Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 8 Consumer Services 215 Sustainable purchasing involves buying products that benefit environmental, social, or human health. Examples include products that are manufactured without causing harm to workers that produce them through unfair labor practices, packaging that does not end up as non- biodegradable landfill, and products that do not physically harm consumers with toxic ingredients. In response to consumers’ needs for sustainable products, many companies are changing their manufacturing processes. They are using more environmentally friendly and health conscious materials and packaging (Figure 8.13). They are also meeting environmental leadership standards to produce more sustainable products. These “greener” products typically include labels such as energy efficient, made from recycled content, or biodegradable. Biodegradable means that a product can break down or decompose naturally without harming the environment. Handling Consumer Complaints To handle consumer problems with products, manufacturers and sellers often have policies for warranty repairs or replacements and returns. petrovarga/Shutterstock.com Figure 8.13 This diagram shows the simple transformation of trees into paper. Using trees from sustainably managed forests and manufacturing processes that leave a smaller carbon footprint help support sustainable purchasing. What is the manufacturing process for other products you use? How does this process benefit the environment, social, or human health?