We live in a culture of constant buying—new gadgets, clothes, subscriptions. But each purchase carries hidden costs: energy, raw materials, waste, transportation. By inserting just one minute of pause before you buy, you can help shift consumption habits toward more mindful, sustainable patterns. This simple habit supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by reducing waste, lowering demand for resource-intensive goods, and increasing intentional purchasing.
Why it matters — the data
- Globally, material extraction has tripled over the last 50 years. (Source: Global Resources Outlook 2019: Natural Resources for the Future We Want – United Nations Environment Programme)
(Source: United Nations Environment Programme – Global Resources Outlook 2019) - The annual global volume of e-waste reached 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) in 2019, and only 17.4% of that was formally collected and recycled. (Source: Global E‑waste Monitor 2020 – UNU/UNITAR/ITU)
(Source: Global E-waste Monitor 2020)
How to take action (in ~1 minute)
- Before you buy something (online or in-store), pause for 60 seconds.
- Ask yourself: “Do I need this? Can I use something I already own? Is there a reused or shared version?”
- If the answer is “yes” to need — go ahead. If “no” or “maybe” — skip or mark it and revisit in a week.
- Optionally: write or share your answer with a friend or on social media to build awareness.
The ripple effect
Each time you skip a purchase you don’t genuinely need, you’re lowering demand. If one million people did this once a month, that’s 12 million fewer items entering circulation per year — reducing resource extraction, production emissions and waste at scale.
Conclusion
Mindful consumption doesn’t require big sacrifice, just a small pause. That minute can change your habit, reduce waste, and align your daily choice with a sustainable future. So next time you’re reaching for “buy now”, pause for sixty seconds. That’s small. That’s meaningful.
