Today, overconsumption has become normal in our daily lives. It is now a cultural norm deeply woven into the lives of many. For example, Tiktok influences who make “get ready with me’s” show their vanity with different makeup products that are not even being used but simply for show. People constantly buy new clothes, gadgets, and other things even when they don’t really need them. Companies keep advertising more products, and we’re told that buying more will make us happier. But all this stuff comes at a cost—not just to our wallets.  It affects peoples psychological well-being, social equality as well as the environment.

Consumer culture promotes the idea that happiness can be found in material goods. Marketing campaigns and ads from companies such as makeup brands, videos from social media influencers and different product updates continue to fuel the passion the human race has towards the greed rooted in us. From fast fashion to things we don’t even need simply, because we “like it,” has caused the environment harm as well.

When we over-consume, we use up more natural resources like water, trees, and fossil fuels. For example, making fast fashion clothes requires tons of water and chemicals that often pollute rivers. The more we buy, the more factories produce, which leads to more air pollution and greenhouse gases. This helps speed up climate change, which affects the whole planet as well as us humans.

While this behavior is often justified for the good of the economy and the happiness of humans, its environmental consequences are huge, and many people tend to look past of its lasting effects.  We need to realize that more isn’t always better. If we want a healthier planet, we should try to buy less, reuse more, and think about the impact of our choices. Small actions by many people can lead to big changes. By normalizing the culture of under-consumption, we can learn the importance of reduce, recycle, and reuse.