Psychology of consumerism and its impact on environmental damage

Abstract

Carbon emission, a leading cause of climate change, is arguably the most important problem that humanity faces today. While global solutions have primarily centered around reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, an aspect of human behavior that plays a critical role in generating carbon emissions and causing severe environmental damage is often overlooked: consumer behavior. The increased accessibility of products has contributed greatly to our convenience; however, the growth in manufacturing has not only amplified the carbon footprint of human activities but has also engendered a wide range of other environmental challenges, including growing landfill waste and overproduction of goods.

In this review article, I investigate the underlying psychology behind the desire for new products and examine how consumer culture encourages and fuels such desires. Moreover, I provide a comprehensive review of the extent of the environmental impact produced by returned goods and fast fashion garments. This review highlights the broader consequences of our seemingly harmless purchasing decisions by demonstrating different types of waste produced during the lifecycle of goods from production to disposal. Finally, I propose potential solutions that can shift society towards more sustainable consumption. Such solutions, including promotion of used marketplaces, can lead to drastic changes without the need to significantly alter our ways of life.