Hello everyone, Rui Qi and Siew Yen here, and welcome to our blog! Throughout the semester, we shall be delving into the various pollutive aspects of consumerism – its potential sources, implications, and some intriguing innovations to combat this phenomenon!
A Cause of Concern
But first, why consumerism? Well, perhaps a quote adapted from the book ‘The Rise of Consumerism’ (2004) could shed some light on the issue:
“Variations on this theme were endless. Buy toothpaste to make your teeth white. Buy mouthwash to eliminate bad breath. Buy shampoo to remove dandruff. Smoke cigarettes to look sophisticated. Above all, leave last year’s hat or dress at home, because wearing either would constitute embarrassing evidence of inability to buy.” (Emphasis added)
Does this quote resonate with you? Do you recall the times when you were bombarded with advertisements of all mediums? From social media platforms, magazines, and even on public transportation! The seduction of consumption seems inescapable, as it effectively masks it’s incredibly pollutive nature beneath the underbelly of its glitz and glam. The desire for better living standards is often synonymous with the purchase of material goods, furthering the trend of consumerism and the ever-growing base of consumers.
As aptly reported by the WorldWatch Institute in 2014, approximately more than 1.7 billion people worldwide belong to the ‘consumer class’ – a population characterised by the relentless desire for the accumulation of (non-)essential goods and services. Just imagine the millions of tonnes of waste produced to support our lifestyles and how they have increased since then.
For one, the use of plastics – a frontliner of criticism by environmentalists – has soared from 15 million tonnes in 1964 to 311 million tonnes in 2014, and it is expected to double in the next 20 years. According to the UN Environment, only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, and a whopping 79% are accumulating in landfills and natural environments. Not forgetting the by-products produced during its manufacturing process, the extensive consumption of plastics around the world is extremely concerning. However, plastic products constitute only a minute slice of the pollution pie – a plethora of culprits await nabbing! Other sources explored in the following weeks include the tourism industry, textiles, electronic waste, and sports.
Stay Tuned!
That being said, it would be an insurmountable feat for us to encompass everything relating to consumerism and pollution in this 13 week blog. However, we hope to provide valuable insights on the different and unexpected sources of pollution stemming from consumerism. Through this, we aim to raise awareness about the need for conscious consumption while dishing out innovative mitigation methods that have been introduced around the world. Lastly, we shall document our individual efforts in hopes of inspiring our fellow readers to adopt a less pollutive lifestyle!
Before we bid you goodbye, here is a video to get you thinking: what does consumerism mean to you and in what ways have we (unknowingly) contributed to it?
Although our blog advises against consumerism, we hope you will stay and benefit from consuming our little nuggets of wisdom! Till next time!
References:
Mayell, H. (2004). As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers. National Geographic. Available from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2004/01/consumerism-earth-suffers/ [Accessed 15 August 2020]
Ricci, D. M. (2004) “The Rise of Consumerism,” in Good Citizenship in America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 137–169. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511617386.006.
UN Environment. (n.d.). Our Planet is Drowning in Plastic Pollution. Available from https://www.unenvironment.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/ [Accessed 15 August 2020]
World Economic Forum. (2016). The New Plastics Economy. Rethinking the future of plastics. Available from http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_New_Plastics_Economy.pdf [Accessed 15 August 2020]
Images:
National Geographic. (2019). The world’s plastic pollution crisis explained. Available from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/plastic-pollution/ [Accessed 15 August 2020]