There’s a huge mass of plastic floating in the ocean. Forests the size of Greece are chopped down every year. There are more shopping malls than high schools in America.
insane rates of consumption.
In the past fifty years, Americans have consumed more goods and services than all previous generations combined.
American families in the early 1990s had twice as many possessions as they did only 20 years prior.
In the past fifty years, Americans have consumed more goods and services than all previous generations combined. American families in the early 1990s had twice as many possessions as they did only 20 years prior.
before 1964, personal storage facilities didn’t even exist.
today’s marketing strategies are more sophisticated and pervasive. Advertisements are everywhere: the average person sees more than 1,000 advertisements every day.
designing for “planned obsolescence”
incredible amounts of disposable products
politicians and economists believe that consumption is the engine of economic growth.
there’s a strong political incentive to motivate us to consume even more.
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars for more fuel-efficient models would get €2,500. But,
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars for more fuel-efficient models would get €2,500.
“Throwaway Living.”
Our enormous consumption is burning through the earth's resources at break-neck speeds. Since 1980, we've used up one third of our planet's remaining resources — ranging from fish to forests, metals and minerals.
Birds and fish mistake these plastic bits for food, leading some animals to die with bellies full of plastic.
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean floats an enormous field of garbage, where marine life then indiscriminately eat the garbage, unaware that it isn’t food. An estimated 3.5 million tons of garbage span hundreds of thousands of square miles.
In 2008 a WalMart security guard was trampled to death by shoppers. Was this the result of a panic, in which shoppers were desperately trying to escape a fire or a bomb threat? No. They were trying to get in, not out. Why? Shoppers were anxious to take advantage of a new promotion — a plasma HDTV for just $789!
such as birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc., all feature wish-lists (where we wish for “a new TV,” not “world peace”).
we’re spending more than we can afford, which can result in serious debt.
American consumers carried an average of $937 dollars per capita in credit card debt.
Since the 1980s psychological complaints, like depression and anxiety, have increased astonishingly,
societal indicators signal that we’re faring much worse than before.
"The things you own end up owning you." -
Our economy struggles because we’re burning the candle at both ends:
whether there’s a better way to distribute goods.
we have to wonder whether there’s a better way to distribute goods.
beginning to search for ways to consume less and get more out of each purchase,
doing things like repairing clothes and sharing
repairing clothes and sharing cars and tools.
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy into our personal relationships. Surely you know at least one person who works
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy into our personal relationships.
only to discover that they don’t actually have the time to enjoy their company.
failing relationships can lead to isolation and even more consumption
guilty dads who buy their kids extravagant birthday presents to make up for not being around.
many people today find that they prefer the personal interactions found at places like flea markets or local farmers’ markets to the anonymous experience of shopping at a chain-store.
communicate and do business with each
find more interest for your goods and services via online marketplaces than you could possibly find using traditional advertising, like classified ads or your local supermarket’s notice board.
Because the internet connects so many people, it becomes easier to reach the critical mass
huge mass of plastic floating in the ocean.
There’s a huge mass of plastic floating in the ocean. Forests the size of Greece are chopped down every year. There are more shopping malls than high schools in America.
insane rates of consumption.
In the past fifty years, Americans have consumed more goods and services than all previous generations combined.
American families in the early 1990s had twice as many possessions as they did only 20 years prior.
In the past fifty years, Americans have consumed more goods and services than all previous generations combined. American families in the early 1990s had twice as many possessions as they did only 20 years prior.
before 1964, personal storage facilities didn’t even exist.
today’s marketing strategies are more sophisticated and pervasive. Advertisements are everywhere: the average person sees more than 1,000 advertisements every day.
designing for “planned obsolescence”
incredible amounts of disposable products
politicians and economists believe that consumption is the engine of economic growth.
there’s a strong political incentive to motivate us to consume even more.
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars for more fuel-efficient models would get €2,500. But,
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars for more fuel-efficient models would get €2,500.
“Throwaway Living.”
Our enormous consumption is burning through the earth's resources at break-neck speeds. Since 1980, we've used up one third of our planet's remaining resources — ranging from fish to forests, metals and minerals.
Birds and fish mistake these plastic bits for food, leading some animals to die with bellies full of plastic.
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean floats an enormous field of garbage, where marine life then indiscriminately eat the garbage, unaware that it isn’t food. An estimated 3.5 million tons of garbage span hundreds of thousands of square miles.
