All-Consuming is the art of wasting nothing and using up everything.
You wouldn't get off a train halfway through a journey and buy a ticket for another one. And you wouldn't walk out of a movie before it's finished and pay to see it again (especially not if it had Vin Diesel in it).
But that's sort of what you're doing when you buy new stuff rather than using up the things you've already got.
And doing that harms more than just your bank balance. Making and transporting new goods requires raw materials and energy, and so creates lots of nasty CO2.
And to top it off, most things we chuck out spend the rest of their days rotting in a landfill site, where they produce more CO2 as well as other noxious greenhouse gases.
Which is why we need to start All-Consuming and stop throwing things away prematurely. Don't dump those holey socks - get a-darning. Don't throw out your leftovers - turn them into a nice broth instead. And don't bin your well-loved Snoopy doll - there's life in that old dog yet.
More info from the Green Thing wiki >>
If some stuff-chucking wastrel demands to know why you're All-Consuming, don't throw away the chance to re-use one of those great comebacks:
- My bin-man's recovering from a hernia, and I'm helping his convalescence
- If I don't finish my leftovers, your mum will be round to eat them. Because she's fat, you see.
- Shopping and me go together like rappers and modesty
- If I hang on to everything I ever buy, chances are at least one item will become a valuable antique by the time I'm 90
- There's a goblin living in my bin and I'm trying to starve him out.
Got any better ones? Add a comment below...
