Addicted to Stuff

Why we Just Need to Stop Buying

In a world where mass production and consumption reign supreme, the struggle to resist the siren song of unnecessary stuff is a battle many face. I have written about abundance, and its shadow meme excess, for many years. Just recently I decided to conduct an experiment in self-discipline. I would show how easy it is to avoid becoming addicted to online shopping. I was both surprised and dismayed at how easily I fell into a trap that I least expected. I was hooked in a matter of hours!

Despite my cautious nature as a shopper, I quickly found myself drawn into a cycle of impulse buying from Temu, a Chinese-based online marketplace, acquiring items that were not only of dubious quality but also entirely pointless. I really didn’t need a personal pink silicone nose exfoliator – but I bought two when the items were offered at a discount in a pop-up sale. I acquired six new watches and two pairs of sunglasses, along with the set of three statuettes pictured above, within the space of 4 days!

This encounter with my own story of stuff raises basic questions about our collective consumption habits as well as the need to address the environmental and social consequences of such rampant consumerism. And waste. Over the two weeks I morphed into such a fanatical online buyer that I threw away a stew pan, two plastic bag sealers, an umbrella that refused to close, and a vegetable slicer - all within a few hours of my receiving them.

I suspect you would agree that this verges on psychotic behaviour. To combat consumption madness we must explore a range of post-growth approaches to life - including a deeper awareness of its impacts, the practise of societal sufficiency, and a fundamental teleological rerouting.

Mindfulness as therapy

Without the demand for novelty, a constant flow of new goods, and continuous upgrades, consumption is bound to fall – and perhaps our throwaway culture along with it. May I caution you not to worry about the economy? For in spite of some alarmists claiming civilization will collapse in such calamitous conditions, that is highly improbable. Indeed lowering consumption is far more likely to reduce inequality, improve overall wellbeing, mental health and happiness, and encourage closer social bonds. Another advantage of the so-called circular economy would be a more profound awareness of Earth’s ecological limits and the importance of living within those boundaries. That would lead to more responsible consumption patterns and a collective commitment to sustainability.

So, a fundamental first step toward curbing excessive consumption is to cultivate mindfulness as therapy. Developing an awareness of what drives us to shop, individually but also collectively, alongside a range of schemes for how we can develop a counter culture to reduce, recycle, reuse and repurpose, will be key.

Often, emotional triggers such as stress, boredom, or the desire for instant gratification lead to impulsive buying. By being conscious of these triggers, we can create a pause between desire and action. Applying restraining practices, such as keeping a shopping journal or sticking to a budget, can help track spending, allowing us to reflect on the motivations behind our purchases. Over time, this mindfulness can foster a more discerning approach to shopping, allowing us to differentiate between wants and needs in real time.

Changing lifestyles

Adopting a minimalist lifestyle is another powerful way to resist the tide of consumerism. Minimalism encourages us to declutter not just our physical spaces but also our minds, focusing on what truly adds value and meaning to our lives. By prioritizing quality over quantity, we can shift our purchasing decisions toward durable and ethically produced items. This reduces waste of course, but also supports businesses that align with sustainable practices.

Minimalism often leads to a greater appreciation for experiences rather than possessions, encouraging us to seek fulfillment in relationships, travel, and personal growth rather than material goods. Combined with economic sufficiency, the minimalist lifestyle effectively curbs our urge to accumulate more and more stuff by emphasizing meaningful living over material gain. It  encourages us to distinguish between true needs and fleeting wants, leading to the realization that we can often live quite comfortably with far less.

Another significant benefit of minimalism is the reduction of waste. By owning fewer items, minimalists generate less waste. This aligns with economic sufficiency, which advocates for living within ecological limits and minimizing the environmental impact of overconsumption. But it also aligns with the urgent need to reduce plastic and the particles which find their way into the oceans, the soils, and the air, and thence into our food.

