The Planetary Cost of a Mass Consumption Society
Vol.4— Do We Have Enough Resources? Can the Environment Withstand It? —
“What burden does the Earth bear for a single product—just to be made, used, and then thrown away?”
We live surrounded by countless products and services. Yet behind that convenience, the planet’s ecosystems and future resources are being steadily depleted.
In this article, we’ll look at both data and reality to uncover the environmental toll that our social and economic structures are imposing.
1｜Humanity Uses a Year’s Worth of Resources in Just 8 Months
According to the environmental NGO Global Footprint Network,
Earth Overshoot Day—the date when we exceed the planet’s annual capacity to regenerate natural resources—fell on August 2nd in 2023.
In other words, we consume an entire year’s worth of nature’s capital—forests, soil, water, air—in just 8 months.
One planet is no longer enough.
At today’s pace, we need the equivalent of 1.7 Earths to sustain our lifestyles.
2｜The Silent Depletion of Future Resources
If current consumption rates continue, the following materials are expected to run out within decades:
| Resource | Estimated Depletion | Key Uses & Context |
|---|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | ~2050 | Wiring, motors, EV cables |
| Lithium | ~2080 | EV batteries, smartphone batteries |
| Indium | 2030s | Touchscreens, LCD displays |
| Phosphate (P) | ~2100 | Fertilizer, intensive agriculture |
| Oil | Post-2050 | Plastics, fuels, chemicals |
Technological advances may extend some timelines, but many elements have no viable substitutes.
3｜Mountains of Waste Polluting the Planet
- Global annual waste: ~2.3 billion tonnes (World Bank, What a Waste 2.0)
- About 30% is landfilled or incinerated—not recovered or reused.
Plastics are especially problematic: they don’t biodegrade, and they accumulate in oceans, soil, and even human bodies.
Ocean plastic today:
- Over 11 million tonnes enter the sea each year—equivalent to one truckload every minute.
- By 2050, the weight of plastics in the ocean could exceed that of fish (Ellen MacArthur Foundation).
E-waste surge:
- Global e-waste in 2023: 62 million tonnes/year
- Only 17% is collected and recycled.
4｜Climate Change: The “Invisible CO₂” of Mass Consumption
Every product’s life cycle—extraction, manufacturing, transport, disposal—emits greenhouse gases (GHGs).
| Product/Activity | CO₂e Emissions (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing a laptop | 300–500 kg |
| One pair of jeans | 33 kg (cotton to transport) |
| One smartphone | 55 kg |
| Wasting 1 kg of food | 2.5 kg |
An economy built on constant consumption and disposal is a major driver of climate change.
5｜Shifting the Burden to the Planet’s “Periphery”
Waste plastics, used clothing, and e-waste from developed nations (Europe, Japan, etc.) are often exported to Southeast Asia and Africa.
There, informal burning and illegal dumping frequently harm local health and destroy environments.
The circular economy is not just “for the environment”—it’s also a matter of global justice.
So, What Needs to Change?
A structural shift is required:
| Before (Linear) | After (Circular) |
|---|---|
| Production → Use → Dispose | Design → Reuse → Resource loop |
| Make cheap & sell in volume | Long life / Repairable / Service-based models |
| Measure success by GDP & sales | Measure success by circularity, CO₂ cuts, resource efficiency |
Conclusion: The Numbers Speak to Our Way of Life
These are not far-off statistics—they reflect what’s happening right now, behind every product in your hand.
We live in an era where each individual choice can have global impact.
That’s why businesses, governments, and communities must urgently commit to redesigning our systems for circularity.