Use Less Stuff Day

Use Less Stuff Day is observed in the United States every third Thursday in November. This is the perfect occasion to learn how to live with less and reduce unnecessary purchases. Many people know the feeling of filling a shopping basket with items they don’t really need, only to store them at home for years.

History

The holiday was established by an organization focused on protecting the environment. Unfortunately, many materials commonly used today are harmful to nature, and people often don’t realize the full impact of plastic waste. Most households have dozens of unused plastic containers collecting dust, which will eventually be discarded and cause harm to the planet.

Greenpeace, the international environmental organization, has supported the holiday and calls on everyone to control their consumption of resources. It’s not difficult—if we don’t take action to save the Earth, we put ourselves and future generations at risk. If every person learns about these environmental problems and joins in the solution, we can make a real difference!

Interesting facts

Unfortunately:

• Americans purchase 29 million plastic bottles each day, but only 13% are recycled. These bottles take centuries to decompose.
• About 1,000 children die every day in India from drinking contaminated water.
• Seven billion tons of garbage are dumped into the oceans each year.
• The Ganges is considered the most polluted river in the world.
• Up to 98% of radioactive waste remains in the soil, depleting its resources.

How to take part

Try not to buy anything unnecessary today—leave the supermarket with only what you truly need. Use virtual wallets and avoid plastic cards when possible. Choose drinks in glass bottles, and make an effort to reduce plastic use to a minimum!

When is Use Less Stuff Day in 2025?

Use Less Stuff Day is observed on the third Thursday of November each year.

Observations