Everyone on this planet is a consumer. We use our environment’s resources to live but now it’s commonplace, and often encouraged, to live in excess. Thanks to industrialization, we’re way passed the point of using resources just to survive. Instead, we’ve been led down an extremely wasteful path. With the climate crisis only becoming more dire, it’s time we dive in and discuss the root of the issue – overconsumption.
What is overconsumption?
The idea of overconsuming is simple and essentially is when too much of something is used. When talking about the environment, overconsumption can be defined as using resources that cannot be replenished or are unable to withstand the rate they’re being used. In other words, overconsumption is the unsustainable use of resources, goods, and services that our planet provides.
There are two basic categories a resource can fall into, non-renewable and renewable. As the names suggest these are resources that either have a finite amount, think coal or natural gas, or are resources that can be replenished after use, like food and solar energy. When a nonrenewable resource is used up in an area it’s likely gone forever. However, renewable resources can also be used up if we don’t sustain them properly.
The environment pays the price for our overconsumption.
Our linear system of consumerism exploits natural resources. In fact, one-third of the natural resources available to us have been already used up. Yet, 99% of the materials inputted into our system are still trashed within 6 months! These habits put enormous strain on the environment and are responsible for many of our planet’s problems.
Our environment’s natural systems are unable to cope with the excessive use of its resources. The things we buy and the activities we partake in contribute to emissions, waste, and exploitation. This then leads to environmental degradation or, in serious cases, environmental collapse. The higher the consumption, the higher the environmental costs associated with our lifestyles.
It’s hard to realize the amount of stress our consumption habits put on the environment. There are externalized costs from industry that we don’t even see! Prices are kept low because the true cost can’t be captured in the price tag. The prices of goods would be a lot different if we didn’t outsource the exploitation of resources and labor.
Due to the inevitable harmful effects of overconsumption on us and our planet, we must examine our consumerist habits! The bottom line is you can’t have a linear system using finite resources indefinitely. Our habits of overconsumption are driving climate change.
Examples of overconsumption:
- Buying too much produce for your household to use up before it spoils.
- Getting placeholder furniture that you intend to get rid of when you find something better.
- Overfishing to the point of population collapse.
- Participating in the Stanley Cup obsession, even though you already have one or even multiple reusable water bottles already.
- Regularly using single-use products.
- Overbuying fast fashion.
- Upgrading to the latest phone model every year.
- Corporations integrating planned obsolescence into their products.
But we’re told to consume, how can it be bad?
A huge part of modern society involves the consumption of goods. Consumer culture is thriving. We’re told that consuming is critical for the economy, and buying more is our civic duty. We’re taught that our worth is measured through consumption.
It’s hard not to get caught up in it when we’re taught that not only will things bring us contentment but also likeability, connectedness, and engagement. We’re constantly bombarded with advertisements and trends to get us to want to buy and have more.
But what if these are all marketing tactics? What if we don’t need what we’re told to need? After all, planned obsolescence is now the status quo. Things are designed to be cheap and disposable to get you to buy more. We are consequently decimating the finite resources we have and creating a huge waste problem that we can’t keep up with.
Our actions have clear consequences for our planet, ultimately, the environment is sensitive to the changes we make to it. We alter landscapes and harm biodiversity when we consume resources at an unsustainable rate. Plus, some of our resources inherently harm the environment once harvested, like natural gas emissions, and accelerate climate change even further.
It’s easy to forget that consuming at such a high level is made possible by exploitation and destruction. Since, again, we outsource things like labor, production, and resource collection to stay ignorant of the true costs of overconsumption.
So, is the answer not to consume anything?
Despite the obvious problems with overconsumption does that mean we need to go full send and not consume anything? Well, yes and no. While it would be amazing if we all adopted a “waste not want not” mentality it’s not practical. For example, not everyone has the land to grow their own food so buying grocery items will always be necessary. Furthermore, things like tech are so ingrained in our society that it’s seemingly impossible to get away from. We’re always going to need things to some capacity.
