Practical guide to the 3Rs: what they are and how to apply them?

Everyone has heard about the 3Rs, but have you ever stopped to think about the impact this can have on your daily life? The 3Rs policy presents itself as a set of sustainable practices, aimed at minimizing the environmental impact caused by the waste of materials and products derived from natural resources and, at the same time, saving nature from the endless extraction of resources.

This campaign, created by the National Conference on the Earth (ECO-92), which was held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, and endorsed by the 5th European Programme for the Environment and Development - held the following year - emerged to simplify the rules to follow to help the environment and is based on the letter R, for Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Applied in this same order and popularized by the group Greenpeace, it is a proposal for reflection and action on our consumption habits, aiming to make them, in turn, more responsible, reducing the impact of waste on the environment. But let's explore each of the Rs:

Reduce

As already mentioned, the first and most important step to take and fulfill is to reduce, that is, to slow down the consumerist desire of society, since the greater the volume of purchases of new products, the greater the amount of discarded materials, thus generating more waste. This proposal contradicts the essence of sales and capitalist consumption; however, it contributes to the reduction of energy consumption and the emission of toxic gases.The encouragement of responsible consumption is one of the main objectives of this policy, which is reflected in the circular economy, about which we talk in our article "What is the circular economy?".

Reuse

In second place comes the step of reusing, that is giving a new life to materials no longer used, such as plastic bottles, boxes, or anything that can be repurposed, that is, fixing or reimagining a product and giving it a new use, instead of discarding it.

In this way, by reusing materials and products that could have a second life and function, we are contributing, once again, to the circular economy, where we consume renewable resources, used to manufacture more and more consumer goods, as we give them more time for use, extending their lifespan.

By transforming a certain material that has already been used into another, we postpone the need to consume a new one and produce environmental waste, while at the same time promoting environmental preservation, contributing to the reduction of pollution and soil contamination. This practice helps reduce the amount of raw materials, energy, and water needed to manufacture new products, drastically reducing the disposal of consumer goods and the consequent pollution of the environment.

Recycle

In third place, but no less important, comes the step of recycling, that is, assisting in the possibility of reusing materials, reducing waste and, at the same time, decreasing the demand for more natural resources.

This is just the last step in the 3Rs policy, since without the two previous steps, there is no system that can handle the amount of waste generated. Thus, recycling consists of processing materials through their physical or chemical transformation, usually in the form of raw materials, for the production of new products and consumer goods.

A product can only be recycled correctly if we do its sorting, that is, separating our waste at recycling points, so that it can then be processed at a treatment station. There are various types of recyclable products such as paper, plastic, aluminum, steel, among others.

Thus, this process requires an individual effort, as it consists of recycling waste that is still usable to reintroduce it again as new raw materials.

Given all this, reducing consumption to the maximum, reusing products that are not used, and recycling those that have reached the end of their useful life are necessary practices that not only help the environment but also make it possible to decrease the cost of living by reducing expenses, especially in the industrial sector. Consuming consciously and responsibly, that is, not only reducing consumption but also choosing recyclable products, is essential to reduce waste production in the environment and waste.

This reduction should encompass both the use of products and the rationing of resources, such as water or fuel, which, in turn, not only has a strong impact on the environment but also minimizes the damage caused by pollution and the accumulation of waste. Thus, by adopting practices such as buying only the amount of food that is used and the conscious use of water, we are reducing the amount of waste that pollutes the environment.

By following these fundamental steps, we are contributing to the improvement of our planet and making it more beautiful. The individual actions promoted by the 3Rs have a huge impact on the environment and on reducing our ecological footprint, which is, in itself, urgent and a priority. 

The 3Rs policy has been updated and, currently, we can say that there are four more important steps in protecting the environment, namely rethink, refuse, reinstate, and hold accountable. All of this aims to promote a change in habits in our daily lives and ensure a better future for all of us, leading us to rethink our values and practices.

In summary, the daily application of this practice can help you not only to preserve the environment but also to reduce certain everyday costs! It is important to keep this idea in mind when we think about consuming or discarding, as the future of the world is also in our hands.