Overconsumption - Who is She?

I’m sure you’ve all seen the WILD videos of people quite literally fighting over the latest Stanley Cups. Sure we can praise Stanley as a company for their marketing efforts for quite literally making a cup trendy - who knew that could be a thing?! Well, it’s a thing now and in our era of global boiling, it has me thinking about the environmental implications of these micro trends.

⛽️ Consumption. Who is She and where did she come from?

Our Westernized consumption habits have complex origins. There are a few key player that kickstarted the consumption we see now; industrial revolution, captialist and market economy, rise of the middle class, advertising and media influence, globalisation, consumer credit and debt and the advance of tech. Consumption of products isn’t inherently bad for the planet. In fact, buying from small local businesses is an important part of a circular economy. The problem lies within over consumption. We cannot run a linear system on a finite planet.

🌏 What Does This Mean for the Planet?

Over consumption is harmful for the planet for several interconnected reasons. Primarily, it depletes the earths finite resources, pollutes our ecosystems, produces a huge amount of Greenhouse Gases, uses a lot of energy which is generally powered by fossil fuels and exacebates social inequalities. American’s represent 4.4% of the world’s population, yet use 30% of the world’s resources. According to the EPA, the average American produces 4.9 pounds of waste per person per day. The majority of these products headed to landfill will have only been used a handful of times and take years to degrade.

🥳 The 5 R’s: A Sustainable Solution

Thankfully, there is a solution. Understanding that products that are mass marketed to you through social media are created to make you feel the FOMO effect. Psychologically, you start feeling less than for not having a Stanley Cup or Air Pod Max’s. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. We cannot meet our Net Zero targets purely with renewable energy, there needs to be a change in consumption behaviour. So every time you feel the need to shop think of the 5 R’s:

1. Reduce what you need/use

2. Reuse what you have

3. Recycle what you can’t reuse

4. Refuse what you don’t need

5. Rot (or compost) what you can

One of my fave small brands to support! Born out of South Australia, the brand was created to inspire people to get out an explore our big backyard. Salty Aura is completely against plastic pollution, with all of their packaging being compostable. Each one of their beautiful rugs are made from 100% recyled cotton from post-consumer waste. Ten trees are planted with every purchase, a portion of your purchase goes towards environmental charities and the brand is climate-neutral and B-corp certified. Small brands are the best!

🥾 Outdoor recreation contributed $1.1 trillion to the US economy in 2022. That’s more than oil, gas and mining combined!

🥳 The EU aims to cut emissions to 90% by 2040.

❄️ The Texas grid isn’t failing this winter thanks to renewable energy.