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As easy (and understandable) as it is to complain about paper straws and the like, the truth is that it’s overall a new positive to not create trash that will outlive multiple generations of humans. However, the bad news is that we all have a long way to go.

The “Anticonsumption” online group shows the environmental effects of producing, moving, and buying too much stuff through memes and insightful posts. Hopefully, these images might be some good food for thought, so get comfortable, be sure to upvote the posts that caught your eye and comment your thoughts below.

Looking at all the examples here might lead someone to despair, so it’s worth also highlighting that it’s not all doom and gloom. For example, just this week (November of 2024) Australian scientists have developed a method to recycle old textiles into concrete. The fashion industry and fast fashion in particular create mountains of waste, so this is a great step forward.

Remember, many of us purchase cheap clothing that tends to not even last a year, creating monumental water waste for products that end up in landfills at the end of the day. This is a good and sustainable way to turn that junk into a considerably more valuable commodity, construction materials.

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Speaking of emissions, researchers from the University of Massachusetts are working on “agrivoltaics,” a method to help farmers utilize even more of their farmland. The crop? Energy, gathered from solar panels placed across the land. Farming does come with its own emissions, but let's face it, we need food, so might as well make it more efficient.

#7

Because Of The Anticonsumption Mindset, I Have So Much More Respect For Someone Driving A Normal-Sized Old Truck Than A Brand New Gigantic One

Because Of The Anticonsumption Mindset, I Have So Much More Respect For Someone Driving A Normal-Sized Old Truck Than A Brand New Gigantic One

orangecatsocialclub Report

#8

Local Funeral Home Offers This $85 Cardboard Casket. What A Great Way To Not Waste Money And Resources

Local Funeral Home Offers This $85 Cardboard Casket. What A Great Way To Not Waste Money And Resources

enter_the_bumgeon Report

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#9

It’s All Of Our Responsibility, As Inhabitants Of Earth, To Reduce The Impact We Make Upon It! If You Love This Earth, And Want To Make It A Better Place, The First Place To Start Is Living And Shopping More Sustainably! Creating Less Waste Is The First Step In Making Our Earth Healthy Again

It’s All Of Our Responsibility, As Inhabitants Of Earth, To Reduce The Impact We Make Upon It! If You Love This Earth, And Want To Make It A Better Place, The First Place To Start Is Living And Shopping More Sustainably! Creating Less Waste Is The First Step In Making Our Earth Healthy Again

Sharp-Fill6616 Report

You may have noticed that behind most of these developments are researchers and scientists. It’s easy to get lost in the promises of green entrepreneurs, but at the end of the day, it’s research, both privately funded and publicly funded that is going to end up helping our environment.

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#10

My Mother's Blender, Still Choochin Just Fine After 4 Decades Of Use, With All The Original Parts

My Mother's Blender, Still Choochin Just Fine After 4 Decades Of Use, With All The Original Parts

evthrowawayverysad Report

#11

Your Life Has Already Been Designed

Your Life Has Already Been Designed

sweet_jane_13 Report

#12

Made A New Cat Scratch Pad From Trash

Made A New Cat Scratch Pad From Trash

But_like_whytho Report

#13

A Book From The 70s Based On A Computer Model Based On Just A Few Inputs Roughly Predicted The Next 50 Years, We're At The Brink Of Ecological Breakdown, Billions Live In Dire Poverty And The Rich Own More Than Half Of The World's Wealth. If That's Not An Alarming Bell, I Don't Know What Is

A Book From The 70s Based On A Computer Model Based On Just A Few Inputs Roughly Predicted The Next 50 Years, We're At The Brink Of Ecological Breakdown, Billions Live In Dire Poverty And The Rich Own More Than Half Of The World's Wealth. If That's Not An Alarming Bell, I Don't Know What Is

BaseballSeveral1107 Report

#15

Should This Be Implemented Throughout The World?

Should This Be Implemented Throughout The World?

Pitiful_Olive4939 Report

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#17

The Recycling Shop Near Me Has Free Used Paints And Chemicals!😊

The Recycling Shop Near Me Has Free Used Paints And Chemicals!😊

WorldlyRevolution192 Report

#18

This Mother’s Day Ad I Received In The Mail Made Me Sad

This Mother’s Day Ad I Received In The Mail Made Me Sad

SunnyHillsSam Report

#19

Sushi Place Put My California Rolls In A Tupperware Container I Brought Them!

