Commercialism & Stuff – Not So Green

You can recycle, you can drive a hybrid, you can even use solar power for all your power needs, but overall, when it comes to people in America, one of the largest green issues is by far consumerism. People need some stuff it’s true, but we don’t really need all we have. Some pure wants are totally reasonable, but to always be buying new and better products is costly both to our wallets and the planet. Downsizing your stuff and stuff habits is smart and green.

Being an overly avid consumer is not so green because:

• It creates a need to use more material to make products.
• It creates a need to more energy resources to make products – and not many of those energy resources are green.
• When non-renewable energy sources are used, it creates pollution to make these products.
• It takes gas to ship said products from plant to company and then more gas to get them to your home.
• Packaging for products creates all the same issues noted above.
• When you have a lot of stuff you need a place to store it and living large is terrible green behavior. BIG old houses create a huge and negative eco-impact.
• Many products are recyclable but on the flip side, many aren’t. Furthermore, lots of products are a mix of recyclable and non-recyclables, which creates an issue for recycling centers and consumers. Even further on the flip side, research shows that even when a product is recyclable, people just plain aren’t recycling.

Simplicity is green. Living within your means is greener than living outside of them. Living with less junk around is considerably greener than always making purchase. If you’ve never considered the impact stuff has on your world, here are some resources:

Your Money or Your Life: book about transforming your relationship with money, stuff, and time. While this book is not green exactly, it naturally heads that way. It pushes for a more authentic, more people based, less materialistic life and offers the tools you need to make this change.

The Circle of Simplicity: book about the overwhelming need for stuff. Plus tips about how to get rid of the stuff you have (and don’t need), how to buy less, living your passion, and clearing space, both in your mind and home.

Stuff owns you – a classic little essay that’s a must read for anyone considering clearing out their stuff.

Coming up sometime soon, we’ll take a look at some other ways to beat consumer issues and keep it green.

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