Stuff

The video encapsulates the system and processes anyone involved in consumer goods has somewhat a role in; the materials economy. This is described as a linear system on a finite planet, where there are limitations in the cycle and thus problems appear. We are exploiting the environment -- undermining the variability for people to live and running out of resources fast.
Other important problems described include the release of chemicals and toxic materials. There are thousands of synthetic chemicals which can result in huge impact on physical and mental health; such chemicals are used in manufacture to make new products. However what goes in must come out and thus those chemicals may still remain in the product after manufacture. It is highlighted that brominated flame retardants are neurotoxins and with a combination of other toxic chemicals we don't really know what will happen with extended exposure.
With the excessive extraction of resources, people living in those areas are losing homes, and they have no choice but to work in atrocious conditions in factories etc.
Costs that are involved in extraction and manufacture does not materialise in the form of money, what it does do is materialise in these people's lives through losing homes, jobs and deteriorating health through exposure to chemicals for example.
We are also consuming masses and masses of goods thus producing as much waste. This is a vicious cycle where we need or want more, so we get more but in the end we make more waste; disposal of such waste can also cause environmental impact along with those through manufacture.

There are problems with the system we use today, problems that impact everyone whether directly or indirectly; impact on society or the environment. Society is trying to change this system, but it is slow and we are only working at the uppermost layers. Change does not happen unless the underlying factors that result in such massive, even global problems are resolved. As a result of this mass consumption of we really have to consider the bigger picture, not by just creating the product but think about the whole lifetime beginning from extraction to manufacture to disposal. It encapsulates the concept of 'cradle to the grave' as designers we also have to consider what happens to a product at the end of its lifetime.