The Human Cycle of Consumption

And What We Can Do About It

We buy. We use. We trash. And what doesn’t make it in the correct bin, well who knows where it ends up… But even when it does make it in the right bin, do we still really know where it ends up? Well, no, not exactly. A landfill maybe. Or maybe the recycling is shipped off to some far away land to be transformed into shoe laces or some other semi-useful product. Or maybe it doesn’t even make it to its intended destination because a gust of wind or a seagull gets to it first. All we know is that we have done a “good-job” by putting our trash in the trash can and maybe even our recyclables into the recycling bin and then it goes away. But to where? And then what? When does the “life-cycle” of that product really end?

All these questions never entered my mind until I saw people in underdeveloped countries burning piles of rubbish in the yards of their own homes. At first, I just wondered if the people knew that the fumes of burning these plastic wrappers and bottles were bad for them or if they just think of how simple it is to open a plastic bag of cookies instead of creating un-wrapped nutrition from their own fertile land. (Or if there was any thought to the process at all.) I actually got angry thinking about the amounts of trash in these countries but then I realized that in my own home country, just because I do not see the trash, does not mean that it is not there. It is there; and likely a lot more of it. It is just simply “hidden” from our society. People are paid to “hide” our trash. We have big trucks that come to our homes, to our businesses, and to our parks to take our trash away. How convenient! And with this, we are blinded from how our actions and simple daily choices impact the planet. But what if there wasn’t anyone to come and take our trash away? What if we, ourselves, had to find a way to get rid of all our waste material? Would we think more about our consumption?

The fact is that many modern, mainstream products (that are not burned or eaten and digest) are only going to live a very short part of their life in the hands of a human. No matter how we dispose of these products, they will remain considered litter (trash, rubbish, junk, garbage, crapola, or whatever else it has turned into) as soon as we have stopped using them for the purpose that we had originally bought them for. For example, let’s take the everyday razor for shaving. As soon as it has done its purpose with us and we don’t feel it sufficient to complete the job anymore, we will get a new razor and the insufficient one goes into the trash. (Hopefully the blades have been tightly covered.) But it is still a razor and it’s still in existence on this earth, just now it is floating out in a landfill somewhere waiting for its next razor friend to join it. And when we are finished with the razor friend, we send it off again. And the cycle goes on. And this on-going cycle is for how many everyday products?

And what about products that we recycle? Just because we place an item into a recycling bin doesn’t mean it will actually get recycled. Only about 1/3 of what we put into recycling actually gets recycled back into another item. Often our recycling is contaminated, and our “recyclables” are shipped overseas to another country’s recycling factories. Are all the emissions created through this process of shipping and recycling actually worth it? I have not done the math myself…

So many of us are developing a strong passion for this planet and its future and one of the ways we can act upon this love for our natural earth is through awareness of this human cycle of consumption: where materials and products come from, what is used to make them, who makes them, who uses them (as well as why they/we use them), how they are disposed of, and the effects on the people and the planet throughout the entire process.

To create a “greener”, cleaner planet, we must be conscious of every step of this cycle, especially the beginning and the ending: “Where does it come from?” and “Where does it go?” These two questions are what we can ask ourselves before purchasing, creating, or consuming any product. We must remember that this cycle begins so quickly every day in this fast-paced, materialistic world, but the end of this cycle is so far away regarding the decomposition time of the so many popular, easily accessible products and materials. There IS a better way for human society to prosper, and a way that will not only benefit the current population, but also generations to come.

So, what can we do? Well, as individuals there is only so much that we can do. BUT there is still SO MUCH THAT WE CAN DO! Here is a list of little lifestyle changes we can make every day to help us step out of that cycle and that all together can make a big difference:

1. Avoid takeout food/beverage when possible. Allowing yourself to eat from dishes that will be reused can save a lot of unnecessary packaging materials (i.e., plastic cups, containers, single-use cutlery, straws, and the infamous plastic bag). If reusable is not an option, try compostable!
2. Meal Prep. Planning ahead is a great way to limit the situations in which you will find yourself needing/wanting to get take-out food. And your home-made meal will probably be healthier for you too!
3. Limit impulse purchases. You know those times that you go to the store because you needed two things and then you walk out with a whole cart full? Yea, it has happened to us all. These products are often the things that we would be just fine living without. So, save your money, don’t give in to the advertisements/media, leave the cart behind, and walk through the store to pick up in-hand only the one or two items that you actually went there to get. (You may realize you actually have a problem when you get to the point that your arms are overflowing and you start to drop things… can you tell I am speaking from experience?? Try not to get yourself in this situation… it takes practice, I’ve been there.)
4. Think twice about gifting. This does not mean you cannot be a gift giver; I love gift giving! It just means there are ways we can use materials we already have in the house to create a more sustainable (and thoughtful) gift. All those little nick-knacks from the dollar section are cute for a couple days but then eventually, we all know they end up in the bin. And all those crazy holiday scented lotions? Secrets out, they are likely regifted at the next holiday party. So maybe pass down a necklace that you don’t wear often anymore, or re-pot a garden plant from your home in an empty jar or cute mug from the cabinet that is overflowing with mugs and teacups. Or even a well thought out letter from the heart has great value. (Something more than “I hope you have a great birthday!” I’m sure they already assume that you hope they have a great birthday. Share a favorite memory, share what you appreciate about that person, tell them honestly why they are so special to you or why you value the relationship that you have with that person… Allow your heart to open with a little ink on paper.) A deep thought and connection with a friend/partner/family member holds much greater value than the over scented lotion. Click here for an easy and affordable DIY gift idea.
5. When you do shop, shop local. The closer to home your product is made, the more likely it is to have had less of a negative impact on the earth. Eat foods from small, local farms (less shipping of food means less emissions and the produce from nearby will likely taste fresher and riper too). Shop goods from small, local shops (shopping locally made products can sometimes be expensive, especially for us living in the states, but supporting those that work hard next door is a great way to limit unnecessary pollutants).
6. Clean up trash. No, this is not because the trash needs to be picked up and put in the bin. Yes, the trash is most definitely better off in the bin and taken away to wherever it goes but the real benefit of this is for awareness. Becoming aware of what products are so resilient in nature can help us to become more conscious of our daily choices. If one is picking up trash at the beach and comes across 100 straws in the process, I guarantee that the next time they are out to order a drink, they’ll request to NOT have a straw in their glass.
7. Choose nature. The more time you spend outside in nature the more you will learn to love it. You start to see how everyday choices have an impact on our planet and to the lives of all beings around us. Just breathe the air from the top of a mountain or from the coastal breeze, notice how crisp the air can be. Remind yourself what it feels like to breath good, clean air. You will find the desire to want to share this breath, this fulfilling breath, with the rest of the world.
8. Spread the knowledge. Often people, even if they do love nature and are concerned about the health of the planet, do not realize that some of the simple daily choices they make could be adjusted to have a better impact for the future of the earth. They may appreciate a gentle suggestion or a bit of education. Be an inspiration and an example for those around you.

Remember that no matter how big or small you feel in this earth, your simple, everyday choices DO have an impact. So choose preparedness, choose reusable, choose consciousness, choose awareness, choose local, choose nature, and choose LOVE.

P.S. You know the saying, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?” (If not, Jack Johnson has even made a song about it and yes, it is actually catchy. If anyone can make a song about the three R’s cool, Jack Johnson would definitely be the one to do it.) Just remember that they are in that order for a reason. You can do it!