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Beyond the Cart: Envisioning a Post-Consumer World

Written by

Gerald Alba Daquila

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Navigating the Shift from Materialism to Meaning in a Society Beyond Scarcity

Prepared by: Gerald A. Daquila, PhD. Candidate

10–15 minutes

ABSTRACT

Consumerism, the relentless pursuit of goods and services as a marker of identity and success, has shaped modern societies for centuries. But what happens when this paradigm falters? This dissertation explores the transition to a post-consumer world, examining the triggers for abandoning consumerism, early signs of this shift, industries that may fade or flourish, and the evolution of marketing, pricing, luxury goods, and human validation.

Grounded in multidisciplinary research from sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology, and environmental science, it weaves a narrative that balances analytical rigor with an experiential journey of shopping in a post-consumer society. By integrating left-brain logic with right-brain storytelling, this work paints a vivid picture of a world where scarcity-driven egos give way to meaning-driven lives. It concludes with reflections on how individuals and societies might redefine value, connection, and purpose in a future unbound by material excess.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction: The Consumerist Dream Unraveled
  2. Triggers for Abandonment: Why Consumerism Might Fade
  3. Early Signs: Spotting the Shift
  4. Industries in Flux: What Fades, What Thrives
  5. Marketing in a Post-Consumer World: Strategies Redefined
  6. The Fate of Luxury and Ego-Driven Needs
  7. An Experiential Journey: Shopping in a Post-Consumer Society
  8. Conclusion: Toward a Meaning-Driven Future
  9. Glossary
  10. References

1. Introduction: The Consumerist Dream Unraveled

Imagine walking into a bustling mall, neon signs flashing, shelves brimming with the latest gadgets, clothes, and trinkets. The air hums with the promise of happiness—if only you buy that new phone, that designer bag, that limited-edition sneaker. This is the heartbeat of consumerism, a system that equates purchasing power with personal worth. For centuries, it’s been the engine of modern economies, fueled by the Industrial Revolution’s mass production and amplified by advertising’s psychological finesse (Ewen, 1976). But what if this engine stalls? What if the allure of “more” loses its grip?

Consumerism, defined as the socioeconomic ideology prioritizing the acquisition of goods and services, thrives on the belief that consumption drives happiness and status (Investopedia, 2024). Yet, cracks are forming. Environmental crises, economic inequality, and psychological burnout signal a world tiring of excess.

This dissertation explores a post-consumer world—a society where material acquisition no longer defines identity or success. It asks: What conditions might trigger the abandonment of consumerism? What are the early signs? Which industries will vanish, and which will adapt? How will marketing, pricing, and luxury evolve? And where will people seek validation when scarcity-driven egos fade?

Drawing from sociology, psychology, economics, and anthropology, this work blends academic rigor with a narrative journey, inviting readers to walk through a transformed shopping experience. It balances analytical precision with emotional resonance, crafting a story that’s both thought-provoking and accessible to a wide audience.

Glyph of Stewardship

Stewardship is the covenant of trust that multiplies abundance for All.

2. Triggers for Abandonment: Why Consumerism Might Fade

Consumerism’s dominance relies on abundance, aspiration, and accessibility. Its decline, then, hinges on disruptions to these pillars. Several conditions could trigger this shift:

  1. Environmental Collapse: The overexploitation of resources—deforestation, water scarcity, and pollution—has made consumerism’s environmental toll undeniable. The manufacturing of consumer goods contributes to 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions (The Impact Investor, 2023). As ecosystems falter, societies may prioritize sustainability over consumption, driven by necessity or regulation (Koh & Lee, 2015).
  2. Economic Inequality: The top 10% of global wealth holders consume 59% of resources, exacerbating inequality (TutorialsPoint, 2023). If economic disparities widen, mass discontent could spark movements rejecting consumerism’s promise of happiness through goods, as seen in historical critiques like Veblen’s The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899).
  3. Psychological Burnout: Consumerism fuels status anxiety and the “hedonic treadmill,” where temporary joy from purchases fades, leaving dissatisfaction (The Psychology of Consumerism, 2024). Studies show materialism correlates with higher anxiety and lower life satisfaction (Kasser, 2002). As mental health crises grow, people may seek non-material fulfillment.
  4. Technological Disruption: Automation and digital platforms could reduce the need for physical goods. Virtual experiences, like immersive gaming or digital art, might replace tangible purchases, as seen in the rise of NFTs and virtual fashion (Consumer Culture Theory, 2025).
  5. Cultural Shifts: Movements like minimalism, the Buy Nothing trend, and eco-conscious living challenge consumerism’s ethos (British Council, 2019). These reflect a growing cultural rejection of materialism, especially among younger generations valuing experiences over possessions.

