Blog\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The definition in the Dikke Van Dale has since changed. Currently, the meaning of \u201csustainable\u201d in this dictionary is: \u20181 long-lasting; 2 subject to little wear or decay; 3 having little impact on the environment: sustainable energy sources wind, sun, hydropower, etc.; sustainable production (Dikke Van Dale, 2020).\u2019 The concept is now somewhat clearer, but also not entirely, precisely because sustainability appears to have multiple meanings, and it can vary per company or person which of these meanings they are referring to. <\/p>

<\/p>

Sustainable: A Relative Meaning<\/h2>

For society, ‘sustainable’ is a rather relative word, and our research confirms this. We asked consumers the following question: What makes a product sustainable? One consumer responded: \u2018It must not contain plastic, it must have a sustainability stamp, it must be fresh and from our own country.\u2019 Another consumer reacted: \u2018It must be animal-friendly and environmentally friendly. And provide a fair income for farmers, for example.\u2019 And yet another consumer said: \u2018It must be long-lasting, made from resources that do not deplete the earth, be recyclable, and produced fairly.\u2019 In short, so many people, so many opinions. <\/p>

<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\u201cSustainable Characteristics\u201d According to Consumers<\/h2>

What truly makes a sustainable product sustainable according to the consumer? What criteria must a sustainable product meet? By comparing all consumer responses, a total of nine characteristics of sustainability came to light. These are the features that consumers believe sustainable products must possess. <\/p>

<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

9 Characteristics of Sustainable Products:<\/h2>

1. Sustainable products are products of better quality and therefore last longer<\/li>
2. Sustainable products are local products that do not need to be transported far<\/li>
3. Sustainable products are products made under good conditions for people and animals<\/li>
4. Sustainable products are products for which a fair price is paid (fair trade)<\/li>
5. Sustainable products are products without chemical additives, for example, organically packaged<\/li>
6. Sustainable products are products that are economical, using little electricity and water<\/li>
7. Sustainable products are products that are produced \u2018greenly\u2019 without depleting the earth<\/li>
8. Sustainable products are products that contain no animal ingredients, i.e., are vegan<\/li>
9. Sustainable products are products produced according to organic guidelines<\/li><\/ol>

   <\/p>

   The characteristics of sustainability paint a picture. But how do these attributes translate into concrete products? We asked consumers which sustainable products they had purchased in the past month. Reusable water bottles, bin bags, organic food such as vegetables, pasta, and eggs, fair trade chocolate, eco-friendly cleaning products, and unpackaged fruit and vegetables were mentioned most frequently by consumers. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

   \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

   The excerpt is here…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-thought-leadership-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n