The treadmill of production (TP) is a sociological theory arguing that capitalism is a complex system comprising forces which are social, political and economic, and as a whole are responsible for environmental degradations. The capitalist imperative towards growth has resulted in the depletion of natural resources and disruptions to ecosystems, ultimately leading to environmental collapse (Gould, Pellow & Schnaiberg, 2004). While the definition is overly simplistic, TP is an extremely complex theory that provides a sociological understanding of how capitalist forces, in the bent towards growth, alter production methods for the sake of increased profitability.

The advent of the western diet—comprised of highly processed foods—coincides with TP, especially as both relate to the second half of the former century up to today. Taking agriculture as an example, the industrialization concerning how vegetables, grains and other food-stuffs are now grown is responsible for a depletion of soil nutrients which, in turn, has resulted in a significant drop in the nutritional values of the things we eat (Pollan, 2008). However it should be noted that the effects of industrializing agriculture were noted some time before the advent of TP when former dentist Weston Price recognized that industrialization as it applies to agriculture was causing soil degradation which ultimately led to a range of health-related issues (Pollan, 2008).

TP is a supply-side theory, meaning that it focuses on production instead of consumption. The main reason for this has to do with power. As Gould, et al. (2004) argue, “Although consumers may be the ultimate purchasers of some of the products of new technologies, decisions about the allocation of technologies is in the realm of production managers and owners” (p. 300). Consumers have little to no say in how food items are grown or processed, and as Pollan (2008) somewhat points out this results in large-scale agriculture that, through the use of fertilizers and pesticides, denudes the soil of natural biological activities, “the contribution of plant health of the complex underground ecosystem of soil microbes, earthworms, and mycorrhizal fungi” (p. 114).

Politics plays into the processes involved in such environmental degradation because it essentially works in consort with economic interests thus a process of devolution takes place that affects consumer choice and power. Decisions that consumers are now provided with have resulted from: decisions that had already been made concerning production; the distribution of social and political policies; and who makes policies, and who benefits from them (Gould, et al., 2004). In essence, TP recognizes that the driving force(s) of consumption are what is most important in terms of sociological study, because the concept of consumption is something that was manipulated and guided by “captains of industry and their collaborators in the advertising sector” (Gould, et al., 2004, p. 301).

A good example of how industry guides consumers is by the various diets in which people have to choose from. While Pollan (2008) argues in favor of traditional diets, he states that the myriad of diets constructed through scientific theory only benefits industry, “The food industry needs theories so it can better redesign specific processed foods; a new theory means a new line of products, allowing the industry to go on tweaking the Western diet instead of making a radical change to its business model” (p. 141). The prevalent capitalist model is not sustainable. As both Gould, et al. (2004) and Pollan (2008) point out, it leads to catastrophic consequences to ecosystems. While Pollan argues in a return to a traditional diet, as well as a more ecologically-friendly way in which to produce food, Gould, et al. (2004) note that globalization has only served to accelerate the rate of environmental degradation which only seems evident this day and age. However, they also see an emerging response to the “transnational treadmill” where coalitions are rising in opposition of the prevailing capitalist forces that have ultimately caused such damage to the environment, food supplies, and the health and wellbeing of populations the world over.