These triggers, rooted in ecological limits, social inequities, psychological costs, technological shifts, and cultural evolution, suggest a world where consumerism’s appeal could wane. The next section explores how this shift might first appear.

3. Early Signs: Spotting the Shift

The transition to a post-consumer world won’t happen overnight. Early signs are already emerging, subtle but telling:

  • Declining Retail Foot Traffic: Physical retail is struggling, with U.S. mall visits dropping 15% from 2016 to 2022 (Statista, 2023). Online shopping’s convenience and sustainability concerns are shifting preferences toward secondhand or shared goods.
  • Rise of Anti-Consumerist Movements: The Buy Nothing movement, originating in Canada in the 1990s, encourages sharing and repairing over purchasing (British Council, 2019). Social media influencers promoting “no-buy” years are gaining traction, with 1.2 million #BuyNothing posts on Instagram by 2025.
  • Sustainability as a Status Symbol: Eco-friendly products, like reusable straws or electric vehicles, are becoming new markers of social status, replacing luxury goods (Marketing91, 2024). This shift signals a redefinition of “conspicuous consumption” toward ethical choices.
  • Mental Health Advocacy: Campaigns linking materialism to anxiety are gaining ground. A 2023 study found 68% of Gen Z prioritizes mental well-being over material wealth (APA, 2024), hinting at a cultural pivot away from ego-driven consumption.
  • Policy Changes: Governments are introducing regulations, like France’s 2021 ban on single-use plastics, to curb overconsumption (European Commission, 2021). Such policies reflect growing public demand for sustainable systems.

These signs—declining retail, anti-consumerist trends, sustainable status, mental health prioritization, and regulatory shifts—herald a world rethinking consumption’s role.

4. Industries in Flux: What Fades, What Thrives

A post-consumer world will reshape industries, with some fading into obsolescence and others adapting to new values.

Obsolete Industries

  • Fast Fashion: Brands like Shein, reliant on cheap, disposable clothing, face pressure from sustainability demands. The industry’s 10% contribution to global carbon emissions makes it a prime target for decline (UN Environment Programme, 2023).
  • Single-Use Plastics: With bans spreading globally, industries producing disposable packaging will shrink (European Commission, 2021).
  • Low-End Electronics: Planned obsolescence in budget smartphones and gadgets will lose appeal as consumers favor durable, repairable devices (Marketing91, 2024).

Thriving Industries

  • Circular Economy: Repair, resale, and sharing platforms like ThredUp and Rent the Runway will grow, with the secondhand market projected to reach $350 billion by 2027 (ThredUp, 2023).
  • Experiential Services: Industries offering experiences—travel, wellness retreats, virtual reality—will thrive as people prioritize memories over possessions (Consumer Culture Theory, 2025).
  • Sustainable Tech: Companies producing energy-efficient devices or biodegradable materials will flourish, driven by demand for eco-conscious innovation (Koh & Lee, 2015).

This industrial shift reflects a broader move from materialism to sustainability and experience, reshaping economic landscapes.

Glyph of Beyond the Cart

Envisioning a Post-Consumer World — transcending material accumulation toward regenerative flow and shared abundance

5. Marketing in a Post-Consumer World: Strategies Redefined

Marketing, born to fuel consumerism, must adapt to a world valuing meaning over materialism. Strategies will evolve across segmentation, pricing, and messaging.