Financial freedom is another key intersection of these concepts. By purchasing only what they truly need, minimalists often see a decrease in expenses, allowing for savings or investments in experiences rather than material goods. Economic sufficiency similarly promotes living within one’s means, fostering a healthier financial lifestyle and contentment.

Both philosophies prioritize quality over quantity, encouraging the purchase of durable products instead of disposable items that need to be replaced or upgraded at regular intervals. This focus on quality is again linked to mindfulness, which is central to both minimalism and economic sufficiency. Mindful consumers reflect on how their choices impact themselves, others, and the environment, promoting thoughtful evaluation of needs and consumption effects.

Additionally, minimalism emphasizes well-being through experiences and relationships rather than possessions, in keeping with economic sufficiency’s focus on fulfillment over accumulation. Both lifestyles inspire sustainable practices, such as reducing energy use and supporting local economies, contributing to a model that values ecological health and human well-being. In essence, minimalism and economic sufficiency together promote intentional living and a focus on quality, offering a pathway to a more sustainable and gratifying life without the burden of excess consumption.

Whole system change

To successfully address widespread overconsumption in the developed world, it is vital to recognise that while individual actions always play a useful role, change at scale is required. Not only that, but change in the most fundamental of motives concealed within our worldview. The disconcerting truth is that wealthy nations disproportionately demand and consume resources, often at the expense of those living in poorer regions, where much of the actual production takes place. This imbalance not only perpetuates inequality but even raises ethical concerns about the morality of a lifestyle of materialism.

Excessive production and consumption in the developed world, coupled with resource scarcity in less developed nations where goods are manufactured at low cost, can largely be attributed to three factors:

1.     The pervasive influence of marketing and advertising, whose role is to create a culture of desire, promoting not just the need for products but also an endless cycle of depletion and replacement.

2.     Corporations whose main goals are growth and profitability do great damage to the environment and can be viewed as deeply unethical. Embracing ethical practices is not just a moral obligation; it’s a pathway to a more sustainable and equitable future. But most companies ignore that.

3.     Practices like planned obsolescence that gear all production to the design of products with a limited lifespan, making them less durable or less relevant over time. This strategy encourages consumers to replace items more frequently.

These three factors are the core of the problem. By driving continuous consumption and economic growth they are contributing to environmental degradation and resource depletion. But deliberately applying the brakes to that system has become unthinkable. And even if we could, how would that impact society?

We are so conditioned to believe the world will cave in if there’s so much as a hiccup in economic growth, while almost everything we believe is important to life (including jobs, money, health and happiness, along with the ownership of stuff) hinges on the industrial mass production of material goods. We have lost the simple joy of just being in the world without being swamped by all the luxuries and trappings we are told is progress.

We have also been told that buying more stuff will bring us happiness, but the opposite is the case. Over and above subsistence level items, possessions do not bring additional satisfaction. So what can be done when everything is tailored to engineering a society demanding a constant supply of innovative goods?

Reducing demand

The first element to target must surely be reducing the demand for goods. In that context, increasing consumer awareness is critical, though insufficient by itself. Education campaigns highlighting the more negative impacts of overconsumption, alongside the beneficial impacts of a circular economy, can help individuals make more informed choices that significantly mitigate the effects of excessive consumption. And by thinking carefully before our everyday purchasing decisions, we can become more resistant to the bait of relentless marketing.

Governments and corporations have a role to play. In the current capitalist paradigm, it would be totally unacceptable for corporations to invest in actively reducing the demand for their goods. Business after all is predicated on competition and growth - selling products for a profit, and to keep doing that, is the default mode. On the other hand, fulfilling their ESG commitments by working hand-in-hand with government to create an infrastructure advocating a model of sufficiency - by promoting the reuse, recycling, repairing and repurposing of goods - would shrink the demand for new products as well as the resources required for their manufacture. The outcome - enhanced brand integrity - would not have an immediate positive financial impact. But it is a valid, highly relevant, return on investment, nevertheless.  

