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Overconsumption During Christmas

Aanya Agarwal and Olympe Paoli



From November onwards, Christmas wish lists start streaming in as children, teens and adults start greedily planning out the useless mess of gifts they want for Christmas this year. Over the years, we have seen Christmas lose its traditional and cultural values and become a season of excessive spendings. Globally, holiday retail sales are projected to exceed $1 trillion annually; with the US being the biggest contributor. These huge amounts of money prove the effectiveness of aggressive marketing campaigns and the societal expectations that people are driven by when shopping and demanding gifts for Christmas and during the festive season. This societal pressure and growing need, that makes people think more materialistically as the years create not only financial but also environmental challenges.



In addition, the environmental costs of excessive holiday consumption are significant and large, from production to waste. For example, an estimated 125,000 tonnes of plastic is discarded in the UK alone around Christmas and the festive season. The increase in single-use plastics, especially in packaging, is rapid and prevalent. Furthermore, shipping releases exorbitant amounts of carbon dioxide and other toxic fumes every year, exacerbating pollution and contributing to global warming. This highlights the pressing need for environmentally friendly practices to mitigate wasteful holiday habits. 


Another prevalent issue of over consumerism and this society’s new constant need for new things and useless objects is the financial stress that it places on households around Christmas, that gradually deepens the socioeconomic inequalities that this world faces. Worries should be aggravated, especially after the 2022 American statistics were revealed; showing that 30% of Americans went into debt as a result of the holiday season, with spendings during the holiday season exceeding $1,000 per person. Proving that lower-income households and families simply cannot afford this expanding need to have more, and that the over-advertised version of the season that we see today can easily lead many households into long-term debt, whilst wealthier families aren’t as impacted, further deepening the economic gap between wealthy and poor. Overall, we can deduce a simple need to shift from material goods, to meaningful experiences.


So what can we do to fix this? Adopting sustainable practices and redefining Christmas traditions can help to combat the excessive over consumerism that has become widespread. Studies show that approximately 70% of consumers are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly holiday products, demonstrating a growing awareness of sustainable consumption. Increasing awareness of the situation is also an important step to take, because the majority of people surveyed changed their initial response after being shown some statistics about the damaging effects of over consumption. From DIY gifts to supporting local businesses, these alternatives not only reduce environmental strain, but also fosters a sense of community, reevaluating Christmas traditions. By prioritising sustainability and meaningful traditions, we can alleviate the adverse effects of over consumerism while preserving the spirit of the holiday season.


In conclusion, the growing trend of over consumerism during Christmas poses significant environmental, financial, and cultural challenges. However, through increased awareness and adoption of sustainable practices, it is possible to celebrate the season responsibly while preserving its true meaning.



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