Lab+Four

Many people are obsessed with their stuff which moves through a system called the Materials Economy which is comprised of various stages. It’s a problematic system in crisis because it’s a linear system that runs on a finite planet- and system that is faced with limits. One fact that is often overlooked is that people live and work throughout the system, every step of the way. Unfortunately, there are some who have a little more influence, for the Government is known to be influenced by corporations who are large entities in size and power.

The six stages outlined are:

Extraction Is a stage also known as natural resource exploitation, which involves trashing the planet. This occurs through the exploitation of our resources- by cutting down trees, using up the water, and killing animals. According to Anne we are faced with limits as individuals on the planet use too much stuff and ultimately run out of these resources. Natural resource spaces disappear as we cut, haul, mine and trash our resources. In the United States for instance, consumption far exceeds the lands capacity, with less than 4% of their original forest remaining and 40% of the water ways left undrinkable. Extraction can also involve exploiting the resources of other nations such as third world countries.

Production Energy is used to mix toxic chemicals in with the natural resources that have been extracted which produces toxically contaminated products. Many of these products have not been untested for health impacts. Anne emphasizes the toxic nature of many products since numerous toxins go into making them- BFR’s (brominated flame retardants) which make things more fire proof are neurotoxins that effect the brain. Pollution is identified as a by-product of production with U.S. companies admitting to emitting 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals/pollution annually.

Distribution Once natural resources are turned into products then it moves to stores for distribution in the form of selling. The goal in this stage of the process is to keep prices low in order to keep the product moving and people buying as quickly as possible. Those who work in the distribution stage are paid very little- which is associated with externalized costs in the form of harm to the environment, which is often overlooked and unaccounted for.

Consumption The core of the system, the critical components that propels the entire system and is the primary focus of Corporations and the Government. Anne refers to the United States as a nation of consumers whose value is measured and demonstrated by how much we contribute to the consumption process. Materials are constantly flowing through the system as the individual/households continuously shop then trash 99% of these products within six months of purchase. There are two factors that contribute to the nature of people’s consumption. First, there is planned obsolescence which refers to products that are designed to intentionally last for a short span of time so that there is a need to replace them. Second there is perceived obsolescence which causes consumers to perceive the products that they buy as obsolete in comparison to those that have been redesigned and recently distributed in the market, so that there is a desire to buy the more recent version. The Media helps to project this message through advertising outlets constantly disseminating the same messages.

Disposal Eventually all the stuff individuals are influenced to buy are disposed of as we run out of space to accommodate all of it. Most of this garbage is sent to landfills or burned in an incinerator before being dumped in a landfill. This has wide-scale effects polluting the land, air, water and ultimately the climate. Incineration contributes to the release of toxins into the air which worsens the problem as super-chemicals, such as Dioxin, the most toxic manmade chemical is released into the atmosphere. Sadly, some companies chose not take responsibility for their disposal and ship it elsewhere.

Another Way There happens to be many points of intervention, ranging from tree planting, to saving forests, to clean production, labour rights, fair trade, conscious consumption, making overall eco-friendly decisions such as blocking landfills and incinerators and also taking back control of a Government that works in the best interests of the people. This stage requires that all of the people along the way in the process become united and change the nature of this linear system through the creation of a system that is efficiently allocates and uses its resources in a manner that is oriented towards sustainability and equity. New approaches and frames of thought are necessary such as closed loop production, zero waste and green chemistry since the old ways of thought that sustained the Materials Economy are detrimental to this planet and its inhabitants.