In a recent news item on Yahoo, retail expert Howard Davidowitz predicted a permanent change in America’s standard of living. He discussed how people are buying less at the mall—fewer toys, electronics, clothing–and instead are hoping to shore up their savings. And there’s no end in sight. “The worst is yet to come,” he proclaimed.
His comments reminded me of those made by futurist John Petersen, whose remarks Leafing Out discussed in the Jan. 15 post. Petersen predicted that we’d soon see exponential change in many areas, including the economy, oil, and climate. To cope with these mind-boggling new changes, he said, we need to radically change the way we live. In particular, we need to move to a way of life that’s sustainable.
I see parallels here. Let me say first off that I have deep compassion for the many people hurt by the faltering economy, and in no way am I suggesting that high unemployment is the answer to the world’s woes. But if the new economy means that we no longer can afford to buy the volume of products we’ve bought in the past, ultimately this outcome could have a positive environmental effect.
Roll with me. Suppose I and my friends and my friends’ friends and their friends’ friends decide not to buy new flip flops this summer. What happens if enough people skip buying flip flops? Well, the people who create the plastics, those who assemble the shoes, those who ship the shoes around the country, those who work at the retail store, those who do the marketing–anyone connected to the production and sale of flip flops–ultimately may be out of a job. And again, that’s not an outcome I desire.
At the same time, though, without flip flops we’re not using as much petroleum to make plastic or releasing toxic chemicals into the air or water during plastics production. We’re saving the fuel needed to transport the shoes to stores. We’re also saving the fuel needed months or years later to transport worn-out flip flops to a landfill or incinerator, where their destruction will produce even more greenhouse gases. (For more on the lifecycle of things, see The Story of Stuff.)
That part works for me. Really, how many pairs of flip flops does a person need? How many video game consoles, thumb drives, or USB cup warmers? How many made-in-China plastic doodads in the shape of smiling bears? Especially if we’re pumping toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases into the air to put these items in our homes?
While I admit to sometimes catching the shopping bug myself, I have to ask–how many of our purchases are useful or meaningful, and how many quickly become clutter? Might this new need to save money change the mindset of some Americans? Might we, under financial duress, draw differently the line between what we want and what we need?
A study released earlier this month said, not surprisingly, that experiences cause more pleasure than possessions. This news is not surprising, but it is encouraging. Perhaps we will have a value shift, where after a few money-strapped months, people discover they would rather have a home-cooked dinner with the people they love than buy a new computer that will tempt them to spend more hours online, alone. They’d rather go for a walk outside than sweat in their basement on a new treadmill. They’d rather read to their kids than to buy a toy that will tell the story in an electronic voice.
Perhaps this act of getting back to basics, if combined with growing awareness of environmental issues and the true costs of the things we see at the mall, will open their eyes to the beauty of our planet, and encourage them to protect it before it’s too late.
True, this is an optimistic view, and I’m not holding my breath. But if there’s a silver lining in the current economic situation, perhaps it’s to take us back to what really matters in life. And it isn’t the latest iPhone.
What do you think? Do Americans shop too much? Will the recession ultimately help the planet, or will tight costs push consumers’ environmental concerns to the back burner, especially given the sometimes-higher cost for environmentally responsible products?
