St.Gallen Unconference

Everybody is talking about sustainability and many people want to make their consumption habits more sustainable. New stores catering to this need are popping up and existing retailers expand their assortment with sustainable alternatives. But most of these organic / fair-trade / locally sourced / etc. products are more expensive than convential alternatives. Not a problem for anyone with a well-paid job but what about the increasing share of the (Swiss) population with a tight budget? At least 8.2% of the inhabitants in Switzerland are living below or at the poverty line (up from 7.5%). Can they still afford to buy sustainable products? Is it a luxury to be able to live a sustainable life?

In this workshop, we will explore with a practical exercise what it means to try to live a sustainable lifestyle with a tight budget and discuss the implications. What (product) options do we have when sustainable purchases are the noble goal but "buying enough to survive" is the hard reality? How can we live as sustainable as possible on a small budget? And what could be done to avoid making sustainability a thing for people only?