Exploring Why You Should Stop Buying Stuff You Do Not Need: A Discussion about Pledges, Climate, and Sustainability Holiday Takeover with James George (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)

Did you know that human-made materials now outweigh Earth's entire biomass? The human footprint in the world in 2020 is greater than the impact on the planet of all other living things, research suggests. 2020 has been the "Year of the Pledges". From setting 2030 to 2050 goals and claiming carbon-neutrality, one thing is for sure...you can pull up to many tables, but which ones? Has this been the year of social and green washing and what can we expect in the new year?

James George from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has taken over the Supply Chain Revolution® in this special holiday edition - Episode 49. We explore BOLD topics and trends in 2020 and what is front of mind in circularity, sustainability, and supply chains in 2021, including:

💚Why we buy stuff & the Minimalist Challenge.
💚Inclusive sustainability, what does it mean?
💚Price parity at the shelf and sustainable brands.
💚All carbon is not created equally: the equation doesn't work in carbon offsets and neutrality.
💚Conscious consumerism.
💚How can you get people to care, more, about sustainability?
💚And an inspirational message in the rise of empowerment where how you show up in the world matters.

Do people ever go back and check build sustainability commitments? According to James George, carbon offsets and “net zero” may be a license to get yourself out of a sticky situation; all carbon cycles are not created equal. We talk about 'the minimalist challenge' - removing stuff that doesn’t spark joy; when you get to day 16, things start to get clearer and you decouple the "need" for stuff; Sheri explores why we buy things and what's behind mass-consumerism.

Lastly, how can we actually get people to care? 2020 has been the rise of empowerment in many ways. Where and how you show up in the world matters. You have control over what you do and mobilizing can be transformative.

We all have a sphere of influence. How will you use yours in 2021?

To Learn more about James and the Ellen MacArthur, please visit the links below:

James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-george-20995b75/

EMF: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/

Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/ & https://www.supplychainqueen.com

About The Author

Sheri R. Hinish
Sheri R. Hinish
SupplyChainQueen ® | Executive Advisor and Change Leader | EY Principal and Senior Leader | Passionate about Supply Chain, Sustainability, Innovation, and Inclusion|

To read more about Sheri R. Hinish, check out her full bio here.