Is there any solution to overconsumption?
Overconsumption is built into our institutions, and until larger systemic changes are made to focus on large-scale sustainability, the answer must be to just consume less. Take the emotion out of consumption and make more informed choices that’ll lead to a long-term decline in overall consumption.
Now you may be saying, won’t reducing consumption have negative societal effects? Well, what if the solution to balance our economic and environmental needs is to not buy more but instead to buy better? I’d argue that within the confines of our capitalistic society, we must become better consumers to avoid the pitfalls of overconsumption. That can at least provide workable solutions to overconsumption while working with the constructs of our society.
How can we become better consumers?
There are a multitude of ways we can become better consumers and there isn’t a one-size fits all recommendation. We all have different needs, after all. But by being mindful consumers we can at least try to navigate the pitfalls of overconsumption in a healthy and deliberate way.
In general, focus on buying less by making more intentional and thoughtful purchases. Try to buy higher-quality goods that are meant to last or that can be mended if they should break. Finally, if something is no longer serving you, get creative and find ways to extend its shelf life by repurposing, recycling, or donating instead of throwing away.
Don’t buy into fast fashion trends, don’t buy that new lipstick that is only slightly different than the others you still haven’t used up, and don’t get something as a placeholder intended to be thrown out once you find the next best thing. Again, resist the urge to be an emotionally-driven consumer. Once you put this initial effort in you can build up your ability to be a mindful consumer and, eventually, it’ll be second nature.
Lifestyle tips for avoiding overconsumption:
Despite naturally being consumers, there are plenty of practical lifestyle tips we can utilize to become more aware and sustainable. So, listed below are ways I try to avoid overconsumption in my life that may be helpful for you. Use these ideas as either a jumping-off point or simple steps to take toward being a better consumer.
- Don’t go grocery shopping hungry.
- Find ways to avoid food waste, including but not limited to meal planning, diversifying your meals, storing produce properly, or trying out creative recipes.
- Focus on reusable products instead of single-use ones.
- Keep a wishlist instead of impulse buying.
- Prioritize needs over wants. For wants, make time to research each item and sit with the idea for 1-2 weeks to make sure you’re actually set on wanting that exact thing.
- Fill your time with hobbies instead of shopping or dreaming of items you want.
- Stay mindful or learn about the true cost of something before buying. For example, before buying a shirt consider the material, if it was made ethically or if the company demonstrates social and environmental responsibility, how far it has to travel to be shipped to you, etc.
- Shop second-hand and be patient with waiting to find exactly what you’re looking for.
- Support local or ethical businesses.
- Eat in a planet-friendly or more ethical way. For me, I eat a vegan diet and support local farms whenever possible.
- Touch grass, i.e. limit screen time to avoid comparison or outside influence for consumption.
- Choose experiences instead of things to build relationships or show those in your life (including yourself) you care.
- Participate in clothing swaps, even if you just do so within your family (I love doing this with my mom and siblings!). You can also participate in clothing swaps or contribute to buy-nothing groups in your community.
- Build skills like sewing, gardening, and cooking.
- Reflect on past purchases to find insight into what may or may not be good purchases.
To avoid overconsumption, be a better consumer.
In the end, the true answer to overconsumption is to realize and understand the environmental, financial, and mental burden of excessive consumerism. Casual consumption leads to clutter, strains our finances, perpetuates the time-for-money exchange, and often doesn’t even bring greater fulfillment to our lives. So, it’s up to us to find better ways to use our money and time to pull ourselves out of the pit that is overconsumption.
By finding ways to be intentional, we’ll preserve and more responsibly manage our resources. This will then help us work towards mitigating the negative effects of overconsumption. I implore you to continue seeking out information to remain aware of how your actions influence the world. Learn to love and appreciate what you already have! Let’s shift the focus away from finding purpose in consumption and instead seek out self-fulfillment.