What You can Do!

Currently, there are many ways available to make consumerism more forest-friendly.

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(From left to right: Forest Stewardship Council logo, Rainforest Alliance trademarks. Credits: Rainforest Alliance, http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about/marks)

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) works to help consumers choose products that support forest conservation (Greenpeace International, 2002). Consumer goods, such as paper cups, printing paper and toilet paper, that are FSC-certified are being produced using forest-friendly ways that promote sustainability.  Hence, consumers now can choose continue with their purchases while minimising harm towards the tropical forests.

Rainforest Alliance trademarks also work to help authenticate that products in the market are truly made from forest-friendly ways. The trademarks include farming products, forest products, tourism and endorsing of forest activities (Rainforest Alliance, 2012).

Individuals can also help to make a different in simple ways, such as reducing paper use by only printing when required and by printing duplex. We can also adopt small actions such as carrying our own bottles around so as to avoid the need of using disposable paper cups for drinking.