As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says

As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says: "Approximately 1.7 billion people worldwide now belong to the 'consumer class'—the group of people characterized by diets of highly processed food, desire for bigger houses, more and bigger cars, higher levels of debt, and lifestyles devoted to the accumulation of non-essential goods.

Today nearly half of global consumers reside in developing countries, including 240 million in China and 120 million in India—markets with the most potential for expansion."