We’ve been sold the idea that we need to buy more to achieve success, happiness, and wellness. Trying to become the best version of ourselves has become a commodified experience in our current system. Yet, our high rates of consumption have negative environmental and ethical implications. If we want to create an equitable and livable future we need actionable ways to reduce overconsumption.
The overconsumption problem.
Simply put, overconsumption happens when we use things in excess. Typically, that means overusing our planet’s resources. We do so either by overextending limited resources or not giving renewable resources the time to replenish themselves.
Using resources beyond our means puts a large strain on the environment and is widely unsustainable. That can be seen in the form of pollution, resource scarcity problems, and climate change issues. Overall, the environmental costs of our lifestyles can be grave and we’re seeing the consequences of our actions in real time.
How would reducing overconsumption help the environment?
Despite overconsumption being built into our lives, finding ways to reduce overconsumption can have large positive effects. If we stop consuming to such a high degree, the demand for materials to create those goods will go down too. If we don’t need as many raw materials, we won’t need to use or extract as many resources. This will then decrease emissions, water use, land use, waste generation, and so on.
Unsurprisingly, we’ll reduce the negative by-products of our overconsumption as we reduce overconsumption. Addressing exorbitant consumerism will lower our environmental footprint and, in time, have sweeping positive effects as opposed to if we continue to ramp up consumption.
Is tackling overconsumption the key to solving climate change?
Overconsumption is a problem for our environment, no doubt, but it’s just a part of what we need to do in order to address climate change. The textbook solution to climate change is to lower emissions and implement sustainable practices across the board. In reality, climate change requires a multifaceted approach if we wish to overcome it.
Overconsumption absolutely contributes to climate change and needs to be addressed, but we need a wide lens for climate change as a whole. Trying to reduce overconsumption doesn’t completely solve our dependency on unsustainable practices, after all. Yet, this isn’t all to say that tackling overconsumption isn’t something we should still keep in our field of view.
Overall, lowering overconsumption isn’t the end-all-be-all solution to our climate problems and overuse of resources. Trying to reduce overconsumption is still an important part of the equation! The idea of lowering overconsumption may seem daunting though, especially given the idea that addressing overconsumption means doing without, but this doesn’t have to be the reality. We don’t need to maintain scarcity mindsets, but individual action does matter! So, let’s move on and talk about 10 simple ways you can reduce overconsumption.
Easy ways to reduce overconsumption:
Overall, becoming a mindful consumer is key to reducing your overconsumption and something we should all strive to get better at. Though the simple answer to overconsumption is to just consume less, that isn’t always practical. So, listed below, are easy and realistic ways you can reduce overconsumption on an individual level.
Shop locally
Shopping locally is a great way to not only support your community but also cut down on resources. Shopping locally reduces the environmental costs of transportation and packaging. So, shop locally to help the environment and your community thrive! To find local businesses to support I suggest exploring your area, first and foremost. Supporting farmers’ markets or pop-ups are great places to support local vendors too. You can also use tools like Locally to explore specific things you may be looking for at nearby retailers.
Support sustainable brands
When you can’t shop locally, choose to support sustainable brands. More often than not these brands use resources more efficiently and also support sustainability initiatives. Plus, these items are better quality than non-ethical products because they’re made slowly and designed to last longer. So, supporting sustainable and ethical brands is a great way to reduce overconsumption when you need to buy something new and are unable to get the things you’re looking for from local businesses.
Avoid single-use products
Environmentally speaking, it’s better to invest in reusable products because the resources used to make that product are used for longer than single-use products. I recommend taking inventory of the products you use and then finding reusable replacements as needed. Use too many disposable water bottles? Invest in a water filter and upcycle jars or get a reusable water bottle. Use disposable coffee filters? Invest in a French press. You get the picture!
Buy better
Buying less by buying better reduces consumption of resources and generates less waste. Research the things you’re buying, buy things with the intention of keeping them forever, and don’t fall for cheap prices and impulse buying. If you have the intention of buying better quality items they’ll be in your life for longer and therefore be a more efficient use of resources.
Eat more meatless meals
Animal agriculture and the fishing industry both have large impacts on the planet. Eating plant-based meals is, therefore, the most sustainable way to eat. Plants require less land and water than animal products and produce less pollution to cultivate! So, eating more meatless meals will reduce your overconsumption of the resources involved in agricultural practices. Get creative, try naturally plant-based foods or recipes, and focus on things you know you already like to make creating plant-centered foods more enjoyable and easy. Overall, start slow when incorporating more plant foods to help this habit become manageable long-term.
Meal plan and compost food scraps
Making a meal plan is the best way to make sure you’re not overbuying food. Plus, it also helps safeguard against food waste which is a huge resource strain. In tandem, being mindful of consuming all of the food we bring into our homes fights overconsumption and lessens the burden of food waste and food scarcity.
Wash your dishes more efficiently
We have limited fresh water, so it’s critical we find ways to use this resource more mindfully. One way is when washing dishes. If you hand wash your dishes, I suggest filling your sink with a little bit of water that you’ll use to wash all of your dishes. Once washed, quickly rinse everything off to keep things more efficient and avoid overconsumption of water. If you have a dishwasher you can save even more water but there are still ways to be more water-efficient, which I’ve outlined at the end of this post! In general, learning how to wash your dishes more efficiently – whatever your method – is an easy way to reduce overconsumption of water.
Upcycle your old clothes
The fashion industry has a huge environmental impact and fashion is something hard for many to not overconsume. Along with investing in quality pieces designed to last, you can also upcycle your old clothes to reduce overconsumption by giving new life to what you already have. You can do this in a variety of ways (I have some ideas outlined here!), but taking time to upcycle clothes creates a greater appreciation for these items and helps stretch the lasting power of resources that have already been used.
Ditch a lawn in favor of a native garden
If you have a yard, creating a native garden helps use less resources. Native plants use less water, attract more pollinators, and bring more biodiversity into the area. These are all net positives for the environment and reduce overconsumption of resources, so this is an easy choice to make if you are able and want a creative way to reduce overconsumption!
Stay mindful
Mindfulness may be one of the most important ways we can reduce overconsumption! If you stay mindful and designate a purpose for everything in your life, you’ll want for less and remove yourself from the endless cycle of desire we’ve put ourselves in. Creating a healthy relationship with the stuff you have removes the unhealthy obsession with “keeping up” and gives you the freedom to foster self-development productively.
Trying to reduce overconsumption can seem intimidating, but we can all be part of the solution!
Tackling excessive consumption is paramount to start uncoupling ourselves from the toxicity of our consumerist society. Generally, we can focus on being a mindful consumer, support ethical businesses and actions, and shift our perspectives on what is a need and what is a want. Specifically, you can try the above ideas to reduce overconsumption. Doing these things in tandem with adopting other sustainable practices in our lives will help get us to where we need to be for an equitable future.
Overconsumption isn’t a straightforward problem, but it’s an easy one to address and find solutions for. To reduce overconsumption, think about ways you can be a more sustainable consumer and commit to following through. We don’t need to be perfect, but trying to do our part and striving to be the good you want to see in the world is all that’s needed to see positive change.