Consumer Society: Is It a Throw-Away Society?
Essay Plan
Essay question: Explore the claim that a consumer society is always a ‘throw-away’ society.
Word limit: 1250 words
Introduction: 10% of word limit = 125 words * Answer the question
Body of the essay: 1000 words
* Technology * Consumption * Status * Connected lives
Conclusion: 10% of word limit = 125 words * Answer the question * Recap/summarise evidence to prove answer
Explore the claim that a consumer society is always a “throw-away” society.
A Swedish proverb says “don’t throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.” Most of us are throwing away so much it’s likely that there will be no resources in the future. Our practices are putting a lot of stress on future resources and we might soon find our needs unsatisfied because of our throw-away attitude and careless practices.
There are many reasons as to why we are subject to the jeopardy of a resource-deficient future. One of these is the constant demand for better lifestyles and standards of living. Another reason is our increased consumption of food, products and materials as well as our increased use of items that pollute out environment and make it unsafe for living.
Society nowadays seeks better lifestyles and standards. We live in a society where technological advances have erupted and where everybody seeks towards the latest items attempting to obtain a high standard of living.
However luxury never seems to come to an end. Whenever a new model appears on the market, the older possessions of the same product become unwanted and obsolete. As a result, many earlier acquired models are disposed of instead of being recycled.
A study, commissioned by Environment Canada, estimated that 81,000 tons of IT and telecoms equipment were disposed of in 2002. Computers and monitors accounted for 70% of this total (Statistics Canada).
The study projected that disposal of IT waste would increase to 91,000
Essay question: Explore the claim that a consumer society is always a ‘throw-away’ society.
Word limit: 1250 words
Introduction: 10% of word limit = 125 words * Answer the question
Body of the essay: 1000 words
* Technology * Consumption * Status * Connected lives
Conclusion: 10% of word limit = 125 words * Answer the question * Recap/summarise evidence to prove answer
Explore the claim that a consumer society is always a “throw-away” society.
A Swedish proverb says “don’t throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.” Most of us are throwing away so much it’s likely that there will be no resources in the future. Our practices are putting a lot of stress on future resources and we might soon find our needs unsatisfied because of our throw-away attitude and careless practices.
There are many reasons as to why we are subject to the jeopardy of a resource-deficient future. One of these is the constant demand for better lifestyles and standards of living. Another reason is our increased consumption of food, products and materials as well as our increased use of items that pollute out environment and make it unsafe for living.
Society nowadays seeks better lifestyles and standards. We live in a society where technological advances have erupted and where everybody seeks towards the latest items attempting to obtain a high standard of living.
However luxury never seems to come to an end. Whenever a new model appears on the market, the older possessions of the same product become unwanted and obsolete. As a result, many earlier acquired models are disposed of instead of being recycled.
A study, commissioned by Environment Canada, estimated that 81,000 tons of IT and telecoms equipment were disposed of in 2002. Computers and monitors accounted for 70% of this total (Statistics Canada).
The study projected that disposal of IT waste would increase to 91,000
References: www.statca.ga.ca/pub/16-002-x/2008001/10539-eng.htm www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/environment/waste/wrfg04-hhwastrecyc/ www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-286262 Table KS404EW; 2011 Census: Car or van availability, local authorities in England and Wales Word count: 1248 Self-reflection What have you particularly enjoyed so far in studying this module? * Realising the impact media has on my lifestyle choices. What have you found challenging? * Writing and following a concise study plan and keeping to the word count.