Modern college students in the United States can now purchase almost anything they desire without ever leaving campus. Students can get food delivered right to their door, have access to clean water on campus, and never worry about having to pay for electricity or WiFi. Although having access to basic necessities is a privilege it has led to unsustainable social habits. People are buying more than they actually need.
Students are known for their excessive consumption. Students fill campus with the latest fast-fashion trends every semester, and dorms are filled with excessive decorations. These are just two examples of excessive consumption.
These types of consumer behavior are the foundation of today’s fastest-growing companies. Shopping, once a necessary function, has become a social activity that is based on excessive consumption. Shoppers walk into stores with no idea what they need and walk out with products they don’t even need. It encourages people not to listen to their needs but to follow their compulsions. The American over-consumer is a common habit.
Advertising encourages unconscious consumption. Students are bombarded with advertisements and social media influence, buying huge amounts of clothing. IncreasingAmerican meals have large portions. Daily coffee runs are also common. These practices promote overconsumption by promoting shopping without taking into account the consequences. Furthermore, excessive buying of any product can lead to waste. It begs us ask the question: Can the environment handle all this?
This impulse glorification cannot be continued by the Western consumer. Experts have developed a theory to explain this reality. overshoot dayThis is where a nation’s sustainability is measured in terms of its resource consumption.
The U.S. has already surpassed that mark this year. overshoot dayOn March 13, 2022 we had already used more resources than what we’ll be able to regenerate by 2022. To ensure ecological sustainability, the American society must reduce its consumption. We must reduce consumption if we are to prevent the destruction of our environment. Catastrophic effectsClimate change and environmental degradation are both threats to our health as society.
To surviveHumans don’t need any material possessions, other than food, shelter, and occasional sentimental or hobby items. Many of the dorm supplies marketed to students for dorm purposes are unnecessary.
It is up to the individual to decide what they need. It is possible to argue that students don’t require more than two sets or new school supplies every semester. I have decided to reduce my clothing consumption and stick to simple staples like my Converse shoes. I am functional without having to wear ten different shades of the exact same piece of clothing.
Individuals have to decide what is important for their own lives. Self-agency is the ability to determine what is valuable and not what society or advertising decides it is.
Students should be more aware of the differences between necessity and nonessentials. This will help reduce overconsumption and increase societal sustainability.
Harrison Vogt is a junior environment sustainability communication and rhetorical studies double major. His column appears biweekly. You can reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @VogtHarrison
Published at 12:10 AM on April 20, 2022
