Can Sustainability and Consumerism Coexist?
Are we really doing our part by buying reusable bags and metal straws?
We all know the state of the world we live in today. Global temperatures are increasing quickly, sea levels are rising at an unprecedented rate, and natural disasters are occurring more frequently than ever. As a result, the topic of sustainability is at the forefront of our society, and companies and individuals alike are being forced to rethink their habits in support of sustainability.
But the definition of a company is to be focused on profits, which means the more they sell, the more they earn. Can companies, and even environmentally-conscious companies, truly be sustainable if their business model depends on consumerism?
Consumerism is defined as the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable, or a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods.
The truth is, we all need to consume certain level of goods and services to survive. The problem is, that we’ve grossly surpassed the sustainable level of consumption, to the point where most of us in developed countries are living in excess. In fact, according to a United Nations report, we have tripled our consumption of natural resources in the past 40 years. Is this level of consumption based on necessity or luxury?
Think about the unworn clothes in your closet, of which you only regularly pick out 5–6 outfits. The latest iPhone model that you just got your hands on, even though your previous model was working just fine. What about the shoes, bags, or even expired snacks collecting dust in your cupboards? These are all symptoms of our unhealthy habit of consumerism, where we have been brainwashed into purchasing for the sake of purchasing. If we really take stock of our possessions, what we’ll realize is that we’ve gotten so used to living in a world of excess that we regularly overestimate the amount of essentials that we need to survive. Regularly consuming more than we need, and wasting whatever we can’t.
You might be thinking, “Okay, I am pretty guilty of buying more than I need to. But, at least I’m being environmentally friendly about it! I’ve been using metal straws and 100% organic cotton bags to reduce my impact to the environment!”
The thing about that is, you had to purchase the metal straws and that 100% organic environmentally-friendly cotton grocery bag. While I admit, in terms of reusability, these are much better than their disposable one-time use counterparts, the fact is that energy, water, and raw materials were used to manufacture them. And often times, we use more resources to manufacture these reusable items than their disposable counterparts. If we, ironically, use reusable item only once, feel good about it for a moment, and then never use it again, then isn’t that equivalent to treating it as disposable? In fact, considering the additional resources used to manufacture them, using reusables only once is way worse than using disposables.
The way I see it, the better solution would be consuming less in the first place. Instead of using a metal straw or a plastic straw, how about no straws? Last I checked, we drink a lot of beverages straight from the cup so I really don’t see why straws are necessary in the first place. And instead of going out to buy that specially manufactured, environmentally-friendly, ethically-sourced, organically-farmed cotton, why not look under the pile of old bags that you have and repurpose them into grocery bags?
The only way we can significantly contribute to sustainability is to minimize our consumption of frivolous goods. Granted, it’s no easy task. But I find that repurposing or upcycling the things I already own has opened my eyes to just how much unnecessary stuff I have collected over the years. Reusing them, instead of buying something newer and better, is my direct contribution to the environment. And even my wallet is thanking me for that.
