Consumerism and Waste in America
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Questions and Answers

What is the approximate amount of money Americans spent on goods in 2017?

$240 billion

How many garments does the average American buy annually?

66

How has the population of America grown from 2002 to 2017?

13%

What percentage of online purchases are rarely or never returned due to inconvenience?

<p>Nine out of ten</p> Signup and view all the answers

How much do Americans throw away in terms of clothes and textiles each year?

<p>81 pounds</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of plastics were recycled in 2015?

<p>9%</p> Signup and view all the answers

What drives manufacturers to create lower-quality products?

<p>Consumers' desire for cheaper goods</p> Signup and view all the answers

How much is the global middle class expected to grow in the next 20 years?

<p>3 billion people</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has been the impact of online shopping on the growth of consumerism in America?

<p>It has made it easier to purchase products at any time and from anywhere</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has been the effect of the growth of consumerism on the environment?

<p>An increase in waste and pollution</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has spending on personal care items changed since 2002?

<p>It has doubled</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

• Online shopping has made it easier to purchase products at any time and from anywhere, contributing to the growth of consumerism in America. • Despite having abundance, Americans continue to collect more stuff, with spending on goods like jewelry, watches, and luggage doubling from 2002 to 2017. • In 2017, Americans spent $240 billion on goods, twice as much as in 2002, with the population only growing by 13% during that time. • The average American buys 66 garments a year, which is a significant increase in clothing purchases. • Spending on personal care items like lotions and makeup has also doubled since 2002. • Returning online purchases has become a hassle, with nine out of ten shoppers rarely or never returning items due to the inconvenience. • Many online purchases end up unused, becoming clutter in homes, which has led to a growth in storage facilities and thrift stores. • The average American throws away an estimated 81 pounds of clothes and textiles each year, nearly five times more than in 1980. • Only 9% of the 26 million tons of plastics thrown away in 2015 were recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or oceans. • Consumers' desire for cheaper goods has led manufacturers to create lower-quality products, which contribute to the growing waste problem. • The global middle class is expected to grow by 3 billion people in the next 20 years, which will further strain the planet's resources. • If consumption patterns continue, the amount of plastic items in oceans will outnumber fish by the middle of the century. • Some consumers are adopting sustainable lifestyles, such as zero-waste households, capsule wardrobes, and minimalism, to combat the growing waste problem. • Companies can contribute to sustainability by designing products for re-use and multiple life-cycles before composting back into the earth.

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Discover the shocking truth about consumerism in America, from the rise of online shopping to the staggering amounts of waste generated. Learn how individual choices and corporate practices contribute to the problem and what sustainable solutions are emerging.

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