Why Is Excessive Consumerism A Problem?

The year is 2022, and we are heading for trouble. Climate change is very real, and we are feeling the effects rearing its ugly head and manifesting in uncontrollable fires, extreme weather patterns, and rising temperatures.

Published February 2, 2022

Our growing population and unsustainable consumption habits have led to an acceleration in climate change. Simply put, we are consuming too much. Our landfills struggle with the amount of trash we generate while we continue to buy even more.

During the 2020-2021 pandemic, e-commerce sales shot up from 16% to 19%, with the online retail industry worth now a whopping $26.7 trillion.

Consumerism becomes excessive when it encompasses products that we do not need. When we begin to buy more, the consumption culture engulfs us and makes buying superfluous, unnecessary stuff look normal and natural.

Over-consumption is a waste of resources. Not only will it drain your wallet, it drains the planet of valuable resources like water and trees while the production, shipping, and eventual disposal increases our carbon footprint. 

Keeping up with the Jones often leads to bigger houses, more stylish clothes, more advanced technology, and fancier cars. Buying more often results in a desire for more, promising social status and supposed happiness. However, in stark contrast to excessive consumerism, an increasing number of people choose a simple, minimal life with the bare necessities they need. Go minimal! Your wallet and your planet will thank you for it. 

The Rise Of Consumerism

Traced back to the rise of capitalism back in the 16th century, consumerism intensified because of the expanding middle class embracing luxury products. Together with the increasing interest in fashion, politics and economics were seen to contribute to capitalist competition.

Profits and trade were at the core of each country’s agenda, while colonialism was also a significant contributor to mass consumerism. The industrial revolution provided ample opportunity for businesses to expand and start mass producing products on massive scales due to the use of machines.

The consumerist culture continues to rage on today in both developed and developing countries. Advertisements saturate the media, while the consumerist culture continues to encourage spending on luxury items such as clothes, shoes, the latest gadgets, and cars.

The consumerist culture continues to rage on today in both developed and developing countries. Advertisements saturate the media, while the consumerist culture continues to encourage spending on luxury items such as clothes, shoes, the latest gadgets, and cars.

Consumers are pressured to buy goods and services to keep up with the latest trends, while the search for better products is never-ending. Personal debt levels are rising globally, indicating more people than ever consuming on impulse or lacking adequate financial planning. Debt can result in a reduced mental capacity due to stress and depression.

Money issues have also been linked to increased suicide rates, instability in relationships and a risk to emotional security. Thankfully, many people are embracing more minimal living and working towards a kinder, happier way of consumption. 

Fast Fashion

Broadly speaking, fast fashion is defined as the inexpensive, mass-produced clothing manufactured in response to global fashion trends. The trendy catwalk styles and celebrity clothing are constantly produced to keep up with the global demand.

85% of the plastic pollution found in the ocean comes from microfibers used in clothes. 

The fast fashion industry was created in the 20th century when manufacturing costs became more affordable due to the growing popularity of synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon. Fast fashion benefits consumers who are often offered the latest trendy apparel at affordable prices.

However, fast fashion is plagued with human and environmental problems such as low wages, exploitative labor and lack of environmental responsibility.

However, fast fashion is plagued with human and environmental problems such as low wages, exploitative labor and lack of environmental responsibility.

The cotton industry is one of the most significant polluters on the planet. Cotton farming requires a large amount of pesticides and chemicals, polluting waterways and the soil in developing countries that often have little to no protection from contamination.

The World Health Organisation released a study linking about 20,000 individuals living near cotton farms with cancer, miscarriages, and congenital disabilities. 

In addition, cotton requires massive amounts of water to produce. It takes 2,700 liters of water to produce a single t-shirt! Despite the vast environmental cost of cotton, most end up in landfills.

The textile industry is often demonized for its violations on human rights. 93% of textile manufacturers don’t pay a fair wage to their employees, while 80% of women employees continue to receive significantly lower wages than the male employees. 

Glass, Paper, and Plastic

Glass can be recycled an infinite number of times without degrading its quality. A glass bottle takes 4,000 years or more to break down, even more if it ends up in a landfill. More than 28 billion glass bottles end up in landfills each year in the United States alone. 

The US uses 100 billion cardboard boxes each year, and 680 pounds of paper in an office. 70% of all office waste is made up of paper, while 1 billion trees worth of paper is discarded each year.Recycling one ton of paper saves 7,000 gallons of water while a recycled cardboard box consumes 75% of the energy compared to producing a new box. 

2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away every hour in the US, with only 23% ending up being recycled.

Food Waste 

Perhaps one of the greatest signs of overconsumption is food waste. Between 33% and 50% of food produced worldwide is never eaten, with up to 95% of wasted food heading to landfills. Over $1 trillion worth of food ends up in landfills where they release methane gas as they decompose.

Methane is the second largest greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and up to 28 times more potent. According to the EPA, the US wastes 30% to 40% of all food produced, equalling 34 million tons equating to roughly 108 billion pounds and $161 billion. 

In the UK, the average family throws away 22% of their weekly food, worth £730 per year. In the US, that number is staggering $2,275 each year! All this while roughly 700 million of the world’s population suffer from malnutrition and starvation.  

In the UK, the average family throws away 22% of their weekly food, worth £730 per year. In the US, that number is staggering $2,275 each year! All this while roughly 700 million of the world’s population suffer from malnutrition and starvation.  

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