Assess the actions taken by NGOs and local
governments in promoting ethical and environmental
concerns about unsustainability [12 marks]
NGOs and local government have many initiatives which aim to promote sustainability;
sustainability is ensuring that the use of single-use or limited availability materials is avoided
in favour of reusable ones. It also encourages maintaining jobs and economic growth.
An example is Fairtrade, which is an NGO who ensure that their products pay the primary
farmer/factory worker a larger share of the revenue. Many companies such as Starbucks
now sell Fairtrade coffee, or other products. This promotes better pay to often exploited
farmers/factory workers. This encourages sustainability as the workers have higher wages
and therefore more disposable income, cumulative causation occurs, helping economic
growth in many developing countries with lower qualities of life. However, as Fairtrade
products are more expensive due to the higher costs, many in the UK cannot afford to buy
Fairtrade products.
Many local governments have established localism initiatives such as transition towns to
encourage sustainability. An example is the Totnes pound, which could only be used in local
stores. This benefitted the town by keeping money in the local economy, triggering
cumulative causation and helping to create a sustainable local economy. However, schemes
like this often only survive in small towns where there is more disposable income to spend
on independent products.
Ethical consumption is promoted by NGOs and governments to promote sustainability. This
is when a customer chooses to only buy ethical products such as Fairtrade, organic or
cruelty free. M&S now only sell Fairtrade tea and naturally dyed clothing. This is more
sustainable as there is less exploitation of land, labour and resources, however, it is more
expensive as it minimises cost-cutting practices like worker exploitation.
While these actions taken by NGOs and governments are successful in promoting ethical
and environmental concerns about unsustainability, largely by encouraging reducing the
exploitation of resources and labour in favour of sustainable wages and material sourcing.
However, these schemes are often more costly for the consumer as many cannot afford to
buy sustainable items. Until they are cheaper, it is unlikely that these actions will be more
widely used.
governments in promoting ethical and environmental
concerns about unsustainability [12 marks]
NGOs and local government have many initiatives which aim to promote sustainability;
sustainability is ensuring that the use of single-use or limited availability materials is avoided
in favour of reusable ones. It also encourages maintaining jobs and economic growth.
An example is Fairtrade, which is an NGO who ensure that their products pay the primary
farmer/factory worker a larger share of the revenue. Many companies such as Starbucks
now sell Fairtrade coffee, or other products. This promotes better pay to often exploited
farmers/factory workers. This encourages sustainability as the workers have higher wages
and therefore more disposable income, cumulative causation occurs, helping economic
growth in many developing countries with lower qualities of life. However, as Fairtrade
products are more expensive due to the higher costs, many in the UK cannot afford to buy
Fairtrade products.
Many local governments have established localism initiatives such as transition towns to
encourage sustainability. An example is the Totnes pound, which could only be used in local
stores. This benefitted the town by keeping money in the local economy, triggering
cumulative causation and helping to create a sustainable local economy. However, schemes
like this often only survive in small towns where there is more disposable income to spend
on independent products.
Ethical consumption is promoted by NGOs and governments to promote sustainability. This
is when a customer chooses to only buy ethical products such as Fairtrade, organic or
cruelty free. M&S now only sell Fairtrade tea and naturally dyed clothing. This is more
sustainable as there is less exploitation of land, labour and resources, however, it is more
expensive as it minimises cost-cutting practices like worker exploitation.
While these actions taken by NGOs and governments are successful in promoting ethical
and environmental concerns about unsustainability, largely by encouraging reducing the
exploitation of resources and labour in favour of sustainable wages and material sourcing.
However, these schemes are often more costly for the consumer as many cannot afford to
buy sustainable items. Until they are cheaper, it is unlikely that these actions will be more
widely used.
