The Problem

We buy stuff. Lots of stuff. Some items are necessary, some have become common luxuries and some are simply nonsense. These products have a huge ripple effect on our world and those living in it.

We are at the end of the production line.

We buy items not knowing where or how they were made and we feel unable to fix them when they break.

The price we pay for consumer goods does not reflect the true cost - the huge damage we are having on natural ecosystems, the dwindling health and quality of life world wide, the mountains of waste we ship out of eye sight and the polluted air we all breathe.

We cannot consume our way out of this mess.

But we can consume and create consciously.

WHERE?

Where were the metals extracted? Where was the plastic forged? Where was it assembled? Where does it go when it no longer works? Where was it packaged?

WHO?

Who extracted the materials? Who assembled it? Who breaks it apart into components?

Who benefits from the production? Who can help me fix it?

WHAT?

What is it made of?

What function does it serve? What happens when it breaks? What is it packaged in? What would I do without one? What regulations are there in place to help workers?

WHY?

Why do we use this? Why do I want it?

Why is it designed like that? Why are those materials used? Why is it manufactured in that country?

HOW?

How was it manufactured? How did they glue pieces together? How did they test it? How far has it traveled? How much energy did it take to produce? How much energy does it use to function?