Did you know that over 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to only 100 companies? Among this 100 are various oil, gas, energy, and coal producers from all around the world, but there’s one thing they all have in common: they are destroying the planet for profit and have no intentions of citizens consuming less.

Thankfully, there are many people who want to fight back against greedy capitalist corporations and urge others to make more conscious decisions about what they buy and use. One place where these like-minded individuals tend to gather is the Anticonsumption subreddit. We’ve gone through the group, and found some of the most insightful and eye-opening posts that might make you reconsider your next fast fashion purchase or inspire you to start biking to work. Be sure to upvote the posts that you agree with the most, and then let us know in the comments below how you aim to reduce, reuse, and recycle more. Then if you’re looking for even more anticonsumption inspiration, you can check out Bored Panda’s last post on this same subreddit right here.

#1 Us Law Needs To Be Amended

Image credits: Ch_Anderson

It is unreasonable to expect everyone to drop everything and go zero-waste overnight. First of all, most societies are just not set up to support that kind of lifestyle. Even purchasing necessities at the supermarket requires some plastic, paper, glass and/or cardboard consumption. Also, many people are not taught to have a mindset of minimalism. Capitalism actually preaches the opposite. Consume consume consume. Bigger is better, and the more the merrier. Whether that be pairs of shoes, cars, how much food we eat, how large our homes are, how long our showers are, or how green our grass is, capitalism encourages extremes.

But who is really benefiting from that kind of lifestyle? Is buying the newest iPhone actually making you happier? Or is it causing you stress to think about how tight your budget will be now thanks to monthly payments on that small electronic device? And does having a huge home mean anything if you have to work 60 hours a week to be able to afford it? Groups like Anticonsumption challenge individuals to rethink what they have been taught and make conscious decisions that will actually benefit their lives and the planet.

#2 Remember Kids, “Vegan Wool” Is Plastic. And When It Breaks, It’s Decomposition Will Not Be Friendly

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#3 Billionaires

Image credits: DangerStranger138

The Anticonsumption subreddit was created on September 25, 2009, and has amassed over 420k members since then. The group’s description simply states, “Consumerism Kills", and their rules explain that the group is “primarily for criticizing, questioning, and discussing consumerism and current consumption standards”. Common topics discussed among members include consumerism, planned obsolescence, economic materialism, inefficiency, marketing, advertising and branding, sustainability, exploitation, conspicuous consumption, social harm and intellectual property.

As you’ll see throughout this list, there are plenty of sneaky ways corporation try to persuade consumers into buying more and plenty of ideas the average person never stops to question. For example, why do people want mowed lawns with bright green grass when the weeds and wildflowers that naturally grow are actually beautiful? There’s no need to waste water and spend electricity and fuel on a lawnmower when you can just allow nature to take its course. Yet the expectation in many places is to have a perfectly manicured lawn, so residents continue to follow the trend.

#4 This Is Disturbing

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#5 This Belongs Here

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#6 Someone On My Street Said “No” To Big, Wasteful Lawns

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The idea of being “anticonsumption” might seem daunting at first because you might not even know where to begin. Once you start thinking about reducing your waste and energy usage, everything will stand out to you. Why is produce wrapped in plastic at the store? How many miles are you driving each week that you could easily bike instead? How much air conditioning are you blasting through your entire home each summer? If you agree with the mindset of anticonsumption, start taking small steps to reduce your carbon footprint.

You can start with buying less in general. The next time you see an ad for a kitchen gadget you swear you need or you feel the temptation to purchase a small novelty item, don’t just throw it into your shopping cart. Really consider how valuable the item is. Do you need it? How often will you use it? Will it improve your life? Will it actually make you happier? The first step to reducing your consumption is being mindful about what you purchase and what you are supporting by giving that company your money. If you can imagine an item ending up in the trash or shoved in the back of your closet within the next few months, maybe it isn’t worth it.

#7 The American Dream

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#8 Can We Agree That Libraries Are Underrated And Not Appreciated Enough In This Consumerist Society?

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#9 Free Vegetable Leaves For Pets In My Local Supermarket‘S Produce Section

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When you really do need to purchase something, don’t just hop on Amazon or run to the nearest retail store. Think outside the box. Most things can be purchased second hand at a local thrift store or through online resources like Facebook marketplace. By shopping this way, you are likely to spend much less and you are not contributing to a huge corporation’s demand for products. We are told through countless advertisements and corporations that getting what we want as fast and as simply as possible is the best way to live, but that is exactly what is killing our planet. Remember that there are alternatives to purchasing something brand new, and although it might take a bit more effort than spending 5 minutes searching online, it will likely save you money and require less resources in the long run.

#10 Who's The Thief?

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#11 This Sign-Holder At A Toronto Protest Might Have A Point

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#12 Less Population = Less Sales = Sad Rich Overlords

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It is also important to be conscious of the quality of things we purchase. Opting to buy a cheap plastic product when there are more sustainable alternatives is not always the best choice. Think about where that object comes from and where it will end up. Will it even last one year? If you can manage to spend a little more at the time of purchase, items that are built to last are always worth it. It will be less hassle for you when you don’t have to worry about buying a new toothbrush every few months, and you will be creating less waste. The same goes for clothing as well. Fast fashion is extremely wasteful, so when you can afford to buy clothing made from well-made materials and fabrics, you are investing in that item for years to come. Birkenstocks and Doc Martens seem expensive until you have been wearing the same pair for 10 years and they are still going strong. Weigh the pros and cons of all of your purchases.

#13 Feeling Futile

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#14 Why Buy A Sled When You Can Borrow One?

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#15 I Saw This And Thought It Was A Good Idea! What Do You Think?

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Adopting an anticonsumption mindset is important because our planet is running out of time. One report from the UN found that the richest one percent of the world’s population produces more than double the emissions of the poorest half of the world. The culprit for all of these emissions is consumption. Larger houses, more cars, more international and or private flights, etc. The more money they have, the more access they have to resources, and most affluent individuals are more concerned about their quality of life than leaving the planet in a livable state for future generations. The more we consume, the more stress we are putting on the Earth, so even if it seems like your impact is a drop in the bucket, remember that every ounce of effort counts.

#16 They Sure Know How To Make Two Opposing And Equally Stupid Ideas Coexist Harmoniously Inside A Desperate Person's Skull

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#17 We Need A Different Economy

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#18 The Lucrative War Is A Thing

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Consuming less might take lots of effort at first, but over time, it will become second nature. Passing up on small wasteful purchases will make the things that you do have more meaningful. Owning something for a long time allows it to build sentimental value and become much more valuable than a newer product that you didn’t really need but felt pressured into buying. Having a more simple life will likely make you feel more satisfied as well. By accepting what you have and not constantly searching for something new or attempting to keep up with everyone else, you can just relax. A time will come one day when that old blender will eventually break, and you will be tasked with buying a new (at least to you) one. But for the most part, you can be content knowing that your wallet and the planet thank you for purchasing less.

#19 This Would Be A Good Visual For People. I Know It Would Be Heavier For Me Seeing It At A Restaurant

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#20 Hypocrites Much?

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#21 That Last Line

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Gaby Del Valle at Vox spoke to Richard Heede, co-founder and co-director of the Climate Accountability Institute, about how consumption is harming the planet and what we can do to help. Richard provided a host of recommendations for what individuals can do. “We can reduce our household footprint from 24,000 pounds [of CO2] per year, on average, if you take the average household in the United States. We can easily cut that in half if we invest in energy efficiency,” he explained. “A lot of things are free to do: We don’t have to brush our teeth or shave with hot water running, or take very long showers. Turning off unneeded light, air-drying clothes in the summer — those kinds of things are free, and they save several hundred pounds [in CO2 emissions] per year. And then you get into some things we can do to renovate and retrofit our houses to be more energy efficient. Replacing showerheads, insulating hot water heaters, buying more efficient lights, having automatic controls for thermostats. ... We can certainly travel by air less often. We can seek to work at home, if possible. We can combine trips.”

#22 Yikes

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#23 The Waste At Target This Morning. Going Right Into The Dumpster. Imagine All The People This Box Would Feed

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#24 I Wish That Money Could've Been Spent On The Employees For Their Labor Instead

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Richard also notes that everyone needs to be on board to help reduce the impacts of our consumption. “We all need to participate. We can’t just screw in an energy-efficient lightbulb and say, ‘That’s all I’m doing.’ We need to make the right voting choices. The household sector and personal consumption are big components, globally, but it won’t solve the problem to the degree that we need. We need leadership that puts a price on carbon. We need leadership that supports sane energy policies,” he says.

“I think it’s better to be hopeful and optimistic about our future than pessimistic and gloomy about it. We have the most innovative, intelligent, compassionate humans on this planet that we all share. If we exercise intelligence and compassion, we will collectively help solve this problem — or at least avoid the worst of what climate change has to offer.”

#25 Fake System

Image credits: Ch_Anderson

#26 You Cant Say Sustainable Without Saying F**k Golf Courses

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#27 And Then We Could Just Get A New Battery Instead Of Buying A Whole New Phone/Getting The Company To Replace It And Therefore Wasting More Materials

Image credits: Nemuigakusei

We hope this list is inspiring you to rethink any new purchases and remember to avoid single use materials whenever possible. The next time you see an ad for something a large corporation wants to convince you that you need, take a moment to consider if you really do need it. You were just fine before, so you will probably manage just fine without it. Keep upvoting the posts that really speak to you, and let us know in the comments what your best anticonsumption tips are. Then don't forget to check out Bored Panda's last anticonsumption list right here.

#28 How Can People Still Be Proud Of This Country?

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#29 It Would Happen

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#30 Marketing Dudes Thinking They’re Being Funny

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#31 Can You Really Say You Love Her If You Won’t Buy Her Child Slave Mined Rocks?

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#32 We’re Individually Wrapping Olives Now!!!

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#33 Saw At The Exploratorium In Sf And Just Nails It

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#34 The Covid Lockdown Exposed Consumerism

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#35 I Love This Idea. Each Item Gets So Much More Use When Locally Stored And Available For The Community

My partner and I thought this would be great for tools, power washers and birthday decorations. What would you put in a library if it didn't contain books? What should be rentable but isn't?