By Julianna Nelson-Gaudette
Elm Staff Writer
As campus life resumes this semester, students should remember the impact that overconsumption has on the environment. Despite the instant gratification of clicking a few buttons and receiving a package the next day, some foresight into the necessity of purchases and the reality of their use is essential.
Many trends circulated this past summer, from fashion to food, but Labubus—monstrous, bunny-like collectible plush toys—spiraled into territory that had not been touched since the Beanie Babies and Furbies obsession throughout the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, according to Retail Dive.
Although fun, the uptick in Labubu sales sparked discourse about the severity of modern consumption. Many urged other online users to think about their purchases with a five-year outlook. Though daunting, avoiding overconsumption is not impossible.
Reevaluate necessities According to Commons, a sustainable lifestyle app, there are a few easy ways to overcome the impulse to consume. Start by leaving an item in a website’s shopping cart for 24 hours to see if the product still has its allure after a full day. If the item is not an immediate need, try scouting local second-hand shops.
Consider long-term usefulness
Before making a purchase that is not otherwise essential, evaluate realistically the length of time it will be kept or deemed useful. If the answer is less than a year, then it would be wise economically and ecologically to avoid clicking purchase and prevent yet another item from ending up in a landfill next to unwanted Labubus.
Repair if possible
Try to repair items before replacing them. If a beloved pair of jeans is sporting a new hole, ask a friend who knows how to stitch if they can help patch the hole or learn to sew yourself. According to ReMake, basic mending such as sewing buttons and repairing seams, is easy to learn. Repairing items is also a great way to add a personal touch, especially to clothing.
Budget accordingly
Create a personal budget, whether monthly or weekly. With obtainable financial expectations in place, the cost of a good that is not essential can serve as a deterrent to unwarranted spending. If after all of that an online order is still necessary, try to minimize the number orders by combining individual goods into one shipment. By doing this, those items not only arrive together, but they come in one box, emitting less emissions, as opposed to multiple trips with multiple boxes, according to Commons.
Avoid giving into temptation every time a well-done ad appears at the perfect time, but do not let the realities of consumerism make you feel guilty for buying necessities. Overconsumption is almost impossible to avoid, but by reducing, reusing, and thinking twice before making impulse purchases, small lifestyle changes help reduce the impact of consumerism.
Photo Caption: Senior Elm Staff Writer Melinda Kern obtained her Labubu secondhand after it had been discarded in a bush in South Korea.
Photo by Myla Harrell