Consumerism and waste go hand in hand

Workers on an average salary would be amazed at the fact that the these projects, even in the construction stage, welcome a large number of visitors each weekend. It seems there are many such expensive housing estates at that level because there is demand.

Everyone would like a big house with a big graden full of trees, a drive full of vehicles and other things. But no matter how big a house is, it can be filled up in a year. In countries where housing construction is booming, furniture shops prosper. 

But the boom in construction adds to the property inventory. It was estimated that at the end of 2012, the housing inventory covered over 100,000 units worth over Bt300 billion. One consultant forecast that it would take 18 months to clear the inventory.  

Like in the housing market, the hotel industry has also quickly boosted its number of rooms.

As reported by The Nation earlier, the hotel sector in Phang Nga province’s Khao Lak will more than double from 9,000 guestrooms this year to 20,000 in five years.

In Bangkok, where new projects by international and smaller hotel groups are mushrooming, the number of rooms has risen sharply from about 30,000 before the end of 2010 to about 60,000 now. This is in line with the forecast that the number of tourist arrivals to Thailand will further rise from 20 million last year. One thing we must realise, though, is that no single hotel property enjoys 100-per cent occupancy.

In all corners of Bangkok there are restaurants that offer different cuisines. But what restaurant is fully booked for the whole year? Opening everyday requires them to stock up on food. And on quiet days when few customers come, some of this food has to be thrown away. 

Every day, resources are mobilised to cope with demand. As these resources are not fully exploited or consumed, much is wasted at a cost to all of us. If we threw away less rice, the demand for rice would drop, along with prices. Farmers would be encouraged to grow something else. Bank loans could be diverted to something in higher demand.

When it comes to consumption, is there a way to better manage resources?

A great idea on this was presented at the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2013 in Myanmar, by April Rinne, chief strategy officer at Collaborative Lab. Rinne became one of the WEF’s Young Global Leaders, thanks to her idea on sharing. To her, advanced technology allows the sharing of resources, including tangible assets like clothing and office space. She pointed out that a large portion of office space across the world is empty. Staff at some companies work at night, while those at another company work during the day. If these two companies could share space, they could expect smaller rental bills. Similarly, some families have unused children’s clothes and stuff their children accumulated as they grew up. All of this could be given to other families, which might have something else to trade. 

Airbnb is a similar, good example for the tourism industry. Individuals are renting unoccupied living space through a network with over 200,000 listings.  

“We can make assets visible and exchangeable. We are reconnecting people to one another, to support collaborative consumption,” Rinne said. Working as a lawyer, providing consultant services to poor women, she has learnt that people do not need to buy so much stuff. 

She looks further to extend the idea to intangible assets like time and experience. A company with a particular objective need not hire an expert, as that expert could be “loaned” by other companies seeking help on other subjects.

Indeed, East Asia, where the sense of individualism is not as strong as in the West, is a perfect place to support such collaborative ideas.

In the past, Thais were ready to help others. In the rice fields, they took turns helping at harvest time. This changed only when tractors emerged and when people no longer know their neighbours so well. 

In the past, Thais extended help without expecting anything in return. Those helped didn’t take this for granted, but felt obliged to return the favour. 

This concept still exists in some villages. But in most of the country, it does not. In housing estates in Bangkok, few people know the names of their neighbours, let alone what the neighbours do for a living. During the flood disaster in 2011, one observer suggested that people in housing estates should get to know each other better, so they can help each other in times of need. That suggestion is on the mark. Given our fast-depleting natural resources, it seems the right time to revive the “good old culture”.