The True Victims of Modern Consumerism

When I have an especially depressing day, and it seems that not a single positive thought has wandered by, there are a couple of things that bring me comfort. Instinctually, I turn to my journal, thick with grief and gratitude—and its fair share of gossip. But there are of course moments when I don’t have the time or energy to pour my soul onto the pages, and my mind turns to the abyss of retail therapy. I would be lying if I said that Redbubble and the sticker market are not my greatest weakness. There is almost nothing I love more than ripping open the envelope of a fresh sticker order. If you lined up the belongings of my family of four, the items absolutely suffocated in stickers are my giveaway... And for someone who works very few hours between school and other obligations, I am especially guilty of buying much more than I can realistically afford. 

As a participant in American consumerism myself, I feel it is increasingly important to be conscious of what we are contributing to. At this moment, I can look around and point out so many issues with modern spending. From Amazon’s overnight shipping (despite how wonderfully convenient it is) to SHEIN’s large orders, the way many businesses operate today is catering to our bad habits. However, I will also note that there is not much use in pointing out our faults if there is no plan to do anything about them. So, in my typical transition into a topic, let’s look back to the roots of the issue at hand. 

It was the end of the Second World War that sowed the seeds of our excessive spending. With the flourishing economy that wartime production generated, many American families had the money, means, and desire to invest in the American dream. Especially thanks to the skyrocketing market in automobiles and televisions, the growing suburban populations became hungry buyers. 

Around this same time, businesses were scheming up ways to keep the momentum going. How would they be able to continue selling products if so many people already owned them? Well, as Mark Miodownik wrote for BBC, “[the] answer was surprisingly simple - persuade people to voluntarily throw things away.” For centuries, people relied on well-made, durable items that could be used and reused until they needed repair, not disposal. The introduction of single-use items was a completely new idea, and not a very intuitive one at that. But in order to keep buyers coming back for more, they needed to adopt an out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new ideology. And that’s exactly what happened. Tell me, when was the last time you bought something with the intention of never buying a new one again? Personally, I have never once experienced that. Maybe it’s just because I am young, or maybe it’s because everything—even our own houses—has been marketed as disposable. 

If consumerism was a predator, fast fashion would be a set of claws sunken deep into the flesh of society. The blood that consequently trickles out is that of its victims, often silenced by ignorance in the media or the consumers themselves. It feels good to make a purchase, I know. Sometimes I even have dreams about a trip to Target, buying everything I mentally set aside for “later.” But the result of consumerism is so much more harmful than you might realize.  

Today, the fast fashion industry is worth more than $1.5 trillion globally. If you’ve ever tried out any type of garment project, whether that be sewing, crocheting or knitting, or something totally different, you know that the amount of resources that go into one single piece of clothing is greater than you might expect. About 100 billion garments are produced worldwide each year, and unfortunately, 92 million tons of that finds its way into landfills. Additionally, most clothing produced today is made of plastic materials, adding to microplastics in our waterways, pollution of our homes and environments, and even harm to public health.  

Not only does almost none of the clothing thrown away get recycled, but the mass amounts of clothes being donated to second-hand stores are increasing the prices of those low-quality garments when thrift stores are meant to provide people with cheaper alternatives. There is no shame in buying cheaper items because you need to; fast fashion is popular for a reason. But if there is any way that you can afford to shop sustainably, you should.  

The true victim of modern consumerism isn’t you and me. It’s the planet we live on and the health of future generations. By putting our impulsive desires before the well-being of everyone on this Earth, we are not doing our duties as mindful people. So the next time you see a cute t-shirt or a mug that you absolutely must have, consider this: Do you have these items already at home? Are they in useable condition? Can you make it yourself at home? Can you borrow it from someone you know? Does the business you’re buying from source its products sustainably? Is it something you will actually use in the long run?  

Sometimes, we have to buy single-use items because that’s all stores have to offer us, and it’s okay to indulge in things you simply want every once in a while. But don’t let the unpaid workers, millions of tons of waste, and excessive use of global resources slip your mind. Our future generations depend on the little changes we make in our day-to-day lives now. While it might seem daunting, know that your best is enough. And collectively, small changes make a difference in the world.  

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Work Cited

BBC. (2018, October 1). Plastics Watch - How did disposable products ever become a thing? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/nB9mTWPPJ4mDNS6wtV76bP/how-did-disposable-products-ever-become-a-thing#:~:text=A%20new%20profession%20rose%20up,cutlery%2C%20single%2Duse%20straws.

American Experience, PBS. (2018, February 14). The rise of American consumerism. American Experience | PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tupperware-consumer/

Ruiz, A. (2024, March 18). 17 Most Worrying Textile Waste Statistics & Facts [2024]. TheRoundup. https://theroundup.org/textile-waste-statistics/