Green Action Week 2024 campaigns for
A Clean Environment
Green Action Week is a global campaign focused on building Sharing Community as a way of showcasing sustainable consumption. More than 40 organizations around the world host exciting events and workshops every year to highlight innovative responses to pressing challenges.
Consumer Voice, India
India’s growing urban population currently generates around 55 million ton of municipal solid waste every year. By 2031, it is estimated that this will be 125 million tons a year. It is critical that the country urgently embraces circular economy practices and makes sustainable options available for consumers.
Consumer Voice focused its Green Action Week 2024 campaign on fostering a collective shift towards reducing waste and adopting sustainable consumption habits for a cleaner, healthier future.
Consumer Voice, India
India’s growing urban population currently generates around 55 million ton of municipal solid waste every year. By 2031, it is estimated that this will be 125 million tons a year. It is critical that the country urgently embraces circular economy practices and makes sustainable options available for consumers.
Consumer Voice focused its Green Action Week 2024 campaign on fostering a collective shift towards reducing waste and adopting sustainable consumption habits for a cleaner, healthier future.
The organization organised community workshops to showcase the reusability of items, set up resource-sharing platforms and exhibitions. In collaboration with Being Artistic by Himani, Consumer Voice worked with students showing them creative ways to repurpose plastic bottles in to planters and old clothes into reusable bags. More than 1 000 students and parents were reached. And in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi, Consumer Voice hosted a workshop for consumers that discussed greenwashing, the right to repair and responsible waste disposal.
An art corner at each workshop showcased the artworks created by Green Action Week organisations around the world in 2023 portraying their visions of a sustainable future. See all of these at www.greenactionweek.org
The organization organised community workshops to showcase the reusability of items, set up resource-sharing platforms and exhibitions. In collaboration with Being Artistic by Himani, Consumer Voice worked with students showing them creative ways to repurpose plastic bottles in to planters and old clothes into reusable bags. More than 1 000 students and parents were reached. And in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi, Consumer Voice hosted a workshop for consumers that discussed greenwashing, the right to repair and responsible waste disposal.
An art corner at each workshop showcased the artworks created by Green Action Week organisations around the world in 2023 portraying their visions of a sustainable future. See all of these at www.greenactionweek.org
Ecowaste Coalition, Phillippines
In the Philippines, EcoWaste Coalition focused on promoting thrifting and the consumption of sustainably produced goods to promote a ‘zero waste’ culture. EcoWaste held a community forum in partnership with the Intramuros Administration at the Manila High School to introduce the concept of zero waste to students, teachers and community members. As part of this, students took part in a poster and slogan-making contest to generate communications material to support sustainable consumptions.
A thrifting fair was held in October 2024 at the historical site Plaza de Roma in Manila showcasing natural and organic products and non-toxic and reusable alternatives to conventional products. Exhibitors also included recycling groups and reuse and refill stores. EcoWaste Coalition promoted thrifting as a way to curb the modern throw-away culture and to place the emphasis on removing plastic waste from the environment. This event also served as a collaborative space for EcoWaste partners and environmental advocates.
Ecowaste Coalition, Phillippines
In the Philippines, EcoWaste Coalition focused on promoting thrifting and the consumption of sustainably produced goods to promote a ‘zero waste’ culture. EcoWaste held a community forum in partnership with the Intramuros Administration at the Manila High School to introduce the concept of zero waste to students, teachers and community members. As part of this, students took part in a poster and slogan-making contest to generate communications material to support sustainable consumptions.
A thrifting fair was held in October 2024 at the historical site Plaza de Roma in Manila showcasing natural and organic products and non-toxic and reusable alternatives to conventional products. Exhibitors also included recycling groups and reuse and refill stores. EcoWaste Coalition promoted thrifting as a way to curb the modern throw-away culture and to place the emphasis on removing plastic waste from the environment. This event also served as a collaborative space for EcoWaste partners and environmental advocates.
Citizen Consumer & Citizen
Action Group, India
Action Group, India
CAG promoted refusing, reducing, reusing, recycling and repurposing to support sustainable consumption.
CAG’s “Make the Shift for a Better Future” project focused on the urgent need to shift towards sustainable consumption practices in light of resource depletion. The project promoted the concepts of sharing and using resources sustainably, emphasising the “5 R’s”: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Repurpose.
The campaign began with a social media campaign highlighting simple behavioural changes, such as using cloth bags, composting kitchen waste, and prioritising public transport over private vehicles. The campaign aimed to inform the public that small actions can have a significant impact on maintaining the environment and contributing to a sustainable lifestyle.
In addition, a day-long sustainability fair was organised to educate the public about eco-friendly practices. The exhibition featured various organisations and businesses promoting sustainable living. Visitors had the opportunity to interact with vendors offering eco-friendly products, including eco-friendly stationery, bamboo items, and organic food. The goal was to inspire individuals and communities to adopt greener habits and support sustainable initiatives, fostering a commitment to environmental stewardship.
To further instill the values of repair, recycling, and reuse, college students were provided with a booklet on e-waste management, coupled with an expert-led talk on the topic within the Indian context. Additionally, a 2D animated video focused on e-waste management was created for circulation on social media.
Consumer Council of Fiji
Vaka Voi Electronics, encapsulates the Fijian concept of “renewal.” In recent years, the lifespan of electronic items in Fiji has been diminishing, attributed to the influx of cheaper quality products and potential planned obsolescence. As a result, consumers are increasingly faced with the dilemma of discarded household electronics that fail shortly after purchase, including washing machines, televisions, refrigerators, and even smartphones. Despite the existence of an electronics repair market, its viability has declined as many consumers prefer to dispose of malfunctioning devices rather than seeking repairs.
The Vaka Voi Electronics campaign aimed to address this pressing issue by promoting the message that repair is a viable alternative to disposal. It also sought to raise awareness of e-waste; a concept unfamiliar to many Fijians. Through initiatives such as community e-repair cafes, the campaign uncovered a surprising reality: numerous individuals possess electronic items languishing at home, awaiting repair. Participants in the repair workshops shared compelling stories of their experiences. For instance, one participant brought in a refrigerator that had been inactive for years, only to discover it required a simple fix, taking mere minutes to restore functionality.
Vaka Voi Electronics has successfully ignited conversations around sustainability and the importance of repair in combating e-waste in Fiji. By empowering consumers to view their electronics as repairable rather than disposable, we are taking significant steps toward a more sustainable future.
