Challenge Consumer Culture
Objectives
Buy Less, Buy Better
Buy less, choose quality, and repair what you can. Resist the system’s push for endless consumption.
Resist Lifestyle Branding
Don’t let brands define your worth. Ask: “Who profits if I buy this?”
Make, Share, and Swap
Make, share, and swap instead of buying new. Join repair cafés or buy-nothing groups.
Build Self-Reliance
Build self-reliance and community skills to break free from consumer culture.
What You Can Do
Buy less, buy better
Choose long-lasting products from companies like Patagonia Worn Wear, Buy Me Once, or Repair-friendly brands like Fairphone and iFixit-supported products.
Repair what you own
Use iFixit guides or attend a Repair Café to extend the life of clothing, electronics, and appliances.
Resist lifestyle branding
Pause before purchasing and ask: “Who profits from this?” Use resources like The Story of Stuff Project to understand the hidden costs of consumerism.
Swap and share locally
Join Buy Nothing groups, Freecycle, or local swap events to reduce new purchases.
Practice making instead of buying
Learn DIY skills via platforms like Instructables, Skillshare, or local maker spaces.
Build self-reliance
Grow food, mend clothes, or learn basic trade skills. Connect through community workshops or permaculture networks.
Challenge fast fashion
Choose thrift shops, clothing swaps, or ethical brands listed in the Good On You directory instead of fueling disposable fashion.
Support degrowth movements
Engage with networks like the Post-Growth Institute or Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE) that advocate for alternatives to endless consumption.
Helpful Tools
Buy Local First Directory
local-first.org
Buy Me Once
buymeonce.com
Buy Nothing Project
buynothingproject.org
Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy
steadystate.org
Computers with Causes
computerswithcauses.org
Ethical Consumer
ethicalconsumer.org
Fairphone
fairphone.com
Framework Laptops
frame.work
Freecycle
freecycle.org
GOG
gog.com
Good On You
goodonyou.eco
Humble Bundle
humblebundle.com
iFixit
ifixit.com
Instructables
instructables.com
Internet Archive
archive.org
Kurzgesagt YouTube
youtube.com
Permaculture News
permaculturenews.org
Permies
permies.com
Post Growth Institute
postgrowth.org
Repair Café
repaircafe.org
Repair.org
repair.org
Skillshare
skillshare.com
The Story of Stuff Project
storyofstuff.org
Transition Network
transitionnetwork.org
Worn Wear by Patagonia
wornwear.patagonia.com