The New Materialism: How Our Relationship with the Material World Can Change for the Better

Materialism has become synonymous with consumerism wasteful, debt-fuelled and ultimately unsatisfying. Yet, inescapably, we are part of the material world. How, then, can we develop a healthy connection to it? This pamphlet argues for a New Materialism, in which we grow a more deeply pleasurable, and also respectful relationship with the world of things. Not only do we think there is strong evidence to argue that this will significantly enhance our well-being, it is also an essential step forward if we are to thrive whilst living within our environmental means. We believe the New Materialism offers a better solution to key current economic challenges such as the need to generate ample, good-quality jobs and a way of making daily goods and services available that escapes the consumer debt-trap.

Andrew Simms is the author of Tescopoly and several other books. He is a Fellow of nef (the new economics foundation). Ruth Potts is a co-founder of bread, print & roses. She was a student on the first year of the new MA in Economics for Transition at Schumacher College. This pamphlet draws on work developed and written there.