Why We Consume - and How We Can Do It Better

The second day of the workshop began with presentations: The students presented their project work to the group—ranging from clothing consumption and the “life” of a smartphone to AI and the sustainability of the World Cup. The diversity of topics demonstrated just how broadly sustainable consumption can be interpreted and what exciting insights each group was able to draw from it.

The discussion then turned to the question: Why do we consume at all? The focus was on our values as an inner compass. They shape how we live, what we buy, and how we treat the environment and climate.

Habits also played an important role, because “Automatic is convenient—conscious is strict.” But how can they be changed? In addition to major life changes, even small steps can make a big difference—for example, through nudges, or gentle prompts toward better decisions, or through Tiny Habits, small new routines that have a long-term impact. The students identified where they encounter nudges in their daily lives. They developed their own ideas for the IGP and noted down personal Tiny Habits. We’re curious to see which of these will stick in the coming months.

To wrap up, the students explored the various options for responsible consumption. Sustainable consumption has many facets and goes far beyond climate protection. Consuming in an environmentally conscious way means questioning, staying informed, and also reducing waste. These facets range from more mindful shopping to repairing or passing items on, all the way to small changes in everyday behavior.

The workshop shows that sustainable consumption starts small—with our everyday decisions, habits, and values.

Curious about the topics the students explored and the conclusions they reached? We’ve compiled their project work into a magazine. It’s available for download here.