Consumption | Friends of the Earth

How does natural resource consumption cause harm?

Almost everything we do involves materials that have been extracted, processed, transformed, bought and sold, taxed and subsidised, and often shifted across vast distances.

Our economy is built around these raw materials (natural resources) like trees, gas, oil, metal ores, water and fertile land. Just look at your smartphone. It likely contains cobalt from Africa, copper from Chile and aluminium from Australia.

Over the years, our appetite for raw materials has grown. From 1970 to 2010, our natural resource consumption more than tripled . Overconsumption worsens climate breakdown and increases air pollution. It exhausts the planet's life support systems like the ones that provide us with fresh water, and leaves us short of materials critical to our health and quality of life. 

Resource consumption facts

10 times

more consumption by the richest countries than the poorest

80 million rugby pitches

The amount of foreign land the UK depends on to support its annual consumption of agricultural and forestry products

One third

of all food produced across the globe is lost or wasted

20 tonnes

The average annual material consumption of a European

3 tonnes

(not even that) The average annual material consumption of an African

A group of activists marching down the street with a banner that reads "Clean Up the Tropical Timber Trade". The image has a green hue.

Planet over Profit

While many of us are conscious about the choices we make, shady practices from businesses behaving badly make it hard to see the impact of what we buy. Many companies involved in global supply chains are wreaking havoc on our planet, and trampling on people's rights.

But they must be held accountable for any damage they cause. That's why our Planet over Profit campaign is calling for a new UK law that requires companies to avoid harm to people and planet in their supply chains.

Put the planet over profit

A seagull picks a plastic crisp packet from the sea

Plastic pollution

Plastic sticks around in the environment for ages, threatening wildlife and spreading toxins. Plastic also contributes to climate breakdown...

Almost all plastics are made from chemicals that come from the production of planet-warming fuels (gas, oil and even coal).

Our reliance on plastic therefore prolongs our demand for these dirty fuels. Which is why we're working with other organisations to reduce plastic across all sectors, from supermarkets to stadiums.

How can we reduce plastic consumption?

Learning hub

Two women in a thrift store looking at a brown fleece

How can I tell if a product is ethical?

It’s not always easy to work out whether our favourite brands’ green credentials are up to scratch. With companies falling over themselves to promote their eco-friendly products, learn how you can cut through the noise and make informed, conscious choices.

How can I tell if a product is ethical?

A large mine with deep, grey, tiered walls and a teal lake at the bottom

What's the environmental impact of critical minerals?

Materials like lithium and cobalt are key for green technologies. But there are concerns about supply and ethical extraction. Read our take on critical minerals.

What's the environmental impact of critical minerals?

Materials like lithium and cobalt are key for green technologies. But there are concerns about supply and ethical extraction. Read our take on critical minerals.

Top tip: eat less (and better) meat and dairy

Do you want to purchase better products, waste less, and reduce your environmental impact? Then check out our ethical shopping and lifestyle tips to see how small, everyday changes can help make the world a better place.

Top tip: eat less (and better) meat and dairy

Want more sustainable lifestyle tips?

Sustainable farming: Cows in a biodiverse field

Food and sustainable farming

Intensive farming is linked to loss of wildlife, soil and water pollution, and poor animal welfare.

We don't need factory farms, loads of chemicals or genetically modified seeds to feed a growing population. There are more climate-friendly ways to do things.

How we could farm more sustainably

Crowd of people walking along a pavement with shopping bags

Inequality

The world's richest countries consume on average 10 times as many materials as the poorest. It's grossly unequal. Many of the world's population hardly see a peep of these resources.

North America and Europe have by far the biggest material footprints on the planet. The UK is hugely dependent on other countries’ minerals, raw materials, water and land. If everyone lived like the average US citizen, we'd need over 4 Earths to sustain ourselves – according to data produced by the Global Footprint Network.