It is true that there has been an enormous increase in the production of consumer goods worldwide during the last two or three centuries. There has also been incalculable environmental damage in this same period. While there are reasons to connect these two trends, some solutions are possible to help prevent the ecological crisis which is resulting. Two major causes of the damage caused to the natural environment by the growing production of consumer goods can be easily identified. Firstly, there is the environmental degradation that results from the extraction of minerals. For example, there are about 1.5 billion cars in the world, and electric vehicles are promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to petrol, as this will cut down on emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, for the batteries alone of these electric cars, the mining of minerals like cobalt and lithium will lead to massive habitat destruction across the world. Secondly, consumption...