System, not consumers, are the big green problem Most
environmentalists would agree consumerism and consumer culture
put too heavy a burden on the planet. Consumer spending is
central to the economy, which is why economists and governments
also pay it close attention. But most mainstream economists say
endless economic growth, which implies limitless consumption, is
both possible and desirable. This ignores how it helps fuel our
ecological problems. Today, most things sold on the market are
made to be thrown out and replaced. A big part of economic
activity is made up of selling products “designed for the dump.”
It’s not hard to see why this suits the biggest firms with the
most market power. They make more money selling new products
regularly than they can from products that are long-lasting,
repairable and easy to upgrade. This cycle begins with the
extraction of raw materials from the earth. The throwaway
economy needs to turn more and more of nature into products for
sale: fossil fuels, soil nutrients, fr