About
Conservation-economy.org is a debate-led blog for people in the communications industries who see the need to change from an economy based on consumption to one based on something different.
All of us contributing here, and most likely you too, have grown up, and prospered, in an economic model based on stimulating consumption in order to satisfy the insatiable desire of our economy for growth.
We’re not sure what is going to come next but we all believe that we in what has been termed “the Great Transition” to something different and hopefully better.
Why a transition? Because we recognise that our current consumption based economic model is untenable and incompatible with the finite nature of the world’s resources. We see a world based on individual consumption as compromising to society, community and at times individual humanity. We believe there needs to be a new economic model; one based on an attitude of conserving rather than consuming.
These global challenges are huge opportunities for future-facing brands and businesses. Those who succeed will develop business models that deliver both a healthy profit and a common good.
Whilst we recognise we don’t have many answers, we want to start asking fundamental questions about the role and impact of the businesses with which we work. The debate on these pages will “always be in beta” changing and evolving as new ideas emerge, grow and spread.
The one connecting thread is our belief that the marketing and advertising industry is culpable for many of causes of over-consumption, and therefore has a responsibility, and massive opportunity, to lead us to a better place.
We think change needs to be multi-faceted:
1. Different forms of enterprise: businesses that minimise and internalise the social and environmental costs of production, and make a positive contribution to society as well as a healthy profit.
2. Redesigned products and services: products with in-built longevity rather than in-built obsolescence, services with growing utility, and revenue streams based on the preservation and enhancement of products and services.
3. Different forms of communication: marketing communications need to help people move beyond our disposable culture and instead value longevity, durability and changing utility more than the instant gratification of the new.
4. Better measures of success: measures of economic health that go beyond GDP, and take into account the qualitative, non-monetary aspects of the economy as well as economic activities associated with monetary value.
We are truly hopeful and optimistic. Why? Because it’s within the communications industry that we see the human insight and creative talent – from market research and design, to advertising and marketing – to lead the change, tell stories, shape opinion, and create demand for different things.
We want this site to be an optimistic debating chamber, a set of resources and hopefully a little bit of inspiration as we make these changes and start to prosper in a new world.
Your responsibility is to get involved. Don’t just listen but talk and get involved. We are not experts – we are just a concerned few who want to talk about a better way of contributing to our economy and society. We want to talk with you.
The first contributors to this blog are:
Justin Basini
Michaeljon Alexander-Scott
Katy Lindemann
Dan Burgess
John Connell
Jeremy Brown
Tom Farrand
Jon Alexander
Guy Champniss
Stephen King
Ellie Thornhill
If you want to become a contributor all you need is ideas and a willingness to contribute high quality content to the debate. Contact us by clicking here. In the meantime you can leave your thoughts as comments (please do!)
