If everyone on the planet lived like Americans, it would take over four planets to sustain us all. Data and evidence confirms that Americans consume goods, energy and natural resources at a much faster rate than the rest of the world.

The U.S lives far outside Earth’s means — and in order to protect our environment and overall health, people need to become aware of just how lavishly we live. We need to begin taking the necessary steps to stop overconsumption and waste in our daily lives. Here are some facts:

Americans use approximately 80-150 gallons of water, per person, daily. That’s over twice the global average.

Americans waste between 30-40 percent of our daily food supply each day. That amounts to almost a pound of food per person daily being wasted. The volume of discarded food is equivalent to the yearly use of 30 million acres of land, 780 million pounds of pesticide, and 4.2 trillion gallons of irrigated water. On top of that, the food that is tossed out is then sent to landfills/dumps where it releases methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas.

Americans make up less than 5% of the world’s population, yet consume 20-30% of the world’s energy today.

For those who are conscientious of their consumption and waste, and might think this doesn’t apply to you, think again. Much of your efforts to combat overconsumption and waste are essentially sabotaged by grocery stores. Many U.S. grocery stores do not have specific food waste reduction commitments, and others do not prevent food waste for cosmetically damaged foods. There are very few laws in place preventing mass food waste from these companies.

The center for Biological Diversity and the Ugly Fruit and Vegetable Campaign asked 10 top stores in the U.S how they handle food waste, and then graded them on their response with an A, B, C, D, F. Out of the 10 stores, none received an A. Walmart ranked highest with a B. Kroger, Food Lion, and Stop and Shop, were all given Cs. Costco, Publix, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Target were given Ds.

By consuming as much water, energy, goods and other natural resources as we do, we are putting the entire global population at risk. The environment has already suffered tremendous losses due to overconsumption and waste, and simply cannot sustain much more abuse. We consume as if the world’s resources are infinite when in reality, they are finite.

Here are a few suggestions to implement into daily routines to combat overconsumption and waste:

>> Buy food only as needed, and learn proper storage techniques to reduce spoilage.

>> Consider donating food to homeless shelters and food drives, instead of tossing it out. Also consider composting or giving to local livestock owners.

>> Teach water conservation techniques to family members, such as shutting off the faucet when brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, and replace items such as toilets and faucets with water-efficient appliances.

>> Conserve energy by turning off TV and lights, washing clothes in cold water, turning the AC and water systems down a few degrees, and installing energy-saving lights and other appliances.

>> Push the Legislature to create laws that ensure food-saving techniques are implemented in grocery stores nationwide.

I encourage everyone to research ways to combat overconsumption and waste, and take part in the efforts. The environment, as well as future generations and wildlife, would surely thank you for it.