Did you know that consumerism, indirectly, is the biggest problem that affects the environment? The more we consume, more natural resources are extracted from the planet and, in fact, today 50% more natural resources are being extracted than 30 years ago. And not only increases the use of resources, but also increases the generation of waste and pollution. If we continue with the current rhythm of consumption, we would need 3 planets such as Earth to continue supplying us. It is in us and we direct our lifestyle towards responsible consumption, which retains the natural resources and quality of these.
If you want to meet how consumerism affects the environmentcontinue with this reading, because in this article of Ecologiaverde it will be shown what are the consequences of consumerism in the environment and some examples of consumerism.
What is consumerism and its causes
Consumerism is reflected in the ABUSIVE PRODUCT ACQUISITIONwhich are not always necessary to meet the vital needs of the human being. Next, what are the Causes of consumerism:
- Policy: policies that do not promote responsible consumption.
- Economic System: The capitalist system is based on production to offer goods and services in the market.
- Globalization: It allows the products to move globally breaking with the territorial limits. This makes us all obtain products that are manufactured anywhere on the planet, therefore, demand increases and with it production and consumerism. Therefore, globalization has its good side and its bad side, both for society and for the planet.
- Social causes: The population’s need to acquire products that give a certain social status or think that acquiring a product is a source of happiness.
- Marketing and Advertising: Through marketing and advertising, try to increase the consumption of products, for this they use advertisements and campaigns that give value to a product, creating the need for the consumer to obtain it to satisfy and this, sometimes, it happens even if it really does not need it.
- Fashion: For a while a product takes a great value thanks to the marketing and advertising it has, and this product is loved by the entire population. In the end this value is momentary, because after a certain time another similar product will come, but with some improvement or novelty and, as a consequence, the new one will begin to be acquired by the population.
- Programmed obsolescence: Through this, the useful life of a product is programmed so that it loses its functionality and cannot be repaired, with the consequence of having to acquire another. Learn more about what is the obsolescence programmed in this other post.
- Financing: The consumption incitement is so much, that the financing option is chosen so that people who cannot acquire a product at the time for not being able to pay it in a single time, have the “advantage” of being able to acquire it by paying it in comfortable deadlines. This is something fantastic for products that are really necessary to cover vital functions, but the problem is that it has long been used in society to cover the cost of buying products that are not and with it the mass production is promoted.
How consumerism affects the environment – consequences
He Abusive consumption in the environmentextracting their resources, it is increasing and there are many arguments against consumerism that can be given by the impact they have on the environment. These are some of the consequences that the environment is suffering.
- Loss of the quantity and quality of the water.
- Soil pollution.
- Soil alteration.
- Deforestation.
- Air pollution.
- Loss of biodiversity.
Next, these are explained negative consequences of consumerism for the environment.
Loss of quantity and quality of water
The loss of quantity and quality of water is given by the Water waste discharge that generate their production many of the industries that work at high levels due to consumerism. Also, this loss happens throughout the garbage that arrives in rivers and seas for the irresponsibility of people by throwing them in places not suitable for it or, due to oil spills and other substances. All these waste is generated in a great amount due to High level of consumerism That there are today.
We recommend you read this other article about the causes and consequences of water pollution.
Soil modification and pollution
The ground ends up contaminated because of the garbage accumulation for not having good urban garbage collection management, the use of herbicides and pesticide in Intensive agriculture or mineral extraction To obtain new raw materials that will end up being part of a product. All this are activities related to consumerism that affect the environment, but we cannot leave behind all those constructions that modify the soil to offer new homes or hotels.
In this link you can see more information about soil pollution: causes, consequences and solutions.
Deforestation, one of the consequences of consumerism in the most serious environment
The massive deforestation that affects the environment, is caused by the need to obtain raw materials in huge amountsas Wood or soilto produce more products or build. In addition, it is also done to clear the area to exploit it through intensive livestock and agriculture satisfying demand globally. This means that, for example, the soy that is cultivated intensively in Argentina, arrives in Europe.
Know more about this topic with this other post about the causes of deforestation.
Air pollution
Air pollution is given by various pollutants and from different sources, but an example is the increase in CO2 emissions and polluting particles To produce energy from the burning of fossil fuels, which will serve for the production processes of many of the products that will enter the market to supply current consumerism levels.
We encourage you to read this other article about the types of air pollution.
Loss of biodiversity
Industries are usually built on the outskirts of urban centers, making this affect the fauna and flora that inhabits those areas. In addition, the construction of homes for the tourism sector in natural areas are also a threat. In short, Consumerism causes us to spend a lot of natural resourcesoverexploitation, and also we pour more garbage into nature, so this directly affects living beings from different places, causing a serious loss of biodiversity.
We recommend you take a look at this other article to know more about the loss of biodiversity, its causes and consequences.
How to be a responsible consumer – Tips
For be a responsible consumerabove all, we must be aware of our consumption habits and the impact they have on the environment. Next, some tips will be shown to become responsible consumers and alleviate the effects of consumerism:
- Avoid single -use products, that is, to use and pull. These are usually used when we celebrate a birthday, which for comfort we turn to this type of products that, in addition, cannot be recycled.
- Betting on traditional markets, many of the food we consume could buy them in bulk. With bulk purchase, the generation of new waste is reduced, since this way of buying does not need new containers, since we can reuse the same every time we are going to buy.
- Buy a product really when necessary.
- When we break an object, appliance or technological apparatus, first see if it can be repaired before choosing a new one.
- Using the waste to create new products from design and imagination, this process called UPCyCling is increasingly known, and is ultimately a way of reusing.
- Stop buying clothes compulsively, thus avoiding CO2 emissions and water spending.
- Reduce meat consumption and opt for food from local or ecological origin.
- Make efficient use of water and energy.
Here we leave you more information about what is responsible consumption and here you can see two videos of our YouTube channel about being a responsible consumer and another on the environmental impact of excessive consumption.
If you want to read more articles similar to How consumerism affects the environmentwe recommend that you enter our category of other ecology.
