This we know. Each time a who’s-it buys a what’s-it, any or all of the following events have already happened or will soon take place:

• Energy is consumed to extract the raw materials to make the what’s-it. Energy production more often than not results in environmental pollution. Raw material extraction destroys and disturbs wildlife habitat.
• The raw materials are then transported to the location of manufacture. That takes more energy and produces more pollution.

• To assemble the raw materials into what’s-its, more energy and equipment are required, aside from the energy needed to provide heat and light for the what’s-it factory. Jobs are created or maintained to carry out production, but under what conditions, the who’s-its rarely know.
• At some point the manufacturer and/or retailer of the what’s-its may well have bought ad space in various print media, or even produced a flyer for that matter to encourage all the who’s-its out there to buy what’s-its. The production of said advertising materials will have required the consumption of further energy and materials.

• Next the what’s-its are packaged. Producing the packaging and getting it to the factory represents further consumption of energy and resources.
• Once protected from the threat of damage, what’s-its are shipped to retailers far and wide by plane, truck, or boat. Guess what? Transportation consumes energy and creates pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Typically, each who’s-it drives to and from the store to retrieve one bag or more of what’s-its. To help the who’s-its buy the what’s-its, retailers tend offer paved and often covered parking areas. Parking lots and spots take large amounts of energy and materials to build, and lead to more run-off.
• Keeping retail spaces presentable, electrified, and warm or cool requires more what? Energy and resources.
• Once at home, the what’s-its are unwrapped. Packaging may or may not be recyclable, and even if it is, the who’s-it may not have local recycling collection. For some what’s-its, this makes for more garbage in the landfill.
• If the what’s-it has a cord attached, it will be plugged into an outlet to consume more energy when in use. Sometimes the what’s-it will still use some energy even when not in use!

• If the who’s-it didn’t really need the what’s-it in the first place, it may be stored with other unused what’s-its in a space that is most likely being heated or cooled with energy. Some who’s-its buy so many what’s-its that they upsize their houses to gain more storage space. But larger homes take more energy and resources to build, heat, and maintain.
• If the what’s-it was truly needed, it will be lovingly used until it stops functioning, becomes worn, or reaches obsolescence. The what’s-it is then hopefully recycled, but more likely landfilled.

What is Buy Nothing Day?

Buy Nothing Day aims to bring light to many of the above human and environmental impacts of consumerism. It’s a chance for each of us to reboot and ponder our buying habits, and to rediscover happiness and satisfaction in life’s non-material activities.

Buy Nothing Day is also about revamping why, how and what we buy year-round. If we all choose locally-made eco-friendly and ethical products whenever possible, communities, ecosystems and the climate will be a whole lot better off. Likewise, if we only buy what we need when we need it, we won’t be so cash-strapped and stressed out about maintaining and storing a house full of clutter.

Conscious Consumerism

I must confess, my hubby caught me yesterday gearing up to buy a decent quality cordless drill on sale for only $49. Our current cordless drill set is useless because the batteries are shot. We didn’t buy high-quality when we should have. But I grudgingly admit that replacing our old cordless is no emergency since we have a corded back-up.

It’s pretty clear that few are immune to the addictive habit of popular consumption. Buy Nothing Day might just be the annual day-long ‘buying diet’ we all need, to meditate on the impacts of our dollars, and discover creative ways to meet our needs.

What to Do on Buy Nothing Day

• Buy nothing
• Borrow something
• Lend something
• Declutter
• Sleep in
• Read a book
• Make something
• Take a walk
• Play a game
• Think of one thing you can make instead of buy and make plans to do it next week
• Meditate
• Look through your photos
• Phone a friend or family member
• Attend a Buy Nothing Day event in your community
• Call up a local politician and discuss an issue that’s important to you
• Play that dusty instrument you’ve been neglecting
• Repair something

Resources

Buy Nothing Day – About the event.

The Grist’s A Consumption Manifesto – Guidelines for cutting consumption.

Lendlist.org – A tool to borrow from and lend to your friends.

Etsy – Your place to buy and sell all things handmade.

Canadian Fair Trade Association – All about fair trade.

Ecoholic, by Adria Vasil – Fabulous Canadian book about how and where to buy greener.