Written By: Emily Osborne
Have you ever wondered where your iPod came from? Where does it go when it breaks and you throw it away? Annie Leonard answers these questions (and many more) in her movie called “The Story of Stuff.” In 20 minutes, she decodes our current materials economy in a linear five-step system: from extraction to production, to distribution, to consumption, to disposal. She explains that the entire system is driven by the government, which is driven by big money-making corporations that may not always have people’s best interests in mind. People and the planet are impacted throughout the process, but rarely in a way that benefits them.
The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard
Here are some of the highlights from The Story of Stuff:
Linear production implies limited resources on a finite planet – not a sustainable model if we continue to live the way we do.
Toxins in, toxins out – the toxins that are put into our products not only come out the other end when they are dumped in landfills, but they also find their ways into our homes and bodies, which has a negative effect on health.
99% of the stuff Americans buy is thrown away within six months of its purchase. Why? Leonard attributes this consumption pattern to two key concepts: planned and perceived obsolescence. Planned obsolescence means that products are designed to break down after a short period of time so that consumers will go back to the store and buy another one. In other words, stuff is intentionally not made to last to make us buy more! Perceived obsolescence is what happens with fashion when products go in and out of style every few months. Changing the style is another way that corporations get consumers to keep shopping.
So much stuff!
Externalized costs – we aren’t actually paying for the stuff we buy. A radio you see on the shelf at Radio Shack for five dollars does not even begin to cover the cost of the resources, transportation, and workers involved in its production.
If you’re starting to feel guilty about a recent shopping trip, remember that the materials economy hasn’t always been this way. In fact, it started shortly after World War II in the 1950s when the U.S. government strongly promoted consumerism to boost the economy and our personal satisfaction. The truth is, the big-picture economy has not been boosted and our national happiness has been declining ever since.
So, what does Leonard suggest? A closed-loop system, which cycles from extraction to production, to distribution, to consumption, and back to extraction. This model involves people from every step in the process working together and being mutually benefitted along the way. It’s more sustainable, safe, healthy, and it’s already underway thanks to many organizations worldwide! Leonard calls for us to discard the outdated 1950s culture of consumption and get on board with the new system. We are encouraged to buy less, reuse more, check labels for toxins (avoid ingredients with long names that you can’t pronounce!), and make conscious consumer choices.
Leonard leaves us with this hopeful tidbit: “Remember, that old way didn’t just happen. It’s not just like gravity that we’ve just got to live with. People created it and we’re people too. So let’s create something new.”