Welcome to
ConsOption
Becoming more with less
Want to know more?
info@consoption.com
About us
Welcome to our website! Or, as we would like to say, our community! We are glad you found us and can not wait to take you on the journey towards a better world with us!
But let's not get ahead of ourselves and start with a little introduction... we are a team of four Global Project and Change Management students, highly passionate about creating positive- and sustainable changes in our society and eager to create value in the field of consumer behaviour related overconsumption.
We, together, have worked incredibly hard to create this inclusive and accessible community platform that will provide you, with both networking opportunities as in-depth knowledge on the topic of overconsumption. Together we can reach our goal!
We would love to welcome you in our community!
Join us & become more with less
Let's get inspired!
Must listen to podcasts...
Zero Waste Countdown
Laura Nash
Finding out how to stop thoughtless overconsumption and leave a healthier, cleaner planet for all is the goal of the Zero Waste Countdown. There are better alternatives than the linear models used by many firms. To educate listeners on how to create less waste and live more sustainably, host Laura Nash speaks with zero waste specialists from around the world.
Conscious Style Podcast
Elizabeth Joy
The Conscious Style Podcast investigates the steps necessary to build a better, more sustainable, and more fair future for the fashion industry. Weekly conversations with industry experts in ethical and sustainable fashion are conducted by host Elizabeth Joy.
The Minimalist Vegan
Michael & Maša Ofei
Michael & Maša Ofei, best-selling writers and dedicated bloggers, examine what it means to live with remarkable intentionality. They offer open discussions about a variety of subjects to your ears, such as consumerism, minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, productivity, and more!
Let´s get inspired!
Must watch ted talks...
Overconsumption - Greed Without Responsibility
Dhanishtha Upadhyay
In her talk, she explores our societal habit of overconsumption and ways society as a whole can work together to tackle this global issue.
Too Much of a Good Thing: The Age of Overconsumption
Mayy Mounib
This ted talk offers thought-provoking perspectives on the danger of consumption. Mayy explores the causes and consequences of consumerism relating to the every day person, from corporate strategy to environmental impacts, and inspires citizens to be more conscious of their commercial choices.
The Impact of Consumption
Candice Myers
Passionate about educating and finding solutions to the overconsumption leading to excess waste... she wants to change the narrative on waste being something we dispose of to a resource that needs to be valued.
Book reccomendations
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is an introduction on the KonMari Method, a storage and organization technique that will turn your cluttered living spaces into places of beauty, serenity, and inspiration. According to Marie Kondo, having a tidy home has a positive impact on every other part of our lives.
An unorganized space is a reflection of an unorganized mind. Your lifestyle and perspective on life can alter drastically as a result of a spectacular interior
reorganisation.
The book is humorously laced throughout and written in "real people" language. You don't need a science degree to understand the facts and data. Stories and discussion are intertwined all throughout the book. Leonard shares insights into what's wrong while also offering positive examples and englightening
solutions for the future. The Story of Stuff is a book that provides information in a clear and concise manner making it widely accessible to read. All must read for everyone!
According to the writers' introduction, this compact book is less a manual than it is a collection of recommendations. It walks readers through the Five Values that form the foundation of a meaningful existence, with each one contributing equally to success. These values include passions, growth, relationships,
health, and contribution. Since most people will have a strong preference for two or three out of the five values, the book devotes a chapter to each one before offering advice on how to balance them in your life.
In just over 100 pages, Storm pays homage to simplicity in WEG ERMEE. The book does not follow Dennis Storm's journey toward simplicity systematically. With concise chapters, powerful language, and an approachable writing style, Storm explains his perspective on minimalism and our consumption world.
His approach may not be unique or unexpected, but its execution most certainly is. A must-read for everyone on there journey to minimalism!
Kick- start your journey to a minimalistic lifestyle
Whether you have been a lifelong minimalist or are just beginning your minimalistic journey, blogs are a terrific way to learn about other people's experiences, be inspired, and connect with others who share your goals and values.
To help you along we have collected 6 very popular and well-like minimalist blog suggestions to get you started on your quest! You can find the best must-read blogs on minimalism on a variety of subjects, ranging from a minimalistic style to an extreme minimalistic lifestyle.
