Could you be a "sustainable consumer"?

I just finished the book No Impact Man by Colin Beavan. It was a very good read and very thought-provoking. He also has a blog that was started during his "experiment". Has anyone read this book?

Part of his year-long experiment was sustainable consumption. You can read the whole blog post here. The "rules".........

"Here are No Impact's adapted "sustainable consumption" rules as I envisage them before Michelle and I talk tonight (don't tell Michelle so they will be a surprise tonight):

1. Don't buy new products (including, worst of all, books).
2. Borrow, rent or buy used (except underwear and socks).
3. Buy only sustainably produced underwear and socks (or anything else that ends up excepted).
4. Cancel magazine subscriptions and read online (the trees! the trash!).
5. No movies or other forms of mass entertainment.*
6. Find replacements for everything that is still throwaway or comes in throwaway packaging in our house: cosmetics and skin care products, soap, shampoo, cleaning products, paper towel, menstrual pads, disposable pens, disposable razors, toilet paper.
7. Did anyone notice that toilet paper was at the end of that long list?

On the positive side, to replace these things, we can:

1. Have fun with Craig's List, Freecycle and other second hand sources.
2. Read all we want online.
3. Putter around antiques stores and flea markets.
4. Go to more live entertainment.
5. Socialize more.
6. Have people over more."

So, my question to you this week is---could you be a sustainable consumer according to Beavan's "rules"? Are there things you already try to do? What could you NOT do? Do you agree or disagree that this type of lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with being frugal?

I already do a lot of the things on the list and I do think that these suggestions go hand in hand with being frugal, but I absolutely could not replace the toilet paper and menstrual pads! I can cut costs all over the place and I can be Earth conscious, but I will never be so frugal as to forgo the TP and pads. Just ain't gonna happen! lol!!

Thanks for the post. I am going to read his blog.

thankfully I don't need pads anymore...but no way would I give up buying pads when I did need them or toilet paper, no offense to anyone who could but it would have too much of an "ick" factor to me

I do some of these things already, could do better but I don't think think I'd ever be as strict about it as he is...I'm frugal and want to save...but I also like certain products and movies,etc and I'm not "that" willing to give up what I do like to splurge on

I do almost everything on the list.

The only time a new book is purchased is for gifts. (birthday and Christmas). Otherwise we participate in book exchanges and get books used or borrow from the library.

We purchase things used or borrow what we need. Socks, underwear and shoes are purchased new.

We don't to magazines or newspapers. We read those online or read at the library.

We do attend movies about four times a year as a treat. It's not a routine thing. We are more likely to go to the symphony or the theater.

"Find replacements for everything that is still throwaway or comes in throwaway packaging in our house: cosmetics and skin care products, soap, shampoo, cleaning products, paper towel, menstrual pads, disposable pens, disposable razors, toilet paper."

The above is not happening. We choose to purchase environment friendly cleaning products, limit paper towel use and I do use refillable pens and such. Cosmetics are not purchased. Shampoo lasts two months and menstrual products and toilet paper are not things I'm willing to do without.

stacy