Last week, we looked at strategies employed at a community/governmental level to combat pollution/consumerism. This week, we’ll explore some trending methods that have risen in popularity that we as individuals can attempt to reduce our environmental footprint!
The minimalism mantra – “Less is more”
Minimalism is not a new concept but has been popularised over recent years. Though it is regarded as a response to consumerism, it is not anti-consumerist (Dopierala, 2017) contrary to popular belief. Rather, it values simplicity and quality over quantity, removing the excessive and unnecessary in a material sense (The Minimalists, n.d.). Minimalism is personal and subjective as one achieves a balance and moderation in what they deem essential (Dopierala, 2017). Though we often imagine minimalists living with very few items, it is not necessarily equal to having a boring, empty and sterile lifestyle (The Minimalists, n.d.). In fact, minimalism attempts to shift our emphasis on compulsive consumption to the non-material enjoyments of life – the spiritual and being present with people that matter (The Minimalists, n.d.).
“What should be taken into account is proportion. Minimalists do not give up on consumption but they try to keep it within appropriate and reasonable limits. They reject greed and buying without thinking” [Mularczyk-Meyer, 2014: 93, cited in Dopierala, 2017].
Two weeks ago in lecture, Prof Taylor mentioned (along the lines) that curbing consumerism is most effective since everything we consume embodies and produces pollution in some form or another. This is extremely true as our blog has demonstrated thus far, that pollution is deeply embedded within everything we produce (especially the oil industry which underpins nearly every good) – whether via its production and distribution process, its means of disposal or as we use it. Since consumerism is linked to every form of pollution, then adopting a minimalist lifestyle could reduce a lot of air, water, soil, noise and light (and luxury) pollution and its knock-on environmental and social repercussions.
A minimalist lifestyle may entail the following (click on the links to our posts to find out more! We don’t have space to write out all the impacts here. Also note the list is not exhaustive):
- Walking, cycling and using public transport instead of driving → reduce noise pollution, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter etc.
- Choosing smaller houses which reduces the need for excessive furniture and high electricity consumption → reduces pollutants from electricity generation and the inputs (e.g. oil and textiles) needed to manufacture furniture
- Being more conscious in our food choices (e.g. not over-buying, sustainable options) → see here, here and here for pollution generated from agriculture and food
- Reducing other products we consume such as clothing, electronics and furniture → reducing associated pollution from textiles and e-waste
- Even non-essential services we consume such as leisure boat rides and touristy activities like the sky lanterns of Taiwan
“Kondo-ing”
I’m sure you have heard of Marie Kondo, a Japanese consultant known for the “KonMarie” Method to decluttering our homes. Though her website claims that her method is not about minimalism, many websites and analyses I found classify it under the minimalism umbrella. In essence, the KonMarie Method of tidying instructs people to go through our possessions, and only keep things which “spark joy” and things which “speak to your heart” (Weinswig, 2017).
The goal of tidying is to make room for meaningful objects, people and experiences. I can think of no greater happiness in life than being surrounded only by the things I love.” — Marie Kondo (KonMarie, 2020, emphasis added)
Marie Kondo has gained a sizable fanbase who follow her methods in reducing compulsive buying, simplifying their living space and gaining happiness. However, though it appears she advocates for minimalism, “Marie Kondo” has become a brand, seemingly hypnotising followers to buy her products in order to practice her method (Chayka, 2020). The very method to reduce consumption is being commodified – podcasts, videos, online courses and books (which sold over 7 million copies) (Chayka, 2020; KonMarie, 2020). There is even an entire “shop” section on her website (products which are not affordable to me, by the way).
Arguably, these may help sustain a minimalist lifestyle in the long run, but potentially persuades people into wanting to own these products as the possession of such seems to promise to bring us one step closer to achieving minimalism. Nevertheless, I am not completely familiar with the KonMarie Method and have never attended her online courses or read her book, and may be missing out on some details to make an accurate analysis.
What do you think of minimalism as a way to reduce consumerism and its pollution? Does it really help or does it potentially reinforce consumerism?
References:
Chayka, K. (2020). The empty promises of Marie Kondo and the craze for minimalism. The Guardian. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/03/empty-promises-marie-kondo-craze-for-minimalism [Accessed 31 October 2020].
Dopierala, R. (2017). Minimalism – a new mode of consumption? Przegląd Socjologiczny. 66(4), 67-83. Available from: 10.26485/PS/2017/66.4/4.
KonMarie (2020). The shop at KonMarie. Available from: https://shop.konmari.com/ [Accessed 31 October 2020].
The Minimalists (n.d.). Mnmlist: minimalist FAQs. Available from: https://mnmlist.com/minimalist-faqs/ [Accessed 31 October 2020].
Weinswig, D. (2017). Is minimalism the new normal? Marie Kondo is expanding KonMari to organize the world. Forbes. Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahweinswig/2017/08/09/is-minimalism-the-new-normal-marie-kondo-is-expanding-konmari-to-organize-the-world/#218b08a9a583 [Accessed 31 October 2020].
Images:
The Wallet Moth (2019). 8 easy steps that will show you how to be a minimalist. Available from: https://www.thewalletmoth.com/how-to-become-a-minimalist/ [Accessed 31 October 2020].