ConsOption Blog
Blogpost 1
The Journey
Welcome to our very first blogpost! We, Elisa, Laura, Eva, and Wilma, are so excited to be sharing about our journey with consumerism and how it led to creating ConsOption. Of course, there are already tons of blogs about minimalism, which we also link on our website (check them out!), but we also want to share our own journey and not only focus on minimalism but also on the entire consumer journey. From wanting to buy a product, to buying the product, and eventually discarding of the product or its packaging. Additionally, we will have guest blog posts from our ConsOption community members, so let us know if you want to write a guest blog post!
Our journey
When we first came together and started talking about our interest for minimalism, we talked a lot about having and buying 'stuff'. To make us more aware of all the random things we buy, we agreed to all note down what we bought and when over the span of a month, with as rule not to judge ourselves for the amount of things, but really just to make ourselves aware of how many things we buy.
Next to this, became more aware of all the stuff I already had. Even though I have been buying less stuff over the last years than I did before (or so I thought), I still owned many items that I didn’t necessarily use. Do I really need fifteen handbags? Do I really need physical copies of books even though I could just buy the kindle version (which is also usually cheaper)? Do I really need to buy a dress that will only be worn on one occasion and then will be hidden away in the back of my closet for years until I finally discard of it? And do I really need to buy more toys for my cat when she will be just as happy, or even happier, with a cardboard box? The answer to these questions is obviously a big NO. Something really needed to change, but where do you start when you've gotten so used to the consumerism patterns of the society you live in?
This is a big reason why we started ConsOption. To make a change together and show one another that we are not alone in our struggles. We all just need some help and why not help each other with it? ConsOption is not about showing one good way to change consumer patterns but bring all the different ideas together. To co-create a better world.
Stay tuned for next week's blog where I will share how I made the first steps to less overconsumption!
For me (Wilma), it proved to be a real challenge. Even though we had agreed to not judge ourselves or change our consumer pattern, it was just really confronting to have to write down everything that I bought. On an average day, I would already start spending money early in the morning by buying my first coffee at the train station on my way to university, together with something small for breakfast because I didn’t have enough time to eat at home. Then the second cup of coffee at university, again in a paper cup because I forgot my reusable cup at home way too often. Many times I didn’t bring lunch and also had to buy something at uni.
Now it did happen that I would bring my first coffee in my reusable cup, had breakfast at home, and brought lunch that I had prepped for the day, however, this was more an exception than the rule. So, an average day like this would come down to about 10 euros, only spent on drinks and food. I realized this was not only financially unsustainable for me, but I was also generating way more waste than I originally thought I did with the paper cups and all the plastic packaging.
Blogpost 2 - Where to start?
Last week, Wilma shared about what made her realize that change needed to happen in her consumer patterns. This week, she shares a bit about what helped her to start the change in small steps.
Change doesn’t usually happen over time, so I decided to start small. I could already tackle most of my spending patterns by getting a regular routine going. I am clearly not a morning person, so instead of forcing myself to get at out bed right when the alarm goes, I started setting the alarm 30 to 45 minutes earlier. …
Blogpost 3 - Decluttering
Eva here! In this blog I want to share my journey with decluttering! Using the tips and tricks from Rachel from the 'Messy Minimalist' blog (check her out!), I started to discover what things I really needed and what things I could perhaps discard of. This is still a work in progress …
MORE BLOGS...
One star challenges
Two star challenges
Three star challenges
Four star challenges
1-star
challenges
3-star
challenges
2-star
challenges
4-star
challenges
Explore
& try out
Create your personal challenge path, decide what kind of challenges you want!
Changes aren't made over night and progression takes time and dedication! This can be quite demotivating to the most of us, because what better way to stay motivated than to see immediate results?
Challenge yourself
We fully understand the struggle and are here to support you! All progress is progress and it is time to start now! We have created some fun challenges that could help you reach your personal goals.
