You open a kitchen cupboard and a tower of takeout plastic containers tumbles out.

You search your wardrobe for a particular shirt but cannot find it due to piles of clothes you haven’t worn in over five years.

It takes hours to clear up your child’s play area due to all the mixed up toys, even some with missing or broken parts.

Does this feel like a familiar frustration that you have to face on a daily basis? Don’t worry, you are definitely not alone. But before you can say, “Sayang, baka magamit pa yan!” take a good look at how your consumption habits impact your family and our environment. This Earth Day, let’s review these practices to reduce overconsumption: 

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with occasionally indulging your “inner child” with a treat, it becomes a problem when you lose track of how often you are buying simply out of emotional or sentimental reasons. Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” and be honest. You can set a 24- or 48- hour pause before you decide on proceeding with purchases.

Sometimes, you can just admire something, enjoy how you feel during that moment, and put the item back on its shelf without taking it home.

Buying consumables in bulk can be a great way to start reducing the amount of packaging waste you generate. One large reusable container of shampoo is definitely easier to manage than having to dispose of dozens of small non-biodegradable sachets regularly.

Moreover, both wallet and waistline will thank you if you buy enough food you can realistically consume within a given time. If you know your family gets tired of eating the same food for several days, then it’s better to buy and prepare smaller quantities of food instead of having leftovers that will just go to waste.

While brands that focus on sustainable and ethical processes and products may seem more expensive upfront, you’re actually getting more value for your money because they last longer than “cheaper” options.

For example, a well-made dress from a local sustainable brand will be a better long-term investment than five fast fashion pieces that will shrink and tear on the first wash! Don’t miss out on good budget finds in vintage and thrift shops, clothing swaps, and online resale platforms. You can score high-quality products for less, while also avoiding the environmental cost involved in producing new products.

If you dig deep and try to trace the source of the thrill and pleasure you experience whenever you buy something new, you can understand how to replicate these feelings without buying anything. What do your material possessions symbolize? Are you holding on to an old pair of shoes that no longer fit because it holds nostalgic memories? Maybe you can take photos, make journal entries, and document what this item represents before you let these shoes go on to have a new life with someone who will actually use them. If you can’t let go of dusty trinkets from past vacations, it may be time to book a new trip with your family so you can make new memories, too.

Dr. John Jamir Benzon Aruta, named one of the top 2% scientists in the world by Stanford University and a leading expert in the field of environmental psychology and mental health, has published extensive studies on how Filipinos are affected by climate change. One of them sounds the alarm for Filipino parents.

When we cling to material goods and think it is “sayang” to just sell it or give it away, it may become a bigger regret if we don’t consider the true cost of overconsumption to our financial, physical, and mental well-being. It may not be easy to change a lifetime of habits of tolerating clutter and hoarding tendencies and to address the underlying emotional triggers that lead us to these behaviors, but it’s a worthwhile investment of our time and other resources so we can make the planet a better place for our family now and for future generations as well. 

References:

• Aruta, J. Climate anxiety mediates environmental concern and climate action among Filipino youth: does mitigation response efficacy belief matter?, 2024 Current Psychology 44(1),103-113
• Purnell, K. The Philippines has biggest hoarders in Asia – online data. February 2025