In a throwaway society, the idea of repairing items often seems outdated, yet it can play a significant role in reducing waste. By encouraging repair cafes, workshops, and community events centered around mending clothes or fixing electronics, we can shift perceptions about the value of our possessions. This not only extends the lifecycle of products but also builds community connections, as individuals collaborate to share skills and resources.

In order to keep pace, governments must initiate changes to the regulatory environment. This will also help to shift community perceptions. Governments have a moral obligation to apply strict guidelines that limit deceptive marketing tactics and promote transparency in advertising. Some standard advertising practices, especially those targeting vulnerable populations such as children, must constantly be updated in line with changes in societal mores. But by ensuring that consumers are reliably informed about the ecological and social impacts of every product, each one of us can more easily make choices aligned to our personal values.

In addition to consumer education and regulatory measures, promoting genuinely sustainable brands and products can shift market dynamics. Prosecuting companies that use green-washing and green-hushing to avoid their social responsibilities and deceive the public is vital. Companies need to accept responsibility for the end-of-life of their manufactures. But supporting companies that prioritize ethical production and guarantee supply chain openness invariably encourage other businesses to adopt similar values. Creating incentives for sustainable practices - such as awards programs and tax breaks or grants for companies that adhere to eco-friendly standards - can help level the playing field and make every element of sustainable production a competitive advantage.

Innovative thinking

There are alternative strategies that have been suggested by various bodies – some of them good, others not especially appealing. Fair trade initiatives empowering local communities and enabling them to invest in their own needs, are already bridging the gap between consumption and production. By ensuring that producers in developing countries receive equitable compensation for their labour and products, we can help create a more just global economy.

Choosing to support local ethical enterprises is another effective means for combating consumerism on today’s scale. By prioritizing purchases from local artisans, farmers, and small businesses, consumers can foster a sense of community and contribute to the local economy. Additionally, these businesses often prioritize sustainable practices and provide higher-quality goods. This shift not only encourages a more responsible marketplace but also helps to create a vibrant local culture that values craftsmanship over mass production.

As my brush with Temu illustrates, in our increasingly digital world, technology can be both a friend and a foe in the fight against consumerism. While online shopping platforms can lead to all kinds of impulsive buying, they can also serve as tools for more conscious consumption. Apps that track spending, promote sustainable products, or connect consumers with local businesses can help people make more informed choices. Moreover, social media platforms can be harnessed to share stories of sustainable living, inspiring others to reconsider their consumption habits and focus on mindful purchasing.

Encouraging collaborative consumption models -where individuals share or rent goods rather than owning them - might also reduce the demand for new products. Platforms that facilitate sharing, such as tool libraries, car-sharing services, and community exchange networks, for example, promote a sense of community wellbeing while minimizing resource use. By shifting the focus from ownership to access, we can challenge the prevailing consumerist mindset. However a perceived nexus with the World Economic Forum’s “Great Reset” is creating more negative impressions than not at this stage.

Conclusion

The quest to address the cycle of mass production and consumption, and the insane mix of desire and avarice that provokes it, is possibly the most urgent task facing humanity. Moreover its complex nature demands a range of strategially-aligned global-local remedies. Ideally we would just stop it. But that is not going to happen.

By cultivating mindfulness, embracing minimalism, promoting education, encouraging whole system change, cultivating a culture of repair and reuse, supporting local businesses, and utilizing technology mindfully, we might stand a chance of being able to reshape our relationship with the feral nature of excessive production driven by industrial economism.

Mass consumption and economic growth are so often taken as two pillars of progress. But they are not. They are actually the opposite of progress and their impacts are destroying much of what we cherish.

There are no easy answers, so addicted have we become to a world of surplus and waste. Each small step we take can contribute to a larger movement toward sustainability and responsibility, ultimately reducing the risks and resulting in a healthier planet and a more meaningful existence. The choices we make really matter.