Consumerism is a fundamental call to action. It requires that consumers reevaluate their mindsets and change how they view themselves as consumers. This statement is based on various statistical analysis. Humans tend to consume resources that they now take as their own. Sagoff 1997 states that the average world overconsumption is around 80%. This leads to enormous waste, which in turn causes harm to all living things on the planet and sadly would lead to its destruction. The world’s amazing resources will end if they are not used. This is becoming more apparent as the years go by. Before we get into this topic, let’s first define consumerism.
Consumerism can be defined as the acquisition of goods and services by a society. It is a voluntary act to inherit or claim products. Normal human beings would have to eat in order to live on a daily basis. While we think we are intelligent thinkers, subconsciously we are still driven to domination. It is now expressed in the idea of unappeasable and sustainable economic growth as the solution to all our problems. ( Coghlan, 2009 ). The planet has suffered from the effects of the increase in consumerism. Clothing and apparel made from textiles and fashion industries require a large amount of energy, chemical, raw material, water, and other resources. An increase in consumerism could lead to “a shift away values of integrity. spirituality. and community.” Dr. Wei from University of SIM said. Madeline Levine, a US psychologist, also mentioned that consumerism may cause depression. Prof Calvert stated that people are working longer hours and accumulating punitive debt to fund their high-consumption lifestyles. This causes them to spend less time with family, friends, or community organizations. Baker (2016) states that some people believe that consumerism has eroded the foundations of the global society. Consumers need to eat to avoid becoming hungry. Wearing clothes daily is not only to preserve modesty but also because it allows us to keep up with current fashion trends. There are many uses for consumerism.
Every second of every day, everyone in the world consumes something. It is important to be aware of when consumption is being done in an unethical manner. It is important to understand what it is that encourages people to continue to indulge in unhealthful practices even though they know the consequences. We will be looking at several articles that support the open assertion of misuse of privileges in consumerism. The attachment begins with “Fashion”. What is fashion to you? Icon, trend, culture, etc. A writer says that fashion is essential or an important cause for breaking down barriers to freedom. She states, “Fashion, for me, is life.” I feel most alive when I’m wearing things that make me feel stronger, more creative, and more complicated. You can feel new and confident in your wardrobe.
Fashion is meant to make you feel present and alive. Medine (2018). I find it frustrating when fashion-minded people become too philosophical about fashion. According to the author, fashion can bring a sense of comfort and relief to one’s body. This is especially true if one is attached to a routine of wardrobe changing. These practices would be considered unhealthy. Is the consumer aware of the consequences and the long-term effects of excessive consumption on a large scale? Gunther ( 2016) reported that the fashion business is the 2nd largest polluter and is well-known to have a high water use. She also quotes H&M as being the industry’s most vocal advocate for recycling.
The Swedish firm launched a contest for 1 million euro to look for new ways to recycle old clothes. Worn Again, a company developing textile recycling technology, invested in the contest. Throwaway clothing culture is a result of people becoming so lost in their own selfishness that they don’t realize the negative consequences. The world we live in is not one that can be done quickly or easily. Everything must be made from scratch. According to Moulds (19.d), 170million children work in child labor, that is 11%, of the total global population. The International Labour Organisation estimates that these children make textiles for consumers in Europe and the USA.
Fast fashion continues to perpetuate child labor, despite the fact that it has been banned in many countries around the world. One can indulge deeper as statistics from the ILO prove that approximately 6 million children are being forced to labor. Are we aware of the dangers of our actions, but still compelled to purchase clothing? Technology is the next aspect of consumerism. Each person inherits the minimum of two gadgets on a per-diem basis. What about the older devices? What happens to the old devices? Do these electronic items release chemicals over the long-term? Boh (2018) acknowledges the fact that 60000 tonnes of electronic waste is generated in Singapore every year. According to the study of the United Nations University, Singapore is the second-largest e-waste generator in the region. It generated approximately 109,000 tonnes of waste (19.5kg per individual) in 2014. The Republic is now ahead of South Korea (17.3kg), Taiwan (18.6kg) and South Korea (15.9kg).
