wasteful consumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wasteful consumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the excessive use of resources or products that leads to unnecessary waste. Example: "The report highlights the negative impact of wasteful consumption on the environment and calls for more sustainable practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

In addition to this wasteful consumption of fossil fuels and their direct impact on climate change, food waste rotting in landfills produces substantial quantities of methane [16] – a gas with 25 fold more potent global warming potential than CO2 [17] which would have been the primary end product had the food been eaten and metabolized by humans.

Plosone

We are inside a bottleneck of overpopulation and wasteful consumption.

The New York Times - Books

"Our culture is not the wasteful consumption that we see in the first world," he said.

The New York Times

"The message here is clear: while some of us practice wasteful consumption, others cannot consume enough to survive".

The New York Times

The additional units for wasteful consumption came by depriving the rural communities of water for drinking and irrigation.

The Economist

It says that both the EU and US share the goal of phasing out such subsidies, where this "encourages wasteful consumption".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Other ecological considerations include an off-timer that reduces wasteful power consumption, as well as an extremely low standby power consumption of 0.08 W, which is the lowest in its class.  .

TechCrunch

"A broad public education program around wasteful energy consumption could be mounted," the report said.

The New York Times

The residual congestion for other road users may result in continued wasteful fuel consumption and high vehicle pollutant emission.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The song certainly touched a nerve, and Ms. Gates and Ms. Sheridan said they hope it brings attention to a political cause dear to their hearts: ending wasteful oil consumption.

The New York Times

Steele explains how a single energy manager has managed to cut the energy use of an MoD garrison in Dorset by 11% – the equivalent of 300,000 kilowatts – through training building managers in energy-saving techniques and identifying wasteful energy consumption.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing environmental impact, use "wasteful consumption" to highlight the negative consequences of overusing resources. For example, "Addressing wasteful consumption is crucial for mitigating climate change."

Common error

Avoid using "wasteful consumption" when you actually mean "consumerism". "Consumerism" refers to the cultural and economic phenomenon of encouraging the purchase of goods and services in ever-greater amounts, whereas "wasteful consumption" refers to the actual inefficient or excessive use of resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wasteful consumption" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the action of using resources in an inefficient or excessive manner. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and provides various examples of its application.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wasteful consumption" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes the inefficient or excessive use of resources. Ludwig AI analysis, including a variety of examples across different contexts, confirms this. While phrases like "excessive consumption" or "overconsumption" can serve as alternatives, understanding the specific nuance of "wasteful consumption" is crucial for effective communication. By avoiding confusion with related terms such as "consumerism" and implementing targeted strategies to reduce wasteful consumption, we can promote more sustainable and responsible resource management.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessive consumption

Focuses on the quantity consumed, implying it's more than needed.

overconsumption

Highlights the act of consuming too much.

inefficient use of resources

Emphasizes the lack of productivity or benefit derived from the consumed resources.

squandering of resources

Suggests a careless and irresponsible wasting of resources.

profligate spending

Refers to extravagant and wasteful spending habits.

unnecessary expenditure

Highlights the lack of need or justification for the consumption.

lavish consumption

Implies an extravagant and luxurious level of consumption.

reckless depletion of resources

Focuses on the irresponsible and unsustainable use of resources, suggesting a disregard for future availability.

frivolous expenditure

Implies that spending is not serious and lacks value.

dissipation of resources

Highlights the gradual and wasteful disappearance of resources.

FAQs

How can I use "wasteful consumption" in a sentence?

"Wasteful consumption" is often used to describe the overuse of resources. For example, "The government is trying to reduce wasteful consumption of energy through new policies."

What's a good alternative to "wasteful consumption"?

Depending on the context, you could use "excessive consumption", "overconsumption", or "inefficient use of resources".

What are the consequences of "wasteful consumption"?

"Wasteful consumption" can lead to resource depletion, environmental degradation, and economic instability. Addressing these consequences requires a shift toward more sustainable practices.

How does "wasteful consumption" relate to sustainability?

Sustainability aims to minimize "wasteful consumption" by promoting efficient resource use and reducing waste. Sustainable practices seek to balance economic development with environmental protection.