What are the practices followed to achieve responsible consumption during the holy month of Ramadan?

The holy month of Ramadan is linked to sustainable development in many aspects, as it promotes the values of moderation in consumption, social solidarity, rationalization of resources, andindividual responsibility towards society and the environment. The practices associated with the Holy Month extend to support the social, economic and environmental dimensions on which the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are based, making it an annual opportunity to establish more conscious and sustainable behaviors.

Excessive buying and hoarding of goods

These manifestations are evident in the tendency of some families to buy a very large amount of goods out of early preparation, fear of rising prices, or early depletion of basic goods. This behavior may lead to accumulation that exceeds the actual need, which ultimately leads to exhausting the family budget and raises the possibility of later waste, and also puts great pressure on the markets in an unbalanced manner.

To confront this behavior, it is necessary to:

• Preparing a list of realistic needs based on the family’s actual consumption.
• Split purchases over time periods rather than purchasing them all at once.

The value of moderation in Ramadan helps to promote a culture of conscious purchasing, so that the goal is sufficiency, not exaggeration, and organization, not hoarding.

Multiple varieties and exaggeration in food preparation

The month of Ramadan is associated in the social consciousness of some individuals with the abundance and variety of daily dishes, to the point that full tables have become a standard of generosity and hospitality. Despite the good intentions behind this behavior, it often leads to preparing quantities that exceed the actual need, so expenses increase, surplus increases, and part of the food turns into unintended waste.

This phenomenon can be eliminated through the following:

• Instilling the idea that generosity is not measured by the abundance of items on the table, but rather by good management, quality of preparation, and distinctive method of presentation, and moderate diversification is sufficient to achieve nutritional balance without excess.
• Estimating the real need of family members.
• Involving the family in planning weekly meals helps reduce randomness, and makes the table more mindful and consistent with the spirit of moderation called for by the holy month.

One of the ways to reduce waste is:

• Optimal storage of surplus food so that it can be consumed again in later meals.
• Sharing it with those in need to ensure achieving the social dimension of sustainable development by combating hunger (Goal 2).
• Estimating quantities before cooking, and relying on moderate portions, promote a culture of individual responsibility, responsible production and consumption (Goal 12).

Decisions and social responsibility: How do we maintain moderation?

With the large number of family gatherings and parties during the month of Ramadan, there is a need to adopt conscious practices in preparation and hospitality. The holy month calls for moderation and rationalization of consumption, whether at the individual or family level, while preserving the true meaning of generosity and good reception. By regulating quantities and estimating actual needs, the Ramadan table can be enjoyed without excess, while at the same time enhancing social responsibility by sharing the surplus with those in need.

To achieve moderation in the invitations of the holy month of Ramadan, you can follow the following:

• Set a clear goal for hospitality: True generosity is measured by intention and good reception, not by the abundance of varieties.
• Plan portions based on actual number of guests to avoid excess and waste.
• Rely on providing moderate and nutritionally balanced foods, with simple variation that adds joy to the table.
• Make the invitations an opportunity for communication and social rapprochement, and not for apparent competition or proof of status.
• Share the surplus with those in need to enhance social responsibility.
• After the event, review the expenses and lessons learned to correct future behavior.

Rationalizing energy consumption in Ramadan

Responsible consumption in Ramadan extends to include energy sources and resource management,The high electricity consumption due to lighting, Ramadan decorations, and air conditioners can be rationalized by following simple practices such as:

• Use energy-efficient lighting devices (LED) for decoration and home lighting.
• Adjust air conditioners and fans to moderate consumption.
• Prepare food in appropriate quantities to reduce the use of ovens and stoves.

Promoting a recycling culture

The holy month of Ramadan represents an opportunity to implement the recycling and waste separation strategy in homes and communities, through the following practices:

• Separating food waste suitable for feeding animals or organic fertilization.
• Recycling of plastic, glass and cardboard containers.
• Donate unused clothes and tools instead of throwing them away.

This will reduce unnecessary energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint during the holy month, in line with Goal 7 (clean and affordable energy) and Goal 13 (climate action) in sustainable development. It will also help reduce waste and promote responsible consumption in line with Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.

For its part,The Earth Guards Foundation confirms that applying these sustainable practices during the holy month of Ramadan, through moderation in food and energy consumption, and intelligent reuse of resources, turns the holy month intoa practical space for consolidating the values of sustainable development in life. Daily, at the family and community levels, and makes Ramadan an experience of responsible and conscious daily practice towards society and the environment.