Sushi Place Put My California Rolls In A Tupperware Container I Brought Them!

Chippybops Report

#21

This Is A Great Incentive To Get More People Recycling And Cleaning Our Earth! However, We Must Keep Working To Limit Our Plastic Production And Live Sustainably!

This Is A Great Incentive To Get More People Recycling And Cleaning Our Earth! However, We Must Keep Working To Limit Our Plastic Production And Live Sustainably!

Jewel_Scarlett Report

#22

Which Would You Rather: Cheap Clothes, Or A Habitable Planet?

Which Would You Rather: Cheap Clothes, Or A Habitable Planet?

Alarming-Sandwich-64 Report

#23

♻️a Drain In Karachi, Pakistan. Hard Work Can Go A Long Way In Cleaning This Earth! Use Less Waste And Work On Picking Up Litter During Your Day! Live And Shop Sustainably ♻️

♻️a Drain In Karachi, Pakistan. Hard Work Can Go A Long Way In Cleaning This Earth! Use Less Waste And Work On Picking Up Litter During Your Day! Live And Shop Sustainably ♻️

Beautiful-Article406 Report

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#25

Courtesy Of A Canadian Grocery Chain

Courtesy Of A Canadian Grocery Chain

Virtual_Mall_7031 Report

#26

Pulled From A Local Pet Stores Dumpster

Pulled From A Local Pet Stores Dumpster

hailey199666 Report

#28

This Sculpture Represents The Amount Of Plastic Found On Only 2 Miles Of Coastline In The UK. We Can Do Better! Live And Shop Sustainably

This Sculpture Represents The Amount Of Plastic Found On Only 2 Miles Of Coastline In The UK. We Can Do Better! Live And Shop Sustainably

LowCommercial4209 Report

#29

Shows How Outrageous Pricing Has Gotten, But At Least This Is A Small Step Towards Sustainable Consumerism

Shows How Outrageous Pricing Has Gotten, But At Least This Is A Small Step Towards Sustainable Consumerism

zifer24 Report

#32

I Wouldn’t Care If People Vaped If They Weren’t Generating So Much Plastic Waste

I Wouldn’t Care If People Vaped If They Weren’t Generating So Much Plastic Waste

thewildersea Report

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#33

From My Days Working In A College Dining Hall

From My Days Working In A College Dining Hall

arik_tf Report

#34

This Smoothie Place I Went To Gives You Mason Jars To-Go, And Fills It Each Time You Bring It Back

This Smoothie Place I Went To Gives You Mason Jars To-Go, And Fills It Each Time You Bring It Back

no_blueforyellow Report

#37

A Whopping 58% Of Food Is Wasted Or Lost In Canada Every Year. The Pandemic Has Put Extra Strain On An Already Inefficient Food System As We Saw Farmers Forced To Dump Milk And Abandon Crops Due To Plummeting Demand

A Whopping 58% Of Food Is Wasted Or Lost In Canada Every Year. The Pandemic Has Put Extra Strain On An Already Inefficient Food System As We Saw Farmers Forced To Dump Milk And Abandon Crops Due To Plummeting Demand

Competitive_Proof369 Report

#38

Now There Are "Disposable" Vapes You Can Play Games On

Now There Are "Disposable" Vapes You Can Play Games On

translinguistic Report

#39

The Weight Of Different Breeds Of Chicken Over Their Lifespan

The Weight Of Different Breeds Of Chicken Over Their Lifespan

usernames-are-tricky Report

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#41

Neighbors Threw Out Their $5400 Play Set Because It Was “Rotten”. Just Needed Some Paint, Good As New

Neighbors Threw Out Their $5400 Play Set Because It Was “Rotten”. Just Needed Some Paint, Good As New

Unfair-Reference-69 Report

#44

Found At The Park And Grabbed Before My Daughter Could. Turns Out It's Disposable. What A Waste Of Material For One Use And Screw People Who Leave These At Parks 🙄

Found At The Park And Grabbed Before My Daughter Could. Turns Out It's Disposable. What A Waste Of Material For One Use And Screw People Who Leave These At Parks 🙄

thesocialmediadetox Report

#45

On To The Next Fad

On To The Next Fad

CrazyAssBlindKid Report

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Comment Deleted
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would be embarrassed to own one of these now. After watching those videos of people jumping over the counter at Starbucks to steal one and pushing people over to grab one on sale. No thanks. I feel like your life lacks meaning if you need to do this. And for what ? How low is your self esteem that you need to show some random product as a win.

DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I can never understand is the need to buy these things that are in fashion...like...why, my Camelbak cost 10$ and does the same thing...and even better I might add.

UncleJohn3000
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Camelbak already rode their wave of popularity to great profit and then declined to a fair price. I think they did it well - the name is everywhere.

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Jessica Cooney
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So there is no way in the world I would pay stanley prices, BUT Walmart sells Ozark brand cups that are MUCH cheaper and do the same thing. Its convenient to have a much larger cup to sip on in the car, so I got 2. That's my limit. I don't need all the colors of the rainbow.

Hassel Davidhoff
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand what was so special about these cups. Do any of you know? Did some rapper use one in a music video or something? What made them so popular? It isn't like they're doing something other cups can't do, as far as I can tell.

Fire Singer
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My understanding, and anyone please feel free to correct me, it happened because of the video that came out of a woman whose car caught fire and she showed her Stanley cup still had ice in it. The Stanley CEO responded with a video saying the company appreciated her inadvertent advertising of their product and they would pay to replace her car. This sent people into a spiral saying what a wonderful company it was and how great the cups were. Now, they're fine cups, I have one that was gifted to me from work, but they're nothing special in my opinion. And now that I have one that doesn't even keep the ice for over 24 hours I'm convinced the whole video thing was a scam to get sales up because if my ice melts overnight then it couldn't possibly last through a car fire. But that's where my conspiracy mind comes in.

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nuberiffic
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I finally got to hold one last week. they feel so cheap and flimsy.

John Nelson
Community Member
2 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have an inexpensive insulated mug I use everywhere. Got it cheap at a discount store. I even use it in fast food restaurants or convenience stores when I'm on the road. One less plastic cup and straw going to the landfill each time, and most don't care if I pay for a large drink and use it instead. But an overpriced one just because it's "fashionable"? No thanks!

S
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw an attachment for one of these you can still drink and look at your phone one handed. We were always doomed.

George Costanza
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just a thing that holds a beverage. Why does anyone care about these things?

Vermonta
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are way too many producers of the same products. Ever try to find a new shampoo? Aisles of it.

Megan Fair
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was gifted a National Parks Hydroflask that I've been using for the last 5 years and love. I don't need a million different cups.

Robin DJW
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use Bubba kegs and carafes that I bought over a decade ago. I'm having my morning coffee from one as I type. It's so easy to make small changes that over time make big effects. And I do NOT buy bottled water or sodas in plastic bottles. Get Brita (or similar) pitchers if you don't like the taste of your tap water.

Remi (He/Him)
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What are you people even doing with these cups? I really don't see any situation where they would be useful

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#47

Making It Look Like A Bigger Amount Is More Important Than Using Less Plastic

Making It Look Like A Bigger Amount Is More Important Than Using Less Plastic

Unusual_Car215 Report

#48

What Was The Point Of The Plastic Bag Ban If They're Simply Going To Rebrand Them?

What Was The Point Of The Plastic Bag Ban If They're Simply Going To Rebrand Them?

The_Escargot_Pudding Report

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#49

2 Billion Dollar Home In Mumbai Built On Orphanage Land Worth 10 M, Sold For 2.5m, Overlooking Slums

2 Billion Dollar Home In Mumbai Built On Orphanage Land Worth 10 M, Sold For 2.5m, Overlooking Slums

swan001 Report

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#51

Apple Store Vandalized In Berlin

Apple Store Vandalized In Berlin

SpaceTurf Report

#52

But The Shareholder Value

But The Shareholder Value

Earlobed69 Report

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#53

This Is It. This Is Peak Consumerism

This Is It. This Is Peak Consumerism

Lucifers_Lantern Report

#54

Some Billboards In The Netherlands Have Been Taking Commercial Breaks A Few Seconds Every Minute

Some Billboards In The Netherlands Have Been Taking Commercial Breaks A Few Seconds Every Minute

biggestoof1 Report

#56

I Can't Afford/ Don't Want To Buy New Jeans So Patched It Instead. This Is My 1st Time Patching Clothes So I Hope It Holds

I Can't Afford/ Don't Want To Buy New Jeans So Patched It Instead. This Is My 1st Time Patching Clothes So I Hope It Holds

