7. Possessions

The document defines a target for possessions based on low overall consumption and a preference for second-hand or reconditioned goods. It provides estimated carbon footprints for various consumer products and suggests minimum lifetimes to ensure consistency with a target emission level of 0.1 tCO2e per capita per year in the UK.

• Adhering to the proposed consumption targets for possessions would result in average emissions of 0.1 tCO2e per capita per year in the UK.
• The guide recommends a consumption hierarchy that prioritizes low overall consumption, a majority of second-hand or reconditioned goods (particularly for high carbon items like furniture and electronics), and minimal purchase of new very high carbon goods such as commercial cut flowers and high-cost jewellery.
• The document provides specific carbon footprints for the manufacture of new goods and suggests minimum lifetimes to mitigate their impact: smartphones and laptops should be kept for 7 years, washing machines and TVs for 10 years, and carpets for 15 years.
• Certain luxury items are identified as having particularly high carbon footprints, including gold or diamonds from Africa (£500 worth amounts to 0.7 tCO2e) and weekly bunches of air-freighted or greenhouse-grown flowers (1.5 tCO2e/y).

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). 7. Possessions. https://www.sgr.org.uk/living-targets/7-possessions

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. 7. Possessions. n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/living-targets/7-possessions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=7. Possessions |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/living-targets/7-possessions |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{scientistsforglobalresponsibilityndpossessions, author = {{Scientists for Global Responsibility}}, title = {{7. Possessions}}, institution = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/living-targets/7-possessions}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }