by María José Alvarez Toribio (‘27)

In a world driven by consumerism, the consequences of overconsumption loom closer and larger than ever before. Buying the trendiest items to stay in fashion seems like the top priority to most, especially during hugely marketed holidays. However, our present economic choices will inevitably have a permanent impact on the planet and humanity, so it is important to be aware of their consequences. Although our current patterns of consumption may seem harmless, creating the products we consume insidiously destroys our ecosystems and systemically exploits many people, especially marginalized communities in the Global South. While indulging in material products may provide temporary satisfaction, the lasting effects on the environment easily overshadow the momentary pleasure of consuming them. 

Considering that there are currently enough existing clothing items to clothe the next six generations, the rapid growth in the production of new garments has become concerning. One of the biggest reasons the fast fashion industry is so harmful to the environment is that the life cycle of clothing items entails the consumption of an exuberant amount of energy. In fact, it takes over 2000 L of water to make a single t-shirt, which is the same amount of water a person drinks in 3 years. Water insecurity crises have reached an all-time high over the past years, with 3 billion people facing a water shortage in 2023 globally. Assuming our current patterns of consumption persist, it is expected that by 2025, two-thirds of the world will face water scarcity. The immense environmental impact of the overproduction and overconsumption of clothes has to be addressed with urgency. 

Aside from the environmental issues overconsumption creates, it also impacts people’s mental health. The excessive accumulation of unnecessary products can be linked to poor mental well-being. The sustained encouragement to continuously purchase more material products than a person needs can cause a dangerously materialistic outlook. The pressure to purchase overpriced merchandise further deepens the relationship between social status and happiness as constructs and metrics of success. This dynamic leads to a standard that is neither realistic nor attainable to most people. 

By simple laws of supply and demand, overconsumption of any good potentiates overproduction in any market. Together, they carry many negative externalities borne by the planet, as well as by those who produce the goods we so carelessly consume. Many companies use sweatshops in foreign countries to manufacture their products and pay their workers below minimum wage. To decrease costs and maximize profits, factories are set in counties with little to no labor regulations. By outsourcing labor, companies can get away with using pre-existing factories with hazardous infrastructures for the people and illegally exploiting children who are hired by these companies. 

In a time where materialism represents a privilege not many can afford, the presence of overconsumption itself overwhelms our society through media and even simple social interactions. It is imperative to challenge the norms that perpetuate overconsumption by re-evaluating the terms we’re willing to accept as responsible consumers.