Consumerism, Sustainability and the

Role of Individuals
Professor Dr. A H M Saadat
Department of Environmental Sciences
Email: ahmsaadat@juniv.edu
Lecture outline
• Understanding consumerism
• Relationship between consumerism and sustainability
• Overconsumption and resource depletion
• Waste generation
• Climate change
• Ethical concerns
• Shift towards sustainable practice
• Consumer demand for sustainability
• Circular economy and zero waste lifestyle
• Policy and regulations
• Resetting priorities of life for sustainable development

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Sustainability?

Sustainability refers to the practice of using resources in a way

that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

It encompasses environmental, social, and economic

considerations, aiming to minimize negative impacts on
ecosystems, communities, and economies.

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Consumerism?
• Consumerism and sustainability are two concepts that
often intersect and sometimes conflict in today's society.
• Consumerism refers to a social and economic ideology
that places a high value on the acquisition and
consumption of goods and services. It's a cultural
phenomenon where individuals are encouraged to buy and
consume beyond their basic needs, often as a means of
achieving personal happiness, status, or identity.
Consumerism is closely tied to the idea that a person's
worth and identity are influenced by the products they
own and the lifestyle they lead.

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Consumerism

1 2 3
Constant Definition of self- The idea that
acquisition of goods worth and identity happiness is
and services to through material achievable through
enhance personal possessions. consumption.
well-being.
Key characteristics of consumerism:
1. Materialism: Consumerism emphasizes the importance of material possessions
in defining one's identity and success. People often seek to acquire goods not
only for their practical utility but also for their symbolic value.
2. Advertising and Marketing: Consumerism is fueled by advertising and marketing
campaigns that create desire and demand for products and services.
Advertisers use various psychological techniques to tap into consumers'
desires and emotions, encouraging them to make purchases.
3. Constant Consumption: Consumerism promotes a culture of continuous and
often excessive consumption. People are encouraged to keep buying new
products, often driven by trends and the perceived need to stay up to date
with the latest offerings.
4. Status and Identity: Consumerism ties personal identity and social status to the
products an individual owns. People often seek to project a certain image
through their purchases.
5. Emotional Fulfillment: Consumerism suggests that happiness and fulfillment can
be achieved through buying and owning certain products. This can lead to a
cycle of seeking happiness through consumption.

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6. Cultural Impact: Consumerism can influence cultural values and priorities.
It can shape societal norms and expectations related to lifestyle,
success, and personal satisfaction.
7. Disposable Culture: Consumerism contributes to a disposable culture
where products are used briefly and then discarded. This results in
significant waste and environmental concerns.
8. Credit and Debt: In many cases, consumerism leads to increased use of
credit and debt to support spending beyond one's means. This can
result in financial stress and long-term debt problems.
9. Globalization: Consumerism is often associated with globalization, as
products from around the world become accessible to a broader
audience. This can lead to the spread of certain consumerist ideals
across different cultures.
10. Critiques and Concerns: Consumerism has been critiqued for its
environmental impact, contribution to social inequalities, and promotion
of shallow values. It's also been linked to issues like planned
obsolescence, where products are intentionally designed to have a
limited lifespan to encourage frequent replacement.
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The relationship between consumerism and
sustainability
1.Overconsumption and Resource Depletion: Consumerism often
leads to overconsumption of resources, contributing to
environmental degradation and depletion of finite resources.
Unsustainable production processes and disposal practices
associated with consumerism can result in pollution, habitat
destruction, and loss of biodiversity.
2.Waste Generation: Consumerism generates significant amounts of
waste, including single-use products and packaging. This waste can
overwhelm waste management systems and end up in landfills or
oceans, causing harm to the environment.
3.Climate Change: Many products associated with consumerism are
manufactured using energy-intensive processes and contribute to
greenhouse gas emissions. Excessive consumption exacerbates
climate change, which has far-reaching consequences for
ecosystems and communities.
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Shift Towards Sustainable Practices:
There is a growing awareness of the need for sustainability:
1. Consumer Demand for Sustainability: Increasingly, consumers are
demanding products that align with their values, including those related
to sustainability. This demand has led some businesses to offer eco-
friendly and ethically produced options.
2. Education and Awareness: Addressing the challenges of
consumerism and sustainability requires educating consumers about
the impacts of their choices. Businesses and organizations play a role in
raising awareness and promoting responsible consumption.
3. Circular Economy and zero waste lifestyle: A shift toward a circular
economy model, which emphasizes recycling, reusing, and reducing
waste, can help mitigate the negative impacts of consumerism by
extending the lifespan of products and materials.
4. Policy and Regulation: Governments and regulatory bodies can
influence consumer behavior and business practices through policies
that promote sustainability, such as taxes on single-use plastics or
incentives for renewable energy.
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 • Consumerism can lead to the
exploitation of labor and resources in
Ethical pursuit of lower costs and higher
Concerns: profits. This can result in poor
working conditions, human rights
violations, and social inequalities.

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Setting priorities
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that
are important to you.

• The sand is everything else;

the small stuff. If you put the
sand into the jar first, there is
no room for the pebbles or the
golf balls. The same goes for
life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqGRnlXplx0
A different society
From tangible to intangible Lifestyle change for
global sustainability
From “live to work” to “work to live”
From “live to consume” to “consume to
live”
From “happiness in consumption” to
“happiness in relations: friendship, love,
emotions, and art”
From consumption as an end in itself to
consumption as an instrument for well
being

From a consumption society to a society where life is plenty of meaning

Consume differently

From disposable to durable

From global to local
From individual to shared use
From fossil to renewable
From trash to reutilization and recycling
From toxic to non toxic
From material to virtual
From waste to integral use
From excess to moderation
Sustainable lifestyle
• “…the self-imposed slavery that can flow from mindlessly
dedicating one’s life to the never-ending pursuit of ‘nice things.
If nothing else, Thoreau's life and work serve as a fiery, poetic
reminder that there are alternatives, simpler ways to live- ways
which are far freer and indeed more fulfilling than those
governed by consumerist values and practices. ”
--------- The Simple Life of Henry David Thoreau, Samuel Alexander.

Suggested Reading: Walden and On the Duty of Civil

Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau.
Weblink: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/205/205-h/205-h.htm