It’s no secret that we live in a consumer society. Somewhere along the way, we’ve come to value the ability to buy things we don't necessarily need.
For some reason, humans really like to buy things. How can we make it so we only purchase the things we need, and is that even doable? If it happened, I’m sure we could all agree the environment would be much better off.
The problem is that we don’t have a limitless supply of goods.
This is apparent if we look closer at the linear process of consumerism. It goes like this:
Extraction – production – distribution – consumption and finally, disposal.
This linear process is not sustainable on a planet that does not have infinite resources.
We have already used over one-third of the planet’s natural resources in just three decades. Shockingly, 99% of the total material processed through the system becomes waste after just six months of use. Much of this goes into landfill or is incinerated which is highly toxic.
I’m not saying we should only buy the basic necessities we need to survive. I love to buy a new well-fitting pair of jeans just as much as my neighbour with the fuel-guzzling pickup truck. But things do need to change.
The power of minimalism.
I think a perfect example of a positive change is minimalism. Its popularity has seemingly shifted consumer trends towards buying quality over quantity. Buying less is now more socially acceptable. Many people don’t mind splurging more on a plain white t-shirt if they know where it came from and how it was made.
The main idea behind minimalism (or how I see it), is that it’s okay to buy things, but we need to think about it first. Because in doing so, we inherently buy less stuff, and buy more quality items that last longer.
I first heard about minimalism after watching ‘Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things‘. It’s a movement that is anti fast fashion, fast food and pretty much against ‘fast’ anything. Since learning more, I’ve become way more conscious of what I buy, and I tend to research where items come from first. I’m also more inclined to buy something if it’s local, especially given the current situation.
Making it work as a conscious consumer.
When it comes to fashion, I think being a conscious consumer requires really knowing your style. I’m now questioning whether I’m actually going to get much wear out of something before I buy.
For instance, I recently went into a shop to buy a new shirt for my birthday. I found a few things I liked, but nothing that I loved. So I walked out, I didn’t even try anything on. That would not have happened a few years ago, I would’ve bought something with the ‘hope’ that it would work out.
Instead, I went into a second-hand store and found a shirt with a 50% off tag. It was something that I could wear for work and evenings out. And I had also already spent time thinking about buying this same item. I felt justified in my purchase—and it cost me $4.10!
The “green sheen”.
There are a lot more sustainable tags on products these days. There’s information about where the item came from, who made it and other on-trend ‘sustainable’ words and phrases. However, a lot of this is just greenwashing. The appearance of eco-friendly when in reality, it’s just a marketing tactic for unethical companies. And unfortunately, this makes it harder to tell the difference between those who genuinely care, and those who are just after profit.
Perhaps it will take a bit longer for more companies to fully adopt.
When it comes to my own journey as a consumer, I know I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. Sometimes (not too often) I’ll order a takeaway coffee in a disposable cup because I’ve left my reusable cup at home. And when I toss that biodegradable cup in the bin, the guilt is real. Because deep down I know it’s going to be a while before that thing actually degrades.
But I’m working on being a more conscious consumer. And I think that is what it’s all about.
