To Consume, or Not to Consume?
Unless you’re hidden deep in a cave in Afghanistan, you’re probably aware just how popular and prevalent green businesses are, as well as the greening of existing ones. And in many ways, this is to be applauded. Companies seem to be falling over themselves to find ways to be more efficient, as in the VW Polo 
Bluemotion car, a Prius beater without the hybrid geewhizery. And then there’s Walmart, which seems to have turned over a green leaf in convincing ways, albeit with plenty of room to improve.
However, the question seems to be, is it possible to consume our way to a greener planet? Is buying more things the solution to the current and impending resource shortages? The newly released Smart Seed, an engineered grass seed that purports to require less watering, via much more efficient root systems, would seem to be of this camp. Yet is the answer a greener lawn, or to not have a lawn at all? Will it take drastic change in the way we (we being the developed world, and those emulating us) go about living our lives? Doing business? Raising our families?
Or is there a middle ground between gluttony and martyr-like abstaining from participation in modern consumer culture in order to “save the planet?”
Car sharing services are one example I see of this middle ground. By reducing the number of individuals owning one car each, and the constellation of resources needed to support 
them, you are doing your part to decrease your personal impact. You’re also freeing up your money to be used in other ways, increasing the quality of your life.
And at the same time, with increased competition between car sharing services in many areas, you will get closer to the instant gratification of being able to get in a car whenever you need, on a moment’s notice. Additionally, as the vehicle you drive is an asset to the company, it’s in their interest to keep it optimally tuned, extracting maximum value from it, and in the process, making in a consistently cleaner running vehicle.
I could go on, but I’d rather hear your opinions on this matter. What is the way or ways you see us, on a personal level, making an impact on the health of the planet and ourselves? Can we shop our way to a better future, or does the whole system need scrapping and retooling?
You bring up a good question. I like to think I’m doing good by the planet by shopping locally for food, buying clothes made from bamboo or organic cotton, etc. However, my ability to make good decisions about what to buy is limited by the information I have about the products’ supply chains, which probably isn’t much! I was listening to New Yorker science writer Michael Spector being interviewed by Terry Gross tonight, and he talked about how complicated it is to calculate the amount of energy that goes into any product and gave examples of counter intuitive figures for the carbon counts of different products.
i really like that car companies are getting in on the action here and giving consumers options, considering the amount of damage done by them. They even compete with each other now! And produce commercials on green living!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bknyIKeGpHA
Yes, the path forward is not always a straight one, Leah.
GGG, that video is f’n brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
Simple answer to your question: No.
There is no way to continue consumption, along with our global economic system, and promote environmental or social justice. They are incompatible. Period.
K, I completely agree with you. We absolutely cannot shop our way to a greener future. However, I wouldn’t say the entire system needs retooling either. Perhaps that thought just seems too overwhelming. Because I live in NYC and I am constantly being surround by commercialism I spend a lot of time thinking about these issues.
I do see a possible answer lying in local businesses and services – as owned by individuals within the local communities. I think shifting our focus to community development would give us the opportunity to teach responsibility, educate consumers, and just give people something to do and be proud of – proud of their communities not their stuff.
Well put, Landis! BALLE, or the Business Alliance For Local Living Economies, is working towards just such a goal. Have a look at http://www.livingeconomies.org/
Great post, Paul,
It is easy to hooked into tossing everything you own and buying new “eco-friendly” choices…but, then that’s not necessarily the most environmentally friendly thing to do. But, we are a nation of shoppers.
We are encouraged to be shoppers by our culture and often by our government (remember post 9/11 Bush - “Buy, baby, buy”)
Turning that around isn’t that easy.Consumer purchases drive so much of our economy…now…much more so than in the past and much more than in other countries…we need to re-think that model.
Good thoughtful post.
Great post, I most certainly think we are moving in the right direction when the consumer at large is starting to take a closer look when placing their product or service vote.
I don’t think you can buy your way to a cleaner future but it will “get the ball rolling” This is one huge ball so to get it rolling is half the battle