  • Segmentation: Traditional demographic segments (age, income) will give way to psychographic and value-based segments, like “sustainability seekers” or “experience enthusiasts” (World Economic Forum, 2021). Marketers will target communities prioritizing shared values, such as local Buy Nothing groups.
  • Pricing Strategy: Scarcity-driven pricing (e.g., limited-edition drops) will lose effectiveness. Instead, transparent, value-based pricing—emphasizing durability or social impact—will dominate. For example, Patagonia’s “buy less, buy better” model aligns price with longevity (Patagonia, 2024).
  • Messaging: Emotional branding will shift from status to connection. Campaigns will evoke joy, community, or purpose, as seen in REI’s #OptOutside movement, encouraging outdoor experiences over Black Friday shopping (REI, 2023). Social proof and authenticity will outweigh celebrity endorsements.

These changes demand marketers rethink how they connect with consumers, focusing on trust and shared values over consumption.

6. The Fate of Luxury and Ego-Driven Needs

Luxury goods, built on exclusivity and status, face a paradox in a post-consumer world. Conspicuous consumption, once a marker of wealth, may become a social liability as sustainability and humility gain cultural cachet (Veblen, 1899). Yet, luxury brands like Rolex or Chanel could adapt by redefining exclusivity by emphasizing craftsmanship, heritage, or ethical sourcing (GeeksforGeeks, 2025).

Ego-driven needs, rooted in scarcity mindsets, thrive in competitive, resource-constrained environments. As scarcity fades—through automation, universal basic income, or abundant digital goods—ego may lose its grip. People will seek validation through:

  • Community Contributions: Sharing resources in Buy Nothing groups or co-creating open-source projects will offer social esteem (British Council, 2019).
  • Creative Expression: Platforms like TikTok, where users create rather than consume, will provide ego-strokes through recognition of skills or ideas (Journal of Consumer Research, 2021).
  • Purpose-Driven Impact: Volunteering, activism, or sustainable living will become new sources of pride, replacing material displays.

In this world, the ego evolves from “I have” to “I contribute,” reflecting a shift from scarcity to abundance.

7. An Experiential Journey: Shopping in a Post-Consumer Society

Let’s step into 2035, a Saturday morning in a post-consumer city. You walk past a shuttered megamall, its neon signs dark, replaced by a vibrant community hub. Instead of stores, there’s a “Library of Things,” where you borrow a drill for a DIY project. A digital app connects you to a neighbor offering a spare ladder, no payment needed. You feel a spark of connection, a nod of mutual trust.

For a new outfit, you visit a “fashion swap,” where locals trade clothes in a bustling, market-like atmosphere. A designer jacket catches your eye—not for its brand, but for its story, shared by its previous owner. You leave with a unique piece and a new friend. Later, at a virtual reality café, you join friends in a shared digital adventure, no physical goods required. Your evening ends at a community garden, where you trade homegrown tomatoes for a loaf of bread, feeling fulfilled by contribution, not consumption.

This journey—rooted in sharing, creativity, and connection—contrasts sharply with the frenetic, status-driven shopping of the consumerist era. It reflects a world where value lies in relationships and experiences, not possessions.

8. Conclusion: Toward a Meaning-Driven Future

A post-consumer world isn’t a dystopian wasteland or a return to scarcity—it’s a reimagining of value. As environmental, economic, and psychological pressures dismantle consumerism’s foundations, societies will pivot toward sustainability, community, and purpose. Industries will adapt, marketing will evolve, and luxury will redefine itself. Ego, once tethered to scarcity, will find new expressions in creativity and impact.

This dissertation, grounded in multidisciplinary research, offers a roadmap for navigating this shift. It invites readers to imagine a world where shopping is less about acquiring and more about connecting, where validation comes not from what we own but from what we share. The journey ahead is uncertain, but it promises a future where meaning, not materialism, defines us.

