New product prolongs produce freshness, reducing...

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[Background on, & press coverage of, Unconsumption can be found here and here.]

Consumption is a word used to describe acts of acquisition – generally, the acquisition of things, in exchange for money.

Unconsumption is a word used to describe everything that happens after an act of acquisition.

Unconsumption is an invisible badge.

Unconsumption means the accomplishment of properly recycling your old cellphone, rather than the guilt of letting it sit in a drawer.

Unconsumption means the thrill of finding a new use for something that you were about to throw away.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a service like Freecycle (or Craigslist, Goodwill, or Salvation Army) to find a new home for the functioning DVD player you just replaced, rather than throwing it in the garbage.

Unconsumption means enjoying the things you own to the fullest – not just at the moment of acquisition.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a pair of sneakers until they are truly worn out – as opposed to the nagging feeling of defeat when they simply go out of style.

Unconsumption means feeling good about the simple act of turning off the lights when you leave the room.

Unconsumption is not about the rejection of things, or the demonization of things. It’s not a bunch of rules.

Unconsumption is an idea, a set of behaviors, a way of thinking about consumption itself from a new perspective.

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Founder & Editor: Rob Walker, journalist, Savannah, GA

Editorial & Community Manager: Molly Block, marketing and business development geek, Houston, TX

Brian W. Jones, designer & writer, Göteborg, Sweden

Kashvi Kumar, Environmental Studies and Economics major at New York University

Deirdre Nelson, ever threading artist, Glasgow, Scotland

Shanna Trenholm, writer. catalyst. force of nature. San Diego, CA

* * *

Alumnus & Unconsumption logo creator: Clifton Burt, graphic designer, Portland, OR

Further information about Unconsumption can be found here.

5:50 pm - Thu, Feb 16, 2012: 64 notes

High-Res

New product prolongs produce freshness, reducing food waste

A hormone-absorbing strip made of clay and other minerals is helping to reduce food waste in the UK.

The strip, which absorbs ethylene — the ripening hormone that turns food moldy — is already in use by retailer Marks & Spencer on packages of strawberries, and is being trialed by supermarket chain Tesco on tomatoes and avocados — “produce that triggers the highest wastage in the food industry.” Tesco estimates the strips could save 1.6 million packs of tomatoes and 350,000 packs of avocados annually.

For strawberries: “Trials carried out in M&S [Marks & Spencer] stores showed a minimum wastage saving of 4% — during the peak strawberry season this would equate to 40,000 packs, or about 800,000 strawberries.”

Both Tesco and Marks & Spencer say the addition of the strips will not increase the amounts that shoppers will be charged for the produce.

The 8 cm x 4.5 cm strip, developed in the UK by It’s Fresh Ltd, is said to be “100 times more effective than any similar existing materials.” Trials suggest the strips could help extend the shelf life of other food items.

Also noteworthy: The Guardian reports that the strip will not affect the recyclability of produce packaging.

(Via The Guardian: Tesco tomato and avocado story here, and Marks & Spencer strawberry story here. Photo via The Ewan on Flickr.)

See also: Earlier Unconsumption food waste-related mentions here.