If that means consuming a part of the natural environment, do it before someone else copies the idea and then move on to something else.

We had also consumed a large part of our rations to keep warm.

Their construction and improvement consumed a large part of the imperial treasury.

Several studies suggest that bacteria has consumed a part of oil in the sea.

An arsonist starts a fire which consumes a large part of the town.

The pension payment will consume a large part of the budget necessitating reductions in other areas.

Although the cell was large, we had evidently consumed a great part of the oxygen that it contained.

"I fancy the ashes of them might even now be found in that oven which had already consumed a part."

In addition, the cattle industry consumed a large part of the workforce in this region.

Shopping for fabric, buttons and trim consumes a big part of the production time.