By Adelaide Groff and Maya Schmidt
From collections of 10+ Stanley Cups to closets full of Lululemon leggings, social media has glorified the constant need to buy non-necessities for years now.
Viewers of videos that promote trends often become influenced, and as we scroll away from the video, the itching need to buy those items begins to build up. The problem with trends is that they go out as quickly as they go in. As a society, we have adapted to having social media on our checklist of “to-dos” every day, and it increases how fast these trends spread and influence us. This leads to a cycle of buying the newest and coolest thing, and then getting rid of it or not acknowledging it for a month because it is already out of style. While social media has been the breeding point of microtrends, there has been one recent trend that has become popular: “#UnderconsumptionCore.”
“#UnderconsumptionCore” is a trend in which people show items in their household that have been used completely, all while demonstrating how easy it is to not participate in every trend. The videos under this hashtag display sneakers that have been loved, reused glass jars as planters or storage, medicine cabinets with basic skincare and hygiene necessities, and other items that have been used and reused to their full capacity. Underconsumption should not only be a trend but should be a normalized lifestyle to help save the planet. Underconsumption can be practiced in many different ways, such as reducing the amount of single-use waste we produce or the most commonly known, only buying necessities or replacements.
As we dead-scroll through our phones, we always come across ads or information on new trends. As we continue to take in this information, our brain gets a sense of adrenaline and energy. This burst of energy has us jump onto our searching browsers, looking up every possible store and company that could supply us with these products. We spend hundreds of dollars on items, and once they show up on our front door steps and use these items a couple of times, we forget their very existence. This is overconsumption.
Overconsumption is something we often overlook, even though it is one of the top contributors to climate change and the rate at which it increases its severity. Over two billion tons of greenhouse gas were produced by the fashion trade worldwide. The emissions caused by the fashion industry are double those of the flight and maritime transport industry. These statistics illustrate the absolute need for consuming less, especially in fashion. Luckily, there are steps that anyone can take to help solve the problem of overconsumption.
One key way to avoid overconsumption in everyday life is to think before you buy.
Don’t buy things just because it is the newest trend or it’s on sale. Buy things because you need them. It may seem obvious, but it is extremely necessary to realize when there is a true need for a new item. If there is a small rip in a pair of pants, sew it instead of buying a new pair. If it is just impossible to get to the bottom of the shampoo, add some water to make it easily accessible. Even think about the reason behind going to the store. Did you have a bad weekend, and you’re using retail therapy to feel better? Did a new lip gloss come out and you just have to get it before it sells out? Before each purchase, shopping outing, or visiting an online store, think deeply before you buy something. Separating your feelings from the actual need for a purchase is the foundation of underconsumption.
From there, you can do cute DIY activities and crafts, but only after you use things completely. Don’t buy eco-friendly cleaning products when there is a cabinet full of products already. Incorporating this way of life, even if it is just a little bit, will help the planet (and your wallet).
#UnderconsumptionCore has opened many eyes to ways to live life without overbuying. Although it is a trend, it is more important than that. Together, we can help solve the climate crisis, simply by buying less. Let’s make #UnderconsumptionCore a #Lifestyle.
The authors are seniors at Venice High School.
Photo by trekandshoot on iStockphotocom
Works Cited
“Fast Fashion Statistics.” Earth.org,
www.earth.org/fast-fashion-statistics/.
“Fashion in Numbers.” CNN, 2020, www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/09/style/fashion-in-numbers-sept/.
By Adelaide Groff and Maya Schmidt
From collections of 10+ Stanley Cups to closets full of Lululemon leggings, social media has glorified the constant need to buy non-necessities for years now.
Viewers of videos that promote trends often become influenced, and as we scroll away from the video, the itching need to buy those items begins to build up. The problem with trends is that they go out as quickly as they go in. As a society, we have adapted to having social media on our checklist of “to-dos” every day, and it increases how fast these trends spread and influence us. This leads to a cycle of buying the newest and coolest thing, and then getting rid of it or not acknowledging it for a month because it is already out of style. While social media has been the breeding point of microtrends, there has been one recent trend that has become popular: “#UnderconsumptionCore.”
“#UnderconsumptionCore” is a trend in which people show items in their household that have been used completely, all while demonstrating how easy it is to not participate in every trend. The videos under this hashtag display sneakers that have been loved, reused glass jars as planters or storage, medicine cabinets with basic skincare and hygiene necessities, and other items that have been used and reused to their full capacity. Underconsumption should not only be a trend but should be a normalized lifestyle to help save the planet. Underconsumption can be practiced in many different ways, such as reducing the amount of single-use waste we produce or the most commonly known, only buying necessities or replacements.
As we dead-scroll through our phones, we always come across ads or information on new trends. As we continue to take in this information, our brain gets a sense of adrenaline and energy. This burst of energy has us jump onto our searching browsers, looking up every possible store and company that could supply us with these products. We spend hundreds of dollars on items, and once they show up on our front door steps and use these items a couple of times, we forget their very existence. This is overconsumption.
Overconsumption is something we often overlook, even though it is one of the top contributors to climate change and the rate at which it increases its severity. Over two billion tons of greenhouse gas were produced by the fashion trade worldwide. The emissions caused by the fashion industry are double those of the flight and maritime transport industry. These statistics illustrate the absolute need for consuming less, especially in fashion. Luckily, there are steps that anyone can take to help solve the problem of overconsumption.
One key way to avoid overconsumption in everyday life is to think before you buy.
Don’t buy things just because it is the newest trend or it’s on sale. Buy things because you need them. It may seem obvious, but it is extremely necessary to realize when there is a true need for a new item. If there is a small rip in a pair of pants, sew it instead of buying a new pair. If it is just impossible to get to the bottom of the shampoo, add some water to make it easily accessible. Even think about the reason behind going to the store. Did you have a bad weekend, and you’re using retail therapy to feel better? Did a new lip gloss come out and you just have to get it before it sells out? Before each purchase, shopping outing, or visiting an online store, think deeply before you buy something. Separating your feelings from the actual need for a purchase is the foundation of underconsumption.
From there, you can do cute DIY activities and crafts, but only after you use things completely. Don’t buy eco-friendly cleaning products when there is a cabinet full of products already. Incorporating this way of life, even if it is just a little bit, will help the planet (and your wallet).
#UnderconsumptionCore has opened many eyes to ways to live life without overbuying. Although it is a trend, it is more important than that. Together, we can help solve the climate crisis, simply by buying less. Let’s make #UnderconsumptionCore a #Lifestyle.
The authors are seniors at Venice High School.
Photo by trekandshoot on iStockphotocom
Works Cited
“Fast Fashion Statistics.” Earth.org,
www.earth.org/fast-fashion-statistics/.
“Fashion in Numbers.” CNN, 2020, www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/09/style/fashion-in-numbers-sept/.
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