Trendy Choices: Sustainability in Shopping

Stanley, Owala, and other trendy water bottles are super popular right now, but have you ever thought about why? Influencers and ads can make us want things we might not need. Imagine you’re a smart shopper who wants to make good choices, save money, and help the environment by considering the “environmental payback period”—the time it takes for the environmental benefits of a reusable item to outweigh the environmental costs of producing it. Learn more about overconsumption and the environmental payback period.

1. Reflect: Think about why people buy these trendy water bottles. Is it because they really need them, or because they see them everywhere online? Also, consider what happens to these bottles when they’re no longer “cool.” How does this affect the environment, especially regarding waste and the environmental payback period? Write a few sentences about what you think.
2. Creative Solution: Create one creative idea to help your friends make better shopping choices and reduce waste. Maybe it’s a fun challenge to use what they already have, a campaign to share tips on smart shopping or a way to repurpose old bottles. Explain your idea in a short paragraph, and consider how it can help achieve a positive environmental payback period.
3. Career Skills: Think about how the skills you're using now could help you in a job later. Maybe a job where you need to solve problems or think of new ideas. Write a few sentences about a job you might like and how these skills could be useful there.