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There's too many videos.
There's too many influencers.
There's too many podcasts.
There's too many think pieces.
There's too many newsletters.
And most of it is just trying to get people to buy more s**t.
In certain circles online (and offline), you can hear the word ‘overconsumption’ being thrown around quite a lot. Often, it is used correctly to draw attention to an actual problem of overconsumption, to raise awareness. Yet, there are some cases where people throw the term around without fully understanding what it means, and thus, how to use it.
So, what is overconsumption? University of the Built Environment explains it as “The excessive use of resources and generation of waste beyond the Earth’s carrying capacity, often driven by unsustainable production and consumption patterns, resulting in environmental degradation, social inequality, and resource depletion.”
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Essentially, it is a detrimental thing that, unfortunately, many of us take part in, sometimes even without realizing it. Or by realizing, but ignoring the negative impact.
For instance, take a peek at today’s list – it’s full of various trends that many people deem to be the face of overconsumption. It’s quite likely that you have dipped your toes in at least one of them. Maybe you bought a Stanley cup, made a balloon arch, or shopped on Temu. Nowadays, overconsumption is around every corner.
The biggest problem with it is that it impacts our Earth in a negative way. For all of the things we like to buy and use, we need the planet's resources to create them. And since we make things at such a fast pace, we use up those resources faster than they can regenerate. So, things such as constant resource extraction, pollution, and waste are at an all-time high.
That leads to grim predictions about the future. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says that by 2050, particulate matter-polluted air will end three times as many lives as it did in 2000.
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"So today I'm gonna be showing you a simple meal hack to make for your kiddos and hubby! Ok so first you're gonna wanna take a 5lb block of cheddar cheese and wrap it in bacon..."
We know it it all gets thrown out at the end and they know that we know, and that's why they keep doing it.
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Plastic in the ocean is expected to quadruple over that time. Also, the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and Biosphere estimates that global oil reserves could be entirely depleted by 2052. Doesn’t sound nice, does it?
If all that wasn’t enough, it can also harm our health. Already, near the Niger Delta, where a lot of resource extraction is happening, many people are suffering from breathing problems and chronic bronchitis. Plus, cancer rates there are much higher than in non-oil-producing parts of Nigeria. Terrifying stuff.
So, what can we do to stop it? Well, technically, a sad truth is that on a personal level, there isn’t anything you can do to stop the whole phenomenon. Of course, if you have any ideas, please fulfill them; you will help us all.
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Besides that, we can all still do small acts that make the situation even the littlest bit better. For example, reducing meat consumption, reducing the amount of purchases we make, or buying secondhand, and being mindful about energy consumption, to mention a few. You can always look for more ideas on what to do online. Sometimes, even a small act can make more of a difference than anticipated.
Do you have any more examples of overconsumption? Or maybe ideas on how to solve it? We want to hear it all in the comments!
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