In 2008 a WalMart security guard was trampled to death by shoppers. Was this the result of a panic, in which shoppers were desperately trying to escape a fire or a bomb threat? No. They were trying to get in, not out. Why? Shoppers were anxious to take advantage of a new promotion — a plasma HDTV for just $789!
such as birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc., all feature wish-lists (where we wish for “a new TV,” not “world peace”).
we’re spending more than we can afford, which can result in serious debt.
American consumers carried an average of $937 dollars per capita in credit card debt.
Since the 1980s psychological complaints, like depression and anxiety, have increased astonishingly,
societal indicators signal that we’re faring much worse than before.
"The things you own end up owning you." -
Our economy struggles because we’re burning the candle at both ends:
whether there’s a better way to distribute goods.
we have to wonder whether there’s a better way to distribute goods.
beginning to search for ways to consume less and get more out of each purchase,
doing things like repairing clothes and sharing
repairing clothes and sharing cars and tools.
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy into our personal relationships. Surely you know at least one person who works
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy into our personal relationships.
only to discover that they don’t actually have the time to enjoy their company.
failing relationships can lead to isolation and even more consumption
guilty dads who buy their kids extravagant birthday presents to make up for not being around.
many people today find that they prefer the personal interactions found at places like flea markets or local farmers’ markets to the anonymous experience of shopping at a chain-store.
communicate and do business with each
find more interest for your goods and services via online marketplaces than you could possibly find using traditional advertising, like classified ads or your local supermarket’s notice board.
Because the internet connects so many people, it becomes easier to reach the critical mass
huge mass of plastic floating in the ocean.
There’s a huge mass of plastic floating in the ocean. Forests the size of Greece are chopped down every year. There are more shopping malls than high schools in America.
insane rates of consumption.
In the past fifty years, Americans have consumed more goods and services than all previous generations combined.
American families in the early 1990s had twice as many possessions as they did only 20 years prior.
In the past fifty years, Americans have consumed more goods and services than all previous generations combined. American families in the early 1990s had twice as many possessions as they did only 20 years prior.
before 1964, personal storage facilities didn’t even exist.
today’s marketing strategies are more sophisticated and pervasive. Advertisements are everywhere: the average person sees more than 1,000 advertisements every day.
designing for “planned obsolescence”
incredible amounts of disposable products
politicians and economists believe that consumption is the engine of economic growth.
there’s a strong political incentive to motivate us to consume even more.
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars for more fuel-efficient models would get €2,500. But,
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars
to boost car sales during the recession in 2009, twelve EU countries decided to offer cash incentives to consumers who would trade in their old cars for new ones. In Germany, for example, customers that traded their old cars for more fuel-efficient models would get €2,500.
“Throwaway Living.”
Our enormous consumption is burning through the earth's resources at break-neck speeds. Since 1980, we've used up one third of our planet's remaining resources — ranging from fish to forests, metals and minerals.
Birds and fish mistake these plastic bits for food, leading some animals to die with bellies full of plastic.
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean floats an enormous field of garbage, where marine life then indiscriminately eat the garbage, unaware that it isn’t food. An estimated 3.5 million tons of garbage span hundreds of thousands of square miles.
In 2008 a WalMart security guard was trampled to death by shoppers. Was this the result of a panic, in which shoppers were desperately trying to escape a fire or a bomb threat? No. They were trying to get in, not out. Why? Shoppers were anxious to take advantage of a new promotion — a plasma HDTV for just $789!
such as birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc., all feature wish-lists (where we wish for “a new TV,” not “world peace”).
we’re spending more than we can afford, which can result in serious debt.
American consumers carried an average of $937 dollars per capita in credit card debt.
Since the 1980s psychological complaints, like depression and anxiety, have increased astonishingly,
societal indicators signal that we’re faring much worse than before.
"The things you own end up owning you." -
Our economy struggles because we’re burning the candle at both ends:
whether there’s a better way to distribute goods.
we have to wonder whether there’s a better way to distribute goods.
beginning to search for ways to consume less and get more out of each purchase,
doing things like repairing clothes and sharing
repairing clothes and sharing cars and tools.
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy into our personal relationships. Surely you know at least one person who works
As we increase our focus on material possessions as a source of happiness, we invest less time and energy into our personal relationships.
only to discover that they don’t actually have the time to enjoy their company.
failing relationships can lead to isolation and even more consumption
guilty dads who buy their kids extravagant birthday presents to make up for not being around.
many people today find that they prefer the personal interactions found at places like flea markets or local farmers’ markets to the anonymous experience of shopping at a chain-store.
communicate and do business with each
find more interest for your goods and services via online marketplaces than you could possibly find using traditional advertising, like classified ads or your local supermarket’s notice board.
Because the internet connects so many people, it becomes easier to reach the critical mass