1-star
challenges
Give away 1 clothing item to a friend and write how you felt giving it away
Watch one clip that is recommended for you on our "Lets get inspired page
Pick out one cabinet or drawer in your house and clean it out
Make one meal with just ingredients that you already have at home
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2-star
challenges
Declutter your phone, delete apps yu do noy use, clean out photos and emails
Clean out your closet and make a pile "keep" and "donate"
Give something that you already owned as a present for someone's birthday
When wanting to buy a new clothing item, diy an item out of old clothing
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
3-star
challenges
Make a list of all your clothing items and do not buy a new item for 2 months
Turn off all social media notifications (check your phone when YOU want to)
Declutter your kitchen and reorganize it with essentials only, give away stuff that you don't use anymore
Throw out all decor items that you do not display in your home, you don't need it
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
4-star
challenges
Put all the plastic that you use of 1 day in your bag and carry it around with you
Cook with local in-season non-plastic packaged ingredients for a month
Read 2 books this month about minimalism and/or overconsumption
Write down everything you buy for a month and reflect on it after that month
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
'Overconsumption is the mother of all environmental problems. For the first time in the history of capitalism, consumption itself has become controversial.'
Kalle Lasn
'True happiness flows from the possession of wisdom and virtue and not from the possession of external goods.'
Aristotle
“They completely forget that the consumption level that we have depends on exploiting other countries, having cheap resources from other countries, and having cheap labor. Prices would be very different if they were fair.”
Vivian Frick, sustainability researcher at the Institute for Ecological Economy Research in Germany.
'Not what you possess but what you do with what you have, determines your true worth.'
Thomas Carlyle
Mother Teresa
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Louisa de Vries
Barista
I got really inspired by ConsOption's first blogpost and decided to also write down all the things I bought in a month. Opened my eyes and got me inspired!
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Comment
Want to be part of our community?
Share your questions and ideas!
Greta Thunberg
Environmental activist
Hi everyone! So happy I joined this community.
Like
Comment
Jackie Johnson
Happy to have you Greta!
Justin James
Interior Designer
Hello friends. I am currently working on a local project here in Virginia on reducing consumption in retirement homes. Is there anyone who wants to discuss ideas and/or collaborate?
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Comment
Harry Tomlinson
Sounds amazing! I would definitely be interested!
Anna Stanford
Me too!
George Van Der Woodsen
I'm interested too! Let's set up a meeting.
Quick survey
How many plastics wrappings do you throw out on a daily basis?
O 0-2
O 3-5
O More than 5
How many clothing items that you have owned for over 6 months have you worn just once or twice?
O 0-2
O 3-5
O 5-8
O More than 8
What do you do with clothing items that you don't wear anymore?
O Sell (either online or offline)
O Donate to charity
O Drop off at thrift store
O Throw away with trash
O Other
Mohammed Alanı
Accountant
Starting to live a minimalist lifestyle has really helped me become more self aware and helped me become more environmentally friendly!
Like
Comment
Laura Rorije
That's amazing!
Nikolaj Eriksson
Same for me! I have come to realize that I am so much happier with less. ConsOptions blogs are also such an inspiration to me!
Sander Leusenkamp
Lecturer/Researcher
Hi community! I am looking for interviewees for my research on minimalism in. Who wants to help? Would greatly appreciate it!
Like
Comment
Lucas Mäkinen
Count me in!
Hannah Fischer
I've only started living a minimalistic lifestyle since this past year. Would that still be relevant?
Sander Leusenkamp
@Hannah Fischer Yes, that is totally fine!
What do you do with household items that you don't use anymore?
O Sell (either online or offline)
O Donate to charity
O Drop off at thrift store
O Throw away with trash
O Store it away because you believe it might come in handy at some point
O Other
If you would consider living a minimalist lifestyle, or if you already are, what is your reasoning behind it?
O To live a more meaningful life
O To save money
O To protect the environment
O For a simpler life
O I do not consider living a minimalist lifestyle
O Other
Overconsumption
Key facts
14%
meanwhile..
Where food waste is happening
33%
54%
46%
agricultural production
post-harvest & storage
processing, consumption & distribution
Palm oil is used in our food, cleaning products, cosmetics, and fuel. Palm oil is also a major
cause of deforestation and climate change.
Gen Z leads the charge
in social buying
approximately 1 out of 10 children
Sub-Saharan Africa
86.6 mil.
Central and Southern Asia
26.3 mil.
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia
24.3 mil.
The highest prevalence and largest number of children in child labour
10.1 mil.
Northern Africa and Western Asia
8.2 mil.
Latin America and the Caribbean
3.8 mil.
Europeand Northern America
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ConsOption
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Consumption & Minimalism community
ConsOption Community | consumption.com
Netherlands
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