JaxZeus Report

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#57

I Got A Wet Stone And Am Sharpening Everything

I Got A Wet Stone And Am Sharpening Everything

Electricmothman Report

#58

Does This Count As "Repaired"? Fabric Shaver At Work

Does This Count As "Repaired"? Fabric Shaver At Work

gerlindee Report

#59

All This Plastic For 6 Chocolates

All This Plastic For 6 Chocolates

rustystach Report

#60

This Is A Disposable Video Display Used As An Advertisement

This Is A Disposable Video Display Used As An Advertisement

Zorg_Employee Report

#61

“But You Absolutely Need Our New And Latest Phone For $1,000!”

“But You Absolutely Need Our New And Latest Phone For $1,000!”

K-man_100 Report

#62

Nothing Better Than A Car Dependent, Environmentally Unsustainable Lifestyle

Nothing Better Than A Car Dependent, Environmentally Unsustainable Lifestyle

excitingaffair39 Report

#64

Get In Losers, Disposable Tables Just Dropped

Get In Losers, Disposable Tables Just Dropped

sloopitsteady Report

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#65

The Most Unnecessary Product I Have Ever Seen

The Most Unnecessary Product I Have Ever Seen

stellateranto Report

#67

This Is So Dystopian, Company Makes A Bench Turn Your Bare Legs Into Ads

This Is So Dystopian, Company Makes A Bench Turn Your Bare Legs Into Ads

hideandsee Report

#70

Advertise For Them, For The Low Price Of $5 Each

Advertise For Them, For The Low Price Of $5 Each

TPandPT Report

#71

Very Confused By This Advertisement

Very Confused By This Advertisement

Peachesornot Report

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#73

Anyone Else Really Annoyed By The Jeep Ducks And Other Copy Cats?

Anyone Else Really Annoyed By The Jeep Ducks And Other Copy Cats?

roosoh Report

#75

Mercedes Locks Faster Acceleration Behind A $1,200 Annual Paywall

Mercedes Locks Faster Acceleration Behind A $1,200 Annual Paywall

40orangeglazecake Report

#76

Who Tf Needs All Of This For Just A Cup You Drink Water From?

Who Tf Needs All Of This For Just A Cup You Drink Water From?

Classic_Feeling5928 Report

#77

But You Already Have A Less Cute Version Of All Of This Stuff

But You Already Have A Less Cute Version Of All Of This Stuff

WonderfulAgent6 Report

#78

This Kind Of Stuff Makes Me Irrationally Angry

This Kind Of Stuff Makes Me Irrationally Angry

honey_sofie Report

#79

Plastic-Free Wipes…in Plastic Packaging

Plastic-Free Wipes…in Plastic Packaging

Crimson__Fox Report

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#82

I Assumed This Was R/Anticonsumption

I Assumed This Was R/Anticonsumption

gloomspell Report

#83

I Always Disliked Spotify But Now I Actually Hate It

I Always Disliked Spotify But Now I Actually Hate It

Arman11511 Report

#88

Nike Tops Their Own High Tops With This Dumb Idea

Nike Tops Their Own High Tops With This Dumb Idea

Swimming-Most-6756 Report

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#89

So Proud Of This Joke In My Hinge Profile

So Proud Of This Joke In My Hinge Profile

PretentiouslyHip Report

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#90

Boston Throw Away Your Mattress Day Was Today

Boston Throw Away Your Mattress Day Was Today

Hwarang-MK Report

#91

Yeah, What's Wrong With The Internet?

Yeah, What's Wrong With The Internet?

josemf Report

#92

Found This On R/Shittytattoos. Humanity Has Fallen 🤦

Found This On R/Shittytattoos. Humanity Has Fallen 🤦

grumpybobaspy Report

#93

I’ve Used The Same 50 Cent Razor For Over 1.5 Years And It Still Works Totally Fine

I’ve Used The Same 50 Cent Razor For Over 1.5 Years And It Still Works Totally Fine

Dewnami Report

#94

I Just Went To Milan And It Is A Huge Consumer Market. Ads Are Everywhere, They Even Put A LED Panel On Their Cathedral

I Just Went To Milan And It Is A Huge Consumer Market. Ads Are Everywhere, They Even Put A LED Panel On Their Cathedral

imgettingthere_ Report