Why Sustainable Products are not Sustainable
The hidden reality behind eco-friendly consumerism.
Sustainable swaps and green alternatives have skyrocketed over the last decade. Grocery stores have reusable bags and bulk bins to reduce the amount of plastic we are collecting in our homes and landfills. Some even stock package-free soap, bamboo cutlery, and bio-degradable detergents. New eco-friendly products are lined at the front of Sprouts and Whole Foods for customers to stare at in wonderment. One can argue that sustainable consumerism has become a trend.
There’s our first problem.
Many of us, including myself, who have the ability and privilege to purchase these sustainable products choose to do so. Some of us want to perceive and be perceived as stewards of the planet while others are eager to be on the sustainability bandwagon and do what’s trendy. Whether it’s to gain respect from our peers, find a sense of purpose, or to keep up with the Joneses the rise of eco-friendly products has changed the way we make purchasing decisions.
Businesses who have analyzed consumer spending habits have begun to mass produce sustainable products. The gap is reducing between eco-products and the less sustainable counterparts. Most people have likely seen reusable water bottles, canvas totes, coffee tumblers, metal straws, plastic and glass Tupperware, and natural loofahs everywhere. The mass production of these goods mixed with the consumer mindset to buy more of these products fuel material consumerism. Most people are unaware of the increased carbon emissions from the production and transportation of these goods. Not to mention when a product becomes unusable it contributes to waste in our landfills.
Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote on the kind of world you want. ~Anna Lappe
Secondly, our society is not taught to use what we have, but to purchase what we don’t. The average person now sees over 10,000 advertisements a day most of which we don’t consciously process. Marketing and social media have made us believe we are in a constant state of scarcity. Even though we have a closet full of perfectly usable clothing, sustainable fashion is marketed as a way to be eco-friendly. Although the stainless-steel cutlery exists in the kitchen we purchase bamboo travel cutlery is marketed as the must-have alternative. Same goes with household products such as commercial cleaners, kitchenware, toiletries, electronics, cars, houses, and more.
Three Easy Tips While Shopping for Eco-Friendly Products:
- Use what you have.
- Purchase goods based on the need it solves or the value it provides.
- Don’t buy just because it’s sustainable.
We can still purchase sustainable alternatives to many of the products we own, but restrain from purchasing items just because they are marketed as eco-friendly. Instead, purchase new goods based on necessity. There is a huge differentiation between buying something new when an existing, usable product exists and choosing a sustainable alternative when the need arises.
Don’t be a sucker for marketing and advertisements. Just like any other habit we must train our mind to think critically before making purchasing decisions. Once we learn to catch impulsive purchasing habits, we will begin to see how powerful voting with our dollar can be for the planet.
