anticonsumption

Anticonsumption is a critical stance toward contemporary consumer society that questions the central role of material acquisition in identity, status, and well-being. Proponents argue that relentless consumption drives environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social inequality, while advertising and planned obsolescence foster dissatisfaction and waste. The concept encompasses a variety of practices and philosophies aimed at reducing dependence on goods and revaluing non-material aspects of life.

Origins and scope generally trace to broader anti-consumerist and ecological movements that gained attention in the late 20th century. Anticonsumption overlaps with minimalist and voluntary simplicity ideologies, degrowth, steady-state economics, and sustainable living. It does not deny needs or modern comforts entirely, but seeks to redefine fulfillment beyond possession and to promote sufficiency, community resilience, and long-term ecological health.

Practices associated with anticonsumption include repairing and reusing instead of discarding goods, upcycling, sharing and borrowing within communities, buying locally or secondhand, reducing overall consumption, and resisting impulse purchases or conspicuous display. Campaigns may target fast fashion, planned obsolescence, aggressive advertising, and consumer credit culture, while advocating policies that extend product lifespans, encourage repair, and reduce waste.

Critiques of anticonsumption note potential tensions with livelihoods that depend on consumer activity, questions about practicality in highly consumer-oriented economies, and concerns about individual focus masking structural economic drivers. Advocates respond by emphasizing collective action, cultural change, and systemic reforms that align economic activity with environmental limits and social well-being.

In summary, anticonsumption is a multifaceted approach that challenges the primacy of consumption and promotes alternatives centered on sustainability, simplicity, and community.