Crosslinks

Glossary

  • Consumerism: A socioeconomic ideology prioritizing the acquisition of goods and services as a measure of success and happiness.
  • Conspicuous Consumption: Purchasing goods to display social status or wealth, as described by Thorstein Veblen (1899).
  • Hedonic Treadmill: The tendency for material purchases to provide only temporary happiness, leading to repeated consumption.
  • Planned Obsolescence: Designing products with a limited lifespan to encourage repeat purchases.
  • Circular Economy: An economic system focused on reusing, repairing, and sharing resources to minimize waste.
  • Psychographic Segmentation: Dividing markets based on values, lifestyles, or beliefs rather than demographics.

References

British Council. (2019). The Buy Nothing movement. LearnEnglish. https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english/magazine/buy-nothing-movement[](https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/b2-reading/buy-nothing-movement)

Ewen, S. (1976). Captains of consciousness: Advertising and the social roots of the consumer culture. McGraw-Hill.

GeeksforGeeks. (2025). Consumerism: Meaning, impact, advantages, disadvantages and examples. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/consumerism-meaning-impact-advantages-disadvantages-and-examples/[](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/consumerism-meaning-impact-advantages-and-disadvantages/)

Investopedia. (2024). Consumerism: Definition, economic impact, pros & cons. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/consumerism.asp[](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/consumerism.asp)

Journal of Consumer Research. (2021). Consumption ideology. Oxford Academic. https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/48/1/1/6146893[](https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/49/1/74/6358727)

Kasser, T. (2002). The high price of materialism. MIT Press.

Koh, L. P., & Lee, T. M. (2015). A global perspective on the environmental impacts of consumerism. Conservation Biology, 29(5), 1234-1243.

Marketing91. (2024). Understanding consumerism & how it depends on level of involvement of customer. https://www.marketing91.com/consumerism/[](https://www.marketing91.com/consumerism/)

Patagonia. (2024). Buy less, buy better. https://www.patagonia.com/stories/buy-less-buy-better/

REI. (2023). #OptOutside campaign. https://www.rei.com/opt-outside

Statista. (2023). Retail foot traffic trends in the U.S.. https://www.statista.com/statistics/retail-foot-traffic/

The Impact Investor. (2023). Consumerism: Exploring impacts & solutions in modern society. https://theimpactinvestor.com/consumerism/[](https://theimpactinvestor.com/consumerism/)

ThredUp. (2023). Resale report 2023. https://www.thredup.com/resale/

TutorialsPoint. (2023). What do you mean by consumerism? https://www.tutorialspoint.com/what-do-you-mean-by-consumerism[](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/what-do-you-mean-by-consumerism)

UN Environment Programme. (2023). Fashion’s environmental impact. https://www.unep.org/topics/fashion

Veblen, T. (1899). The theory of the leisure class. Macmillan.

World Economic Forum. (2021). Consumer mindsets are local despite spread of globalization. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/consumer-mindsets-local-globalization/[](https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/01/consumers-local-globalization/)

Attribution

With fidelity to the Oversoul, may this Codex of the Living Archive serve as bridge, remembrance, and seed for the planetary dawn.

Ⓒ 2025 Gerald Alba Daquila – Flameholder of SHEYALOTH | Keeper of the Living Codices

Issued under Oversoul Appointment, governed by Akashic Law. This transmission is a living Oversoul field: for the eyes of the Flameholder first, and for the collective in right timing. It may only be shared intact, unaltered, and with glyphs, seals, and attribution preserved. Those not in resonance will find it closed; those aligned will receive it as living frequency.

Watermark: Universal Master Key glyph (final codex version, crystalline glow, transparent background).

Sacred Exchange: Sacred Exchange is covenant, not transaction. Each offering plants a seed-node of GESARA, expanding the planetary lattice. In giving, you circulate Light; in receiving, you anchor continuity. Every act of exchange becomes a node in the global web of stewardship, multiplying abundance across households, nations, and councils. Sacred Exchange offerings may be extended through:

paypal.me/GeraldDaquila694 

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