And, given the global economic and environmental consequences of overproduction and overconsumption, this may not be wholly a terrible thing.

Almost everything we do now necessitates the use of resources that previously had to be mined, processed, converted, bought and sold, and frequently carried across long distances. Trees, gas, oil, metal ores, and water are all raw commodities that our economy is based on. The need for raw materials has increased in recent years, with our resource consumption more than tripling between 1970 and 2010.

However, this consuming behaviour, often known as ‘overconsumption,’ has harmed the climate, our environment, and our natural resource capacity.

What is overconsumption?

When an ecosystem’s resources can no longer be used sustainably, over consumption occurs. It depletes the earth’s natural resources, such as forests, fish, soil, minerals, and water, causing ecosystems to collapse, habitats to deteriorate, and the survival of numerous species that contribute to a complex, vibrant circle of life to be jeopardized.

What is overproduction?

Overproduction occurs when the number of commodities produced exceeds the demands of the consumers. It was the primary cause of the Great Depression. Industries and farms produced more commodities than people could afford to buy, causing prices to fall, companies to close, and employees to lose their jobs, resulting in a seemingly endless cycle of poverty and desire.

“The pleasures of much of our consumption are fast forgotten, but the costs are slow and will be felt by generations for centuries to come.” — Vox

Damage to the environment and the economy

Overproduction and consumption contribute to already high levels of pollution and hazardous gases, which contribute to global warming. Climate change consequences transcend international borders, as well as levels of privilege and wealth, as various publications have revealed over the last decade. As wildfires on the west coast and storms on the east coast grew in intensity and severity, we saw this phenomenon unfold in real time.

We hurt the economy by overproducing and overconsuming. Several industries have struggled in the previous decade with the devastating consequences of creating more than customers can afford to buy.

You may also like: 6 ways your business can reduce waste

Effect on individuals

Overproduction and over consumption may not be immediately obvious to the small fraction of the world’s population that uses the majority of the world’s resources. Potable water, a wide choice of food, access to medicine and healthcare, and sanitary living circumstances are the usual for them, and the concept that any of these things might not be available right away doesn’t even occur to them.

However, for the bulk of the world’s people, not being able to buy overproduced goods or having access to overconsumed resources might be a death sentence. Many of them will die of starvation and dehydration, and many more will die of diseases that could be readily prevented or cured with good healthcare and living conditions.

What can we do?

The zero-waste movement is one great source of inspiration to create a less consuming lifestyle. It can help when wanting to become more conscious about one’s amount of waste processed by consuming, not only focusing on reducing plastic waste but also food waste and from goods. In general, a great way to start consuming more consciously.

It’s much easier said than done to regain control of one’s intake. Consumers, businesses, brands, governments, and international relations will all need to undergo major changes at the same time. We can’t afford to miss the massive benefits of choosing intentionality over consumption. We set aside more time and money for necessary purchases and life experiences that improve our quality of life.

Material consumption gives with one hand and takes with the other. But it’s not too late to throw a wrench in the works by substituting ecologically friendly and non-material consumption for the spokes whenever feasible.

The post Overproduction & Overconsumption – boon or bane? appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

As the holiday season is approaching you must be busy with a lot of preparations and finding eco-friendly gifts for your loved ones can prove to be a hard task. So, to make things easier for you, here are 9 ideas for sustainable gifts.

Handmade Christmas Cards

An eco-friendly Christmas card is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective sustainable Christmas gift ideas available. You can write a customized letter on the appropriate card. Tell the recipient how you’d like to conclude the year with them and the things you value.

When it comes to Christmas cards, there are several environmentally friendly solutions to choose from such as recycled materials, e-cards, and biodegradable cards, and so on.

Gift a succulent

When it comes to a gift for a loved one, you undoubtedly want to make it as special as possible! To that end, you’ll want to go out of your way to make them feel special. In such circumstances, nothing could be more appropriate than giving them something of lasting worth

And if you’re looking for a way to express your actual sentiments, you should Consider giving succulents as a present. Not to mention, these vibrant foliage plants have intriguing meanings that may help you express your actual feelings to the

The person you care about the most! When it comes to succulent symbolism, various civilizations have diverse interpretations.

