can I repair, transform or exchange it?”

👉 Take part in workshops and introductory courses offered by Histoire sans chute or Bubble Ethic to learn repair, sewing or weaving techniques.
And to build a sustainable wardrobe, discover ethical and eco-friendly clothing at Clother.

🌍 Local events and initiatives

Swiss Woolness Wellness: From Black Friday to White Friday
November 28th, at 5.30 PM
Take part in the Wool & Wine workshop: create your own Christmas baubles using local wool and essential oils.
 → More information

Garde-Robes – Sustainable Fashion Fair
November 22nd and 23rd
Responsible and local fashion in Geneva: Meet our partners Clother, Bubble Ethic, Swiss Woolness Wellness and Fédération romande des consommateurs
 → More information

Mission Genève Durable, the journey!
November 26th, at 9.00 AM
A fun, participatory workshop on the Donut Economy in Geneva, respecting planetary boundaries and social floors.
→ More information

MACO KESKONFABRIK #2 / Do-it-yourself upcycling
November 29th, at 11.30 AM
 → More information

Workshops – Fédération romande des consommateurs (FRC)
Several dates
 → More information

Last but not least…

To find out more

Adopting simple habits in our shopping, fashion and everyday objects can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and support the local circular economy.

Next week: discover our tips and challenges on energy and housing to continue taking action every day!

Let’s continue working together towards a sustainable future! 🌿 

Défis Energie