Marketing, Consumption, Waste

A strong, very contagious and addictive 'buy' virus has been mutating through society for many years now. Infected by massive amounts of creative, questionable corporate marketing methods it is creating very serious problems. Among them, the cost to produce and purchase products, and the resulting disposal of mountains of waste.

There is increasing social interest on this topic, particularly visible on the internet. Yet there is waste everywhere as the great pressures to purchase more continues. Redirecting and refining consumerism to take a more sensible place in our society will have unfortunate economic implications and will need careful planning. This will happen eventually in some manner, and the longer it takes the more painful will be the cure.

Valerie Yule at On Line Opinion provides some useful insight on the topic of waste.

Cutting waste - saving the planet without destroying economies discusses the causes and extent of waste. It outlines unnecessary and excessive consumption, how to reduce waste, and the challenges ahead.

The growing movement for individuals to become more environmentally careful in their life-styles focuses on measures such as less energy-wasting light-globes and re-using plastic bags. Our range of wasting and their economic consequences are still to be thought out. Waste can be defined as anything turned into rubbish before it needs to be. About half of everything produced involves waste at one stage or another. Most waste involves carbon emissions at one or more stages in its life - in the production of materials to make it, in the manufacture and in its distribution, in energy required to use it, and the energy and emissions in either recycling or turning it into trash.

Read more on Cutting Waste - the types, and unnecessary excesses at On Line Opinion

The US Environmental Protection Agency outlines many practical steps with:
The Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste.