Humankind Is Slowly Evolving in the Direction of Eco-Consciousness
When I noticed this can of “Barbisol” in my son’s bathrom, I felt compelled to write the post pictured here for the 2GreenEnergy Instagram feed.
A reader commented that we tend to act is if someone else will deal with our problems, and went on to lament. “I don’t understand why we act this way.”
I believe the most plausible explanation is the fact that we (especially Americans) are heavily programmed to consume. The typical American experiences more than 3000 images and messages each day, all reminding us that we’re lesser persons if we do not buy things. Few of us take the time, or even have the courage, to ask ourselves if we really need an item, and what will be the environmental consequences of consuming that item. You are absolutely right when you say we make it somebody else’s problem.
Note also that this is a deeply ingrained part of our behavior as a people. It’s not some surface level fad that is important today but gone next week. We will get there, but we need to expect many decades to unfold before the masses begin to view the world as environmental conservatives.
Most products that come in an aerosol can could just as easily come in a bulk container, perhaps one quart or one gallon, which would be used to refill a container having a pump spray. That would make more economic sense and more environmental sense.
Some furniture polishes and cleaners are available only in aerosol containers. Often there are alternatives.
About a year ago I tried to buy a bulk container to refill small pump containers of hand sanitizer; I could not. When I ‘phoned the manufacture to complain the excuse used was that sterility could not be guaranteed if bulk containers were used to refill small containers! And here I thought that the hand sanitizer was supposed to kill germs.
Regarding aerosol cans of shaving cream, surely it would be more environmentally responsible to use an electric shaver; they have a long life and use very little power. If that won’t do the job, perhaps the shaving soap and brush method would be satisfactory. Actually shaving usually is not necessary anyway; I stopped shaving decades ago. A trim every two weeks or so is sufficient.
Graig,
If your concern is primarily about the environmental effects of aerosol usage, you may be relieved to learn that technology has once again evolved to solve or at least reduce, the problem. The modern aerosol industry is rapidly converting to non-pollutant propellants.
If your concern is about consumerism in general, I think you’re fight a losing battle. Consumer economics are as old as civilization, and could even be defined as the basis of civilization.
Producing a vast variety of mostly unnecessary products is fundamental to human economics. As humans we create demand,finance it on credit, and supply goods and services to satisfy a largely invented demand. This system creates surplus. Economic theories that run contrary to this premise always fail (usually with great suffering).
Human civilizations even create new uses and technologies to deal with waste ! That’s just who we are as a species.
It may seem “immoral” to those with a more, um.., puritanical or Franciscan lifestyle, but that’s also built into the system. You have the right to be anti-consumerist.
Variety rules !