Where does all of our stuff go once we’re done with it? How did it get here? If you’ve ever wondered these same questions, check out this cute yet compelling online video called the The Story of Stuff.

The video does a great job of demonstrating how our our (specifically the U.S.) consumption is putting the planet in a ‘critical’ state (see, the name of this blog isn’t so coincidental after all). I don’t expect many scientists will learn any new concepts from it (although dioxins get a brief mention), but there are some great figures in there that are worth considering:

• Less than 4% of our native forests remain and 40% of our freshwater is undrinkable
• If the rest of the world consumed at the same rate as the U.S., we would need 3-5 planets
• 99% of the stuff we buy is trashed within six months of its purchase
• the average U.S. citizen consumes 50% more than they did 50 years ago
• Americans see ~3,000 advertisements a day
• Americans spend 3-4x more time shopping than Europeans
• The average American generates 4.5 lbs of waste/day
• For every can of garbage you create, seventy were created to make the stuff you’re throwing away

It’s worth a viewing and is definitely worth passing on to some not-so-aware friends and family. It might even be good for the classroom.

What did you think as a scientist? My observation is that too many of us feel they are exempt from ‘green’ practices in the laboratory. But we shouldn’t get a free pass either. How easily could you reduce your consumption in the lab? Do you really need that new PCR for your research group?