Falling into the season of overconsumption – Scot Scoop News

Report on Seasonal Overconsumption and its Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals

This report analyzes the phenomenon of seasonal overconsumption, particularly during the autumn period, and evaluates its significant negative impact on the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis focuses on three key areas: seasonal food products, fast fashion, and single-use holiday items, demonstrating a systemic conflict with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and related goals.

Analysis of Consumption Drivers and SDG Implications

The Pumpkin Spice Market: Artificial Scarcity and Consumption Patterns

The marketing of seasonal products, exemplified by “pumpkin spice,” drives consumption patterns that are misaligned with SDG 12. The strategy of creating artificial scarcity for a limited time encourages excessive purchasing, directly contradicting the principles of sustainable consumption.

• Economic Scale: The pumpkin spice market is projected to grow from $1.1 billion in 2025 to $2.2 billion by 2032. This growth is fueled by marketing that links the flavor to seasonal nostalgia rather than genuine need.
• Consumer Behavior: Surveys indicate that consumers, particularly younger demographics, are willing to spend significantly more on seasonal versions of everyday products. This behavior is a direct result of marketing that limits supply to increase demand, a practice that undermines SDG Target 12.8, which aims to ensure people have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable lifestyles.
• Resource Inefficiency: The production and distribution of these limited-time products utilize resources for non-essential goods, diverting from more sustainable economic activities and contributing to a culture of disposability that SDG 12 seeks to mitigate.

Fall Fashion Trends: The Impact of Fast Fashion on Environmental Goals

The promotion of seasonal fashion trends via social media accelerates the cycle of fast fashion, leading to substantial waste and environmental degradation. This directly challenges the objectives of several SDGs.

• Waste Generation (SDG 12.5): Americans discard approximately 17 million tons of textiles annually. The promotion of new seasonal wardrobes contributes directly to this waste stream, with 65% of clothing being discarded within a year of purchase. This practice is in direct opposition to SDG Target 12.5, which calls for a substantial reduction in waste generation.
• Unsustainable Lifestyles (SDG 12.8): Social media influencers and corporate marketing campaigns promote the idea that new wardrobes are necessary for each season. This messaging normalizes overconsumption and works against efforts to foster sustainable lifestyles. Research indicates that tailored social media advertising can enhance negative consumption behaviors.
• Resource Depletion (SDG 12.2): The production of vast quantities of low-quality clothing for short-term trends represents an inefficient use of natural resources, including water and energy, undermining SDG Target 12.2 on the sustainable management of natural resources.

Halloween Consumption: Single-Use Products and Waste Management

The Halloween retail model, characterized by temporary stores and single-use products, exemplifies a linear “take-make-dispose” economic model that is fundamentally unsustainable and detrimental to environmental SDGs.

1. Projected Spending and Waste: Halloween spending is projected to reach a record $13.1 billion in 2025. This economic activity generates immense waste, with an estimated 35 million costumes discarded annually in the US alone.
2. Plastic Pollution (SDG 12, SDG 11, SDG 13): An estimated 83% of costumes are made from non-recyclable plastics, resulting in approximately 2,000 tons of plastic waste entering landfills each year. This contributes to land pollution, challenges municipal waste management systems (SDG 11.6), and has a significant carbon footprint, impacting climate action (SDG 13).
3. Business Model vs. Circularity: The business model of temporary retailers like Spirit Halloween thrives on high-demand, short-term sales of products designed for single use. This model is the antithesis of a circular economy, which is a core principle for achieving SDG 12. Promoting alternatives such as reusing or thrifting costumes is essential to shift consumption towards more sustainable patterns.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This is the primary SDG addressed in the article. The entire text focuses on the theme of “overconsumption” during the fall season, highlighting unsustainable patterns of consumption and production. It discusses excessive spending on seasonal products (pumpkin spice), the environmental impact of fast fashion driven by social media trends, and the massive waste generated from single-use Halloween costumes. The article explicitly calls for more conscious purchasing decisions, which is the core principle of SDG 12.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

   The article directly connects to this target by quantifying the waste generated from seasonal consumption. It mentions that Halloween costumes are “tossed after a single use” and that fall fashion trends lead to clothes “soon end up in landfills.” Specific data points support this, such as “Americans discard approximately 17 million tons of clothing and textiles annually” and “approximately 35 million Halloween costumes are thrown away in the US each year.” The suggestion to “check thrift stores” or “use what I have in my closet” for costumes directly promotes reuse and waste prevention.

2. Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.

   The article serves as a tool for raising awareness, which is the essence of this target. It deconstructs the marketing and social pressures that drive overconsumption, such as companies creating “false scarcity” for pumpkin spice products and “influencers posting back-to-school hauls.” By explaining how “social media promotes the latest fall fashion trends” and how “temporary retail stores promote overconsumption,” the article aims to provide readers with the information needed to make more sustainable choices and “consider if it’s really worth the purchase.”

3. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

   This target is relevant through the discussion of the materials used in consumer products. The article states that “83% of Halloween costumes are made from non-recyclable plastic.” Plastic is a product of natural resources (fossil fuels). The production of millions of single-use items from non-recyclable materials represents an inefficient and unsustainable use of these resources, leading directly to waste and environmental harm, as highlighted by the “2,000 tons of plastic waste” from costumes alone.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 12.5 (Waste Generation):

   The article provides several quantitative data points that can serve as indicators of waste generation. Progress towards Target 12.5 could be measured by tracking the reduction of these figures over time.

   • Amount of textile waste: The article states, “Americans discard approximately 17 million tons of clothing and textiles annually.”
   • Amount of costume waste: The article mentions, “approximately 35 million Halloween costumes are thrown away in the US each year.”
   • Amount of plastic waste from costumes: The article specifies this is “equivalent to around 2,000 tons of plastic waste.”
2. Indicator for Target 12.8 (Awareness and Lifestyles):

   While awareness is difficult to measure directly, the article implies that consumer spending on non-essential, temporary items is an indicator of unsustainable lifestyles. A reduction in this spending could signify increased awareness.

   • Consumer spending on seasonal items: The article notes that “Halloween spending is expected to reach a record high of $13.1 billion.” This figure serves as a proxy indicator for consumption patterns.
3. Indicator for Target 12.2 (Natural Resource Use):

   The article provides a specific indicator related to the material composition of products, which reflects the efficiency of natural resource use.

   • Material footprint of products: The article states, “83% of Halloween costumes are made from non-recyclable plastic.” This percentage is a direct indicator of the reliance on unsustainable materials for consumer goods.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: scotscoop.com