Resisting ‘Buy Now’ Culture

The more I learn about the state of our planet, the more I find myself asking: Am I really doing enough? Like many conscientious citizens, I try to recycle, buy reusable products, and make choices that are supposed to be “better” (for whom, I’m becoming less and less sure). More and more I’m realising that it may be to make us, the consumer feel better. Deep down, I worry—does what we do matter if the bigger systems in this world stay the same?

I recently watched ‘Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy’ on Netflix, and it left me with a mix of urgency, guilt, and determination, combined with these emotions was an underscore of hopelessness at the direction we’re going as a society. The documentary pulls back the curtain on how our constant need to buy more impacts the environment, from overproduction to mountains of waste. A particular scene of the Sydney Opera House surrounded by mountains of junk, hit home, as it’s the city and place that I’m familiar with. Watching it, I couldn’t help but think about my own habits. I’m guilty of jumping onto Amazon for a cool gadget or unexceptional product, I forget about in 2 weeks. How many times have I clicked “add to cart” without even considering where that product came from or where it will end up?

It’s overwhelming to think about how much damage is being done on such a massive scale—damage that doesn’t just affect one city or one country but the entire globe. And yet, here I am, one tiny person, wondering what I can really do to help.

Can One Person Make a Difference?

This is the question that’s been keeping me up at night. It’s easy to feel small and powerless when you’re faced with something as enormous as climate change, deforestation, and now the monumental issue of e-waste. But I think that’s unproductive thinking—believing we’re too insignificant to matter is what keeps us stuck.

Sure, I can’t single-handedly stop a company from producing products with no second lifespan, but I can choose to support brands that prioritise sustainability. I can’t clean up every landfill, but I can buy less and repurpose what I already have. These choices might feel tiny, but what if everyone made them? What if, collectively, all of our “small” actions added up to something big?

The Global Responsibility

One thing ‘Buy Now’ made clear is that environmental problems don’t recognise country borders. The trash we produce in one country ends up in the oceans of another. The products we buy might be cheap because someone halfway around the world is paying the price—whether it’s through harmful working conditions or their local environment being destroyed.

We don’t live in isolated bubbles. Everything we do is connected, and that connection means we share a responsibility to act.

So, What Can We Actually Do?

The Documentary features former senior employees from giant companies such as Amazon and Adidas, who reflect on their part in creating a consumerist culture to keep people buying. The goal of these major corporations is ultimately to build their revenue and insert a bigger influence on consumers. With all of this, customers feel the need to buy more. From ‘one-click’ shopping to brand marketing using scarcity techniques, they continue to perfect the science of getting people to ‘Buy Now’.

Here’s the other end of it. We as consumers can be selective and mindful when it comes to our purchasing actions. These small considerations, at scale can help to reduce the negative impact of our shopping culture.

1. Pause Before Buying: I’m asking myself, “Do I really need this?” more often. If the answer is no, I close the broswer. If the answer is yes, I try to buy secondhand or look for companies with transparent, eco-friendly practices.

2. Simplify Waste: I’ve started paying closer attention to packaging and cutting back on single-use plastics. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

3. Educate and Talk About It: Watching documentaries like ‘Buy Now’ has been eye-opening. Reflecting on what I learn by writing this article and sharing what I learn with friends and family (as a conversation starter, without trying to be preachy) feels like a way to spread awareness.

4. Support Bigger Changes: I have started looking into policies and initiatives that promote sustainability. Signing petitions, donating to environmental causes, or just voting with these issues in mind feels like a way to amplify my individual voice.

My Reflections

I’ll be honest—it can feel really discouraging when you’re told that your recycling, which you’ve taken time to sort, doesn’t actually get processed or recycled, as you expected. Or you can feel guilty when you forget your reusable bags, and end up purchasing a plastic one to carry your groceries home.

But this is a reminder: this isn’t about being perfect. It’s about trying and spreading awareness. Trying to do better today than I did yesterday. Trying to stay hopeful when it feels like the odds are stacked against us.

Finding Meaning in the Effort

At the end of the day, I don’t think any of us can fix the world alone. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. By making small changes, being mindful, and staying connected to the bigger picture, we can be part of a movement that’s bigger than ourselves.

And who knows? Maybe the ripple effects of our individual choices—of choosing to care, to act, to do our part—will inspire others to do the same. Because when it comes to protecting our planet, even the smallest effort matters.