DISRUPTING THE CULTURE OF UNCONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION: WHY WE NEED TO CHALLENGE OUR SOCIALLY CONDITIONED WAY OF LIFE

“The most remarkable thing is that we reflect and radiate what consumes us.”― Kamal Ravikant

As humans, we are born into a world of consumer culture, a world that is driven by money, convenience and easy access to goods. This consumer culture is socially conditioned, embedded deeply within our modern societies and so it may seem that it’s something we cannot escape.

Many of us find ourselves influenced by consumer culture without even realizing it, consciously or unconsciously enacting it through our own daily decisions. We buy items in times of emotion, forget that our purchases have consequences and consequences tenfold from their production. Yet, as every consumer has purchasing power, so every consumer has the power to make a difference.

With this extract, we’re going to explore the current state of consumer culture, its environmental, economic and social impacts and challenges, before diving into alternative sustainable sustainable solutions that can help us create a more healthy and happy world for us, for future generations and for planet earth. Let’s get started.

Conscious vs Unconscious Consumption

Consumption and consumer culture has come to dominate much of our lives, dictating our cultural norms, our economic worth and our communities’ social dynamics. We are routinely enticed by advertising, out of convenience or even just out of habit. The majority of purchases we make may not be necessary or sustainable but instead, a form of unconscious consumption. Not understanding the more subtle impacts of our purchasing habits can leave us worse off in the long term, further damaging our planet, damaging our wallets and damaging our wellbeing.

In order to create a new culture in which sustainable consumption is encouraged, we first need to dispel the veil of unconscious consumption that is so omnipresent in our lives today. As consuming can intuitively feel like gratification, we must work to connect our purchases with their resulting impacts on the planet, our wallets and our wellbeing.

Creating a Sustainable Culture

When it comes to creating a sustainable culture, there are tonnes of ways we can challenge our consumption habits.

Firstly, consider what we eat. One effective way to reduce consumption and consumption-related emissions is to be conscious of our dietary habits. Alternatives such as meat-free days, home-grown foods and weekly meal-plans can significantly reduce our spending, our environmental impact and our chances of over-consuming.

Secondly, invest in durable, recycled, or sustainably made items. The average lifespan of most products has dropped significantly over the years, with much of what we buy seeming to have a shelf life of about a year. By seeking out items that are made with sustainable materials, properly sourced and made to last we can significantly reduce waste, loopholes and unnecessary expenditure.

Finally, investing in skills such as sewing, mending, composting and even just making bespoke items for yourself can be a great way to reduce expenditure, increase efficiency and create a more sustainable culture. By teaching ourselves to be self-reliant, we can create items which provide us with gratification, repair those which may become damaged and value the items that we purchase.

Conclusion

Overall, investing in conscious consumption and training ourselves to challenge our conditioned social norms is key if we want to create a healthier and happier world. From being aware of how our food choices affect our environment, to investing in items which will last us and always embracing sustainable alternatives, we all have the power to actively contribute toward a more sustainable future.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”― Aristotle

It may seem like a big task to take on, but the more we actively focus on our buying choices the more mindful these purchases will become, leading us towards creating a new and improved culture of sustainable consumption, one that is more socially responsible, more environmentally friendly and more financially sound.

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Consumption, Sustainable, Consumers, Culture, Environment, Emissions, Gratification, Purchasing, Habits, Impact, Products, Shelf Life, Mindful