This is the minds on icon.

As consumers, we hold much power in our purchasing decisions. Our actions directly and indirectly impact the lives of many and the natural environment globally. Making sound decisions when spending our money can have lasting effects around the globe.

A young man is shopping in a grocery store. He examines two bottles of produce he holds in each of his hands.

We need to ask ourselves several poignant questions such as:

  • Where has this product been made?
  • Are the employees that have made this product treated equitably?
  • Do I really need to buy this product?
  • What impact does the production of this product have on the natural environment?
  • Can I make a better choice?
  • Do I need or want a new one?

Having watched the video, reflect on a product that you have recently purchased and determine where it was made, the potential impacts (social and environmental) and classify whether it was a need or a want. Could you have made a more sustainable/ethical choice?

Consumerism, Natural Resources, Environmental Stewardship/Sustainability and Globalization are all components of the purchase process. Sort the following terms and statements into the correct clouds: Consumerism, Natural Resources, Environmental Stewardship/Sustainability and Globalization.

Long Description

In an interconnected and globalized world we need to think carefully about what we buy and how we spend our money. The world’s economy is dependent on us spending our money but we need to ask ourselves, “Is this the best use of my money?”

This is the action icon.

As of April 2016, The CWTA (Canadian Wireless Telecommunication Association) reported that there were 29,368,572 wireless subscribers in Canada. According to the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission) two thirds of Canadians own a smartphone and half own some sort of tablet computer (iPad, LG G-Slate, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Motorola XOOM, etc.)

This is a picture of two hands holding a wireless tablet with coloured word bubbles surrounding it.

Cell phone and tablet use will continue to be an integral of part of our daily lives. Our economy is dependent on this form of communication as well as our social connections. It would be unrealistic to think that we can stop the progress of cellular technology despite the environmental and social impacts of its manufacturing process, packaging, use of product, transportation, disposal and equitable treatment of workers.

How old is your current cell phone? Was your last one replaced because it was faulty and at the end of it's life, or because you simply wanted to upgrade to the newest model? Did you recycle it, or is it still sitting in your drawer?

Below is a diagram that illustrates a typical life cycle of a cell phone. Due to perceived obsolescence, North Americans typically tend to replace their Smartphones on average every two and a half years.  With over 29 million wireless subscribers in Canada, that translates to many phones being produced and disposed of each year.

This is an infographic of the life cycle of a cell phone.

The life cycle of a cell phone.
Prasad Modak

Moving forward, we are going to focus on the natural resources that are used to produce cell phones and the human responsibility of ensuring environmental stewardship and sustainability of our consumerism.

This is the Think About It icon. Points to Ponder

  • Do you know what natural resources are used to produce a cell phone or wireless device?
  • Do you know where in the world these resources come from?
  • Do you know the impact of disposing a cell phone to the natural environment?
  • Can you think of ways to make this process more sustainable?
  • Where might these devices be manufactured and by whom?
  • What should the working conditions of these workers look like?
  • Where does stewardship come into play when making informed purchasing decisions?
If you want to visit any links in the following PDFs, right click and select "Open Link in New Tab" to avoid leaving this page.

This is the dropbox icon. Social and Environmental Impacts

Taking into account the previous infographic of the lifecycle of a cell phone and the five pieces of information regarding the manufacturing processes involved in the production of a Smartphone, list the environmental and social impacts.

Here is a sample table you can use to record your thinking. Please note, you can add or remove components that you feel are relevant/irrelevant in your thinking.

The Life Cycle of a Cell Phone

Cycle Component Environmental Impact(s) Social Impact(s)
Material Extraction
Manufacturing
Packaging
Transportation
Useful Life
End of Life
Reuse/Recycling/Disposal
Other

Now that you have considered the impacts of purchasing, using and disposing of a cell phone, we need to examine things further. We as consumers, also have choices and the choices we make can lessen the impacts you have identified above.

The graph below shows the percentage of progress toward responsible sources on conflict minerals. Based on the information in this graph, one can select a Smartphone produced by a company that has made more ethical choices when purchasing natural resources used in the production of their products.

This is a graph that illustrates the percentage of progress toward responsible sourcing of conflict minerals by companies.

The percentage of progress toward responsible sourcing of conflict minerals by companies.
Flickr

If you want to visit any links in the following pdf, right click and select "Open Link in New Tab" to avoid leaving this page.

This is the discussion icon. Cell Phone Purchase

Mobile phone companies are ranked according to ethical standards including environment, nuclear power, animal welfare, human rights, etc. Read the following article for more information.

This is a screen capture of the link.

Now that you've reviewed and scrolled through the information from the article, reflect on the question, "If you were to purchase a cell phone tomorrow, would this information impact your decision?" Explain your answer in 4-6 sentences.  

Self-assessment checklist for discussion questions: Check
Did I use the question to start my answer?
Did I use facts, terms, definitions or evidence to support my answer/opinion?
Did I answer what is being asked of me such as...
Who? What? Where? When? Why? and/or How?
Does my response communicate the key/important components of the question?
Did I use appropriate written conventions, vocabulary, and terminology from this course?
Did I contribute new information to the discussion?
Have I made connections to the ideas already shared? Ideas discussed in this activity or course?
This is the consolidation icon.

This is the dropbox icon. Magazine Article

You have just investigated how a product (in this case a cell phone) that many of us have and use frequently has impacts beyond our boundaries.

Choose a commonly purchased product and investigate the environmental and social impacts (positive and negative) of the production, consumption and/or disposal of the product.  As well, look at ways in which the product could be manufactured, shipped, purchased, used and disposed of while considering environmental stewardship and sustainability. Your chosen product should have a lifespan of a minimum of one year and cost more than $50 (refrain from any food, beverage or perishable items). Be sure to select an item that none of your classmates have previously selected. 

Your investigation will result in the creation of a page someone would find in a newspaper or magazine. You may want to consider using Google Slides, Publisher, Pages, or another program agreed upon with your teacher.

Be sure to include diagrams, maps, graphs, stats as applicable in order to convey the required information, as well as separate identifiable sections like you would see in a magazine or newspaper.  

An example of a page you would find in a newspaper or magazine.

Elements of a page
Magazine Designing

As you gather and prepare the information you will share in the magazine article, be sure to include the following components:

I have included... Check
Spatial Significance:
  • A description of the natural resources used to produce the item.
  • Do you know what natural resources are used to produce the product?
  • The location(s) affected by the extraction of the materials used to make the product.
  • Do you know where in the world these resources come from?
Interrelationships:
  • An explanation of the connection between the natural and human environment.
  • Where might this product be manufactured and by whom?
  • How does the production/manufacturing impact the local natural and human environment?
Patterns and Trends:
  • The characteristic patterns and trends in the production/use of the item.
  • Where is the use of this product the greatest/least, increasing/decreasing?
  • Are consumers using the product for its full lifespan?
Geographic Perspectives:
  • A description of the environmental impacts.
  • Do you know the impacts of shipping/disposing the product to the natural environment?
  • Can you think of ways to make this process more sustainable?
Social impacts:
  • What are/should the working conditions of these workers look like?
  • Where does stewardship come into to play when making informed purchasing decisions?
Magazine Article Components:
  • A one page article using a widely accepted format.
  • Relevant graphic components to support my information in the text.
  • Diagrams, maps, graphs, statistics as applicable.
  • The text and supporting graphics in a meaningful and functional way.
  • Identifiable sections like I would see in a magazine or newspaper?

Learning Skills Reflection

test text.