The cactus, for example, is associated with Native American Indians as a symbol of perseverance and protection. Cactus is thought to bring good luck and riches to its owners. Cactus also denotes maternal love, since it can survive and persevere in hard situations. So, if you’re looking for a unique present for your mother, the cactus is a perfect choice.

Similarly, Succulents like crassula are said to provide good luck and protect the owner from evils and negative energy in Feng Shui. And In Japanese culture, individuals give succulents to those they love as a token of their affection.

Shop locally

This Christmas, show your support for your local stores and markets. You’re more inclined to seek out unique treasures that you won’t find anywhere else, in addition to supporting small businesses.

Small business support contributes to a vibrant, long-term local economy. They’ve also placed more thought and affection into their items. Plus, you’ll almost certainly locate a gift that your loved one doesn’t already have.

Gift a book

Books make excellent gifts since they are thoughtful and thought-provoking at the same time. They can express sentiment and humor in the same way that a card does, but they are so much more! They can assist people in saying things that they might otherwise find difficult to express. Books are superior to many other types of gifts since they do not make you fat, do not wilt, are one-size-fits-all, and are far more entertaining than socks.

And they are such a great investment since they last a lifetime.

Shop for organic cotton clothes

When buying clothes for your loved ones, try to look for organic or recycled clothes. Organic cotton clothes are sustainable.

Organic cotton cultivation is chemical-free and has a low environmental effect. Since hazardous pesticides and fertilizers are not used in its manufacturing process, groundwater is not contaminated, resulting in clean and safe drinking water. According to studies, organic cotton has a 98 percent lower water pollution effect than conventional cotton.

So do keep this on your mind when shopping for clothes.

Indoor herbs garden

At the moment, indoor herb gardens are all the rage. They are incredibly popular and easy to cultivate, whether utilized only for extra green décor to your house or in the kitchen.

Who wouldn’t enjoy receiving a herb garden as a gift? They are simple to grow in a variety of situations, making them an ideal present for someone who lives in the city and does not have access to a garden. Herb gardens are lovely, and you can grow many herbs in the same planter for a wonderful, diverse effect. The right herbs can keep troublesome insects away, offer a pleasant perfume to any area, and give your favorite foods a fresh, home-grown flavor.

Eco-friendly starter kits

If you’re looking to promote the concept of living a sustainable lifestyle amongst your loved ones, these sustainable starter kits might be the perfect gift to help

decrease plastic usage in day-to-day activities. It includes

of sustainable alternatives to a lot of everyday products like a toothbrush, straws, bags, stationery, razor, comb, and so on, for which you would otherwise use plastic for.

Beeswax candles

Beeswax candles are by far – the most natural and sustainable as can be. They are the most environmentally friendly variety, especially when they come from organic beekeeping. Due to the non-oil-based component, they generate clean fumes with low smoke and generate a natural glowing light as compared to Paraffin or soy candles.

Ethical beauty products

While we maintain our vanity’s sanity, we often overlook the potential harm that our beauty practices may be causing to the environment and ecosystem’s stability.

Boycotting plastic packaging, animal testing, and synthetic chemicals many brands have become more cognizant of the idea of eco-friendly products as a result of a move to a more naturalistic approach, not just for our vanity but also for the benefit of mother earth.

Many have returned to the science of Ayurveda to create their formulations, and many more have gone so far as to use eco-friendly packaging to guarantee that buying these products is as environmentally friendly as possible.

So if you’re thinking of gifting a beauty product, try shopping from ethical brands and small businesses.

Christmas is the finest time to offer the perfect present to those you care about. While there are many alternatives available on the market, giving them environmentally friendly presents is always a good idea. You can save the environment in addition to providing them with something useful. Just make sure you get the right present for them, with the right style, so you can be sure they’ll use it regularly.

The post 9 Eco-friendly gift ideas for Christmas appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Less, but better appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Corporate Consultation appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Zero Waste Events appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Waste Management appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Rethink appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Refuse appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Reduce/Reuse appeared first on The Better Earthlings.

The post Repurpose appeared first on The Better Earthlings.