We live in an era where almost everything is available, anytime, anywhere. Food can be ordered with the touch of a button, knowledge is seconds away via an AI chat, and products are delivered to your door in a day. But availability is not the same as sufficiency. Just because we can get more doesn’t mean we need more – or that it makes us happier.
Availability is about something being close at hand, ready to be consumed. Sufficiency is about having what is actually needed, without excess. The difference between these two perspectives is crucial for how we build the society of the future – both from an individual and a global sustainability perspective.
When availability leads to waste
A clear example of the conflict between availability and sufficiency is the food industry. In many parts of the world, food is never more than a few minutes away, but at the same time enormous amounts of food are thrown away every day. In a small and sustainable country as Sweden, around 1.3 million tons of food are thrown away per year – not because it is inedible, but because it can be afforded to throw it away.
The same is true of the clothing industry. Fast fashion makes it possible to buy cheap clothes in abundance, but few of them are worn more than a few times. The availability of cheap clothes has led to a culture where wear and tear has become the norm, rather than caring for and using what we already have.
The paradox of technology – unlimited information, limited focus
The internet has made information more accessible than ever. We can read news from around the world, learn new skills for free, and stay in touch with anyone, anywhere. But accessibility has also led to a fragmentation of our attention.
Instead of delving into topics, we jump between headlines and short summaries. We consume information without reflecting on it. Social media offers a constant stream of impressions, but how much of what we see actually gives us a deeper understanding? And an understanding based on facts?
The balance between accessibility and sufficiency
The solution is not to reduce accessibility – we should not strive to make it harder to get food, information or clothing. But we need a cultural shift where we see the value in sufficiency.
An example of how this can work is the sharing economy. Instead of everyone having their own car, we can share resources through car pools. If not the main car, then at least the second car. Instead of buying new tools every time we need something, we can borrow or rent. It is not about giving up convenience, but about using what we have in a more thoughtful way.
Another example is minimalist trends in design and consumption. More and more people are choosing to avoid excess and focus on fewer but better products – clothes that last longer, furniture that is timeless, technology that is sustainable rather than constantly replaceable.
The future requires a new way of thinking
If we want to build a sustainable future, we must let go of the idea that more is always better. We need to design systems where availability does not lead to overconsumption, where we have what we need – but no more. Where the value of nature remaining, a wealth of animal species, clean air, clean water means more than a new model of something we already have.
It’s about changing perspectives: from chasing what’s easy to get, to valuing quality and what’s actually enough. Only then can we create a world where we not only have access to everything – but also have balance.
