WALL 4 CAUSE

Wall 4 Cause S.D.Goal 12.

We are changing the gray of a 170 m. wall in the Deputy City Hall for Cleaning and Recycling of the Municipality of Thessaloniki in the area of Allatini.

Wall 4 Cause: We brought the gray to life, creating a mural with colors provided by KRAFT Paints from the COLORS OF GREECE COLLECTION palette. The three primary colors used are green named “Chartaetos” (code CG 433), blue named “Simea” (code CG689), and yellow named “Kanarini” (code CG 620).

So we want to get the message across about the importance of recycling and its contribution to the circular economy. The benefits of recycling for society, the environment, and the economy are manifold. But only when it is done correctly and is a way of life for citizens and operation for businesses. Nowadays, there is a great need for a change in a new economic model of sustainable development.

Wall4Cause Patelias — Wall 4 Cause Photo Credit: Paul Avetisov

“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS THAT WE ARE UPGRADING THE LIVING LEVEL OF PEOPLE THROUGH MORE RIGHT AND INTELLIGENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ONE OF A MODERN ECONOMY THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROSPERITY AND EVOLUTION OF CITIZENS”

Wall4Cause — Wall 4 Cause Photo Credit: Paul Avetisov

Goal 12: We ensure sustainable consumption and production standards

Implement the Ten-Year Program Framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production Standards, with all countries taking action, with the developed ones taking the lead in this endeavor, taking into account the development and capabilities of the developing countries.

Wall4Cause Kraft — Wall 4 Cause Photo Credit: Paul Avetisov

We are achieving sustainable management and good use of natural resources by 2030.

By 2030, halving global per capita food waste at retail and consumer levels reduces food losses throughout the production and supply chain, including post-harvest losses.

By 2020, achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all waste throughout their life by internationally agreed frameworks and significantly reduce their emissions to air, water, and soil to minimize adverse effects of their impact on human health and the environment.

Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse by 2030.

Encourage large and supranational companies to adopt sustainable practices and incorporate sustainability information into their reports.

We are promoting sustainable public procurement practices in line with national policies and priorities.

By 2030, they ensure that all people everywhere have the necessary information and awareness about sustainable development and a way of life in harmony with nature.

Supporting developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity will push them towards a more sustainable model of consumption and production.

Develop and use tools to monitor the impact of sustainable development on sustainable tourism, which creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

”Electronic waste grew by 38% but less than 20% is recycled”

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION: WHY IT MATTERS

What is the goal here?

To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Why?

Economic and social progress over the last century has been accompanied by environmental degradation that is endangering the very systems on which our future development and very survival depend. COVID-19 offers an opportunity to develop recovery plans that will reverse current trends and shift our consumption and production patterns to a more sustainable course. A successful transition will mean improvements in resource efficiency, consideration of the entire life cycle of economic activities, and active engagement in multilateral environ- mental agreements.

What needs to change?

There are many aspects of consumption that with simple changes can have a big impact on society as a whole. For example, the global material footprint – an indicator of the pressure put on the environment to support economic growth and to satisfy the material needs of people – grew by 17.4 per cent to 85.9 billion metric tons in 2017 as compared to 2010. Reducing food loss and waste can contribute to environmental sustainability by lowering production costs and increasing the efficiency of food systems. Currently, we lose 13.8 per cent after harvesting and during transport, storage and processing alone, amounting to a cost of over $400 billion a year. We are also polluting water faster than nature can recycle and purify water in rivers and lakes.

How can I help as a business?

It’s in businesses’ interest to find new solutions that enable sustainable consumption and production patterns. A better understanding of environmental and social impacts of products and services is needed, both of product life cycles and how these are affected by use within lifestyles. Identifying “hot spots” within the value chain where interventions have the greatest potential to improve the environmental and social impact of the system as a whole is a crucial first step. Innovation and design solutions can both enable and inspire individuals to lead more sustainable life- styles, reducing impacts and improving well-being.

How can I help as a consumer?

There are two main ways to help: 1. Reducing your waste and 2. Being thoughtful about what you buy and choosing a sustainable option when- ever possible. Ensure you don’t throw away food, and reduce your consumption of plastic—one of the main pollutants of the ocean. Carrying a reusable bag, refusing to use plastic straws, and recycling plastic bottles are good ways to do your part every day. Making informed purchases also helps. For example, the textile industry today is the second largest polluter of clean water after agriculture, and many fashion companies exploit textile workers in the developing world. If you can buy from sustainable and local sources you can make a difference as well as exercising pressure on businesses to adopt sustainable practices.

To take action, visit: http://www.un.org/en/actnow

To find out more about Goal #12 and other Sustainable Development Goals, visit: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment

POWERED BY FREE AND UNION and CURATED BY STREET ATELIER.

Wall 4 Cause

Artists : John Patelias, Piki Cans, NiceTime

We warmly thank the company DRUCKFARBEN HELLAS for the cooperation and the colors. The company EAST – WEST GREECE is active in clothing recycling, and the industry KAOUSSIS is engaged in recycling machines. We would also like to warmly thank the Deputy Mayor for Cleaning and Recycling and the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Nikolaos Zeibekis, who helped us in this.