According to estimates, 44.7 million tons of electronic waste were generated worldwide in 2017. This is roughly equivalent to the 9 pyramids from Giza. This is a good reminder that not all wastage is acceptable. What do you do with all this waste? Can they be recycled? Are they being recycled? Nea surveys revealed that 60% of people don’t know how to properly dispose of electronic waste. These gadgets can often be traded in for or re-sold. They can also be thrown away or passed on to a courier man. All e-waste contains small amounts of hazardous materials, ranging from heavy metals such as mercury found in batteries and lead found in TV’s, to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons found in refrigerators. Many of these items end up in scrap traders or rag-andbone guys, who don’t have the necessary skills to recycle items safely. As a result they could accidentally release harmful chemicals to both the environment and to health. These chemicals can cause long-term damage to the nervous system, bones and reproductive system. These chemicals are non-biodegradable. They can also persist in the air for very long times.
Today’s world is characterized by a rapid pace of technological advancement. V. “Seenu” Srinivasan and Sang-Hoon Kim – assistant professor of marketing at Seoul National University – created a mathematical model which analyzes the sales path for a new product. The likelihood of a consumer upgrading within a month is higher if there is a greater gap between the incremental benefits and the hindrances. ( Staff, 2004). Many tech companies offer incentives to customers to either upgrade their gadgets regularly or give up on their older devices in order to get a better one. T-Mobile USA and AT&T offer consumers the chance to upgrade their cell phones as early as possible. Philip W. Schiller is Apple’s senior vice-president for worldwide marketing. He stated that 600 million of the 600 million currently in use are older than five years. Consumers are compelled to upgrade their devices to keep up in today’s fast-paced environment. Plastic is an everyday utility, as explained in the next sub-disclosure. It can be used to store appliances, pack food and throw away.
But from where is it derived? Is it a resource that is ever-lasting? Ms. Jessica Cheam from Eco-Business said that many Singaporeans consider plastic bag use a right and not a privilege. “The problem with plastic bags is that people use them more than they need,” said Ms. Jessica Cheam, the founder of Eco-Business. A plastic bag is used worldwide on average 12 minutes before being thrown away. Ms. Cheam said that most plastic bags just end up in incinerators. Worse, they end-up in the oceans. Without taking action, plastics will soon outnumber fish by 2050. However, most bags that are sent to recycling are discarded. Impetus Conceptus, a shredding company and recycling company, recycles between 30-40% of its bags because they are contaminated. Thomas Wong is the business development director. ( Paulo & Yuxin, 2018 )
Another article discusses the consequences of the seawater soup reaching the ocean. All sea animals, from the largest to most tiny, take in seawater soup that has been contaminated with toxic chemicals. The “Silent World,” which includes mermaids, is shedding its tears. Plastic is light, water resistant, flexible and strong. It’s also relatively affordable. These are just a few of the many attractive characteristics that make plastic so popular. Plastics are durable and take a long time to break down. These materials are used in many products and eventually become waste. A combination of plastic’s irresistible appeal and our innate tendency to waste, pollute, and discard plastic has resulted in a toxic mixture. Plastic-poison was instilled and has led to an unwilling and unjustified confrontation of two factors. One is synthetic (plastic) and one is oceanic.
The world’s population “… is eating fish that has been eaten by other fish. “In essence, humans are eating our own waste.” (Guern 2018). Now we will move onto the topic of consumerism. Beauty products are one example. For centuries, women have been known to be passionate about beauty. However, the times are changing. This is a common desire among both men and children. It’s understandable to want to preserve the standard beauty standards. What you get is either a cruel truth or a sympathetic way to mass produce. Children as young 10 are found in rural Jharkhand (India) hammering rock flakes off the side of the mountain. Other children, mostly girls, take large bags of rocks to the top and sort them out. Their job is to seperate glittering fragments of rock debris. These tiny pieces are called mica, which adds shimmer to makeup products like lipstick, foundation, eyeshadow and blusher. Child labor continues to be a problem in mica mining in Jharkhand (Bihar) more than ten years after it was discovered by cosmetics suppliers. According to NGOs Terre des Hommes et SOMO, the mine employs as many as 20,000 children. Nearly 90% of these children are illegal.
The emphasis is on the individual, where one must realize that what you eat has lasting effects. The human inclination towards consumption has led to an ignorance of the harmful effects it has on nature and humans. It is necessary to establish a firm foundation to help people rationalize the positive and negative. This will help one be conscious of his or her actions. This is where education plays an essential role. With proper consumption, you can ensure a brighter future.
