I’m guilty of it, you’re guilty of it, we’re all guilty of it to some extent- partaking in what makes throwaway culture, throwaway culture.
Now, I’m not trying to sound like some crotchety, millennial-blaming, old man who blames the world’s problems on everyone except himself. But I believe that throwaway culture is detrimental to the health of the earth, human beings, and future quality of life.
So I’ve been throwing around the word “throwaway culture” a lot, but never really defined what it actually is. Throwaway culture, otherwise known as throwaway society, can be understood as a culture or society heavily influenced by consumerism, so much so that goods are seen as expendable and treated as such. That expendability is reflected in the quality of items produced, which in turn feeds throwaway society/culture.
It can be described as a vicious cycle. Take for example the textile companies: textile companies outsource their products to be made cheaply in often inhumane conditions, the poor quality or poorly made items are sold in mass amounts for a low cost, and the buyers, over time, are conditioned to believe it’s okay to continuously replace their $10 Charlotte Russe T-shirt that lasts a few washes before it becomes unwearable.
This cycle of waste is extremely detrimental to the environment. In the United States alone, according to a 2014 report, we generate more than 15 million tons of used textile waste. 10.46 million tons of it were sent to the landfill, with only 2.26 million tons recycled, and 3.14 million tons combusted for energy.
In order to produce all those textiles, we consume mass amounts of our limited resources. For example, synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester are made from fossil fuels and petrochemicals. Synthetic fibers are also not biodegradable, leaving fabrics made of nylon and polyester to sit in landfills for decades.
Pure cotton isn’t all that great either. It takes roughly 1,800 gallons of water to produce the amount of cotton needed to make a pair of jeans, and about 400 gallons of water to produce one cotton T-shirt.
The amount of waste we produce can be minimized by being conscious on what we purchase. Instead of purchasing cheap, disposable items in bulk, we could make the switch to long lasting, fair trade items or shop at thrift stores.
Fair trade is a movement in which companies pay their produces a fair wages while promoting sustainable farming methods. While fair trade items tend to be costlier than what you can find at your typical H&M, it is relatively better than promoting companies whose items are produced at the expense of its workers and the environment.
Not everyone can afford to spend, let’s say, 60 dollars for a t shirt and be expected to make a wardrobe out of it. Thrifting can be a great way to account for the day-to-day pieces.
Hopefully, conscious consumerism over time would lead a shift from throwaway society/culture into a more sustainable, ethical system that limits our exploitation of the earth and of those who inhabit it.
James Cantu
Opinions Editor
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