UN SDG #8:  Decent Work & Economic Growth

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Welcome to episode 9 of this season covering our 8th Sustainable Development Goal of Decent Work and Economic Growth. In this episode, we'll dive into the ways in which economic growth can be inclusive, sustainable, and promote full and productive employment for all. Join us as we explore how we can work together to create a world where everyone has access to decent work and a sustainable future as we look at this week’s 3 things. 

Mint Green Challenge: Support Local Businesses: By supporting small and local businesses, you can help create jobs and economic growth in your community. Shop at local stores, eat at local restaurants, and use local services whenever possible.

Supporting local businesses creates decent work and economic growth in several ways:

1. Job creation: Local businesses are often labor-intensive and require a high level of human interaction, which creates job opportunities for people in the community.

2. Economic growth: When people support local businesses, they are keeping money circulating within the community, which helps support the local economy and create economic growth.

3. Entrepreneurship: Supporting local businesses can encourage entrepreneurship by creating a supportive environment for small businesses to start and grow.

4. Innovation: Local businesses often have a better understanding of the needs of the community and can respond more quickly to changing market trends, leading to innovation and economic growth.

5. Community building: Local businesses often foster a sense of community and social cohesion, which can have positive social and economic impacts.

Overall, supporting local businesses can help create a more resilient and sustainable local economy, generate decent work opportunities, and promote economic growth. By supporting local businesses, you can contribute to creating a more vibrant and prosperous community for everyone. All of these reasons, plus the ridiculously low pay most employees get is why I refuse to buy anything at Walmart despite their low cost of products. 

Shamrock Green Challenge: Buy Ethical Products, from ethical companies. When purchasing products, look for fair trade, ethically sourced, and sustainably produced items. By choosing products made under fair labor conditions, you can help promote decent work for all.

Buying ethical products creates decent work and economic growth in several ways:

1. Fair Labor Practices: Ethical products are often produced under fair labor conditions, which means that workers are paid a fair wage, have safe working conditions, and have access to basic benefits. By supporting ethical products, consumers are contributing to creating decent work opportunities and supporting companies that prioritize the well-being of their workers.

2. Supply Chain Transparency: Ethical products often have a transparent supply chain, which means that consumers can trace the journey of the product from raw materials to finished product. This transparency helps to ensure that workers throughout the supply chain are treated fairly and can help promote decent work opportunities.

3. Market Demand: By choosing ethical products, consumers are creating a market demand for products that are produced under fair labor conditions. This market demand can help incentivize companies to improve their labor practices and support decent work opportunities.

4. Innovation: Ethical products often require new production methods and technologies, which can drive innovation and create economic growth opportunities.

Overall, buying ethical products can help promote decent work opportunities and support a more sustainable and ethical economy. By choosing products that are produced under fair labor conditions, consumers can contribute to creating a more just and equitable world.

Forest Green Challenge: Reducing waste creates decent work and economic growth in several ways:

1. Job creation: By reducing waste, there is an increased demand for recycling and waste management services, leading to job creation in these industries.

2. Cost savings: Reducing waste can result in cost savings for businesses and households, which can be reinvested in other areas of the economy, creating economic growth.

3. Innovation: The need to reduce waste drives innovation in product design, waste reduction technologies, and new business models, leading to new economic opportunities and growth.

4. Environmental protection: Reducing waste helps protect the environment, which in turn supports economic growth by ensuring the availability of natural resources and maintaining ecosystem services.

Overall, reducing waste contributes to creating a more sustainable and circular economy, which generates decent work and economic growth by creating new job opportunities, promoting innovation, and protecting the environment.

That’s it for this week. Until next time, be green and be seen.