This topic is a very big niche of mine and probably the topic I have the most personal research on. Personally, in 2022, I stumbled upon the YouTube channel “Shelbizleee”, where she coins the term “eco-minimalism”. The idea from this is too by as few stuff new as possible. In her videos, she explains how every product you see at a store such as Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc. has an ecological footprint. From the resources extracted to make the product, to the factories running to make the product, to the transportation resources it takes to place it in stores. Then when your done with the product and throw it out, it can sit in the landfill, breaking down for hundreds of years. Basically, the planet has a finite number of resources, and the more we take and use from the planet, the more we destroy it. The goal in sustainability should be to reduce this as much as possible. Obviously, as humans we will need resources, but looking to shop secondhand first is the best way to go about this. I have been living a “low-waste” lifestyle since January 2022. I use bar soap to wash myself (yes, even shampoo and conditioner!), I carry my reusable water bottle wherever I go, and I always do my best to reduce my consumption as much as possible and shop secondhand when needed. This is not to gloat, but rather show you it is possible! I mess up, and so do most people. This economy isn’t built for this type of living, and we just have to do the best we can, so start slowly and have grace in this process!
If you do shop, according to the New York Times article “Want to Shop More Sustainably? These 6 Tips Will Help”, there are ways to make it sustainable. Something to note is that you should value high quality, durable items over low quality, even if it is more expensive, because chances are, you won’t have to constantly replace this item, which will save you more money in the long run and use less resources. You should also support brands that use eco-friendly materials, eco-friendly factories, and ensure their workers are being treated fairly. (Oh yeah, because oftentimes if a company is willing to destroy the planet, they don’t care about the laborers in their facilities). Supporting secondhand shops and purchasing secondhand is a great option that should be prioritized as I said earlier. Second-hand shopping has a lower environmental impact and makes it so there is less of a demand for new products. Second-hand shopping also increases the life of products that would have otherwise been thrown out and it cheap/accessible for most people. You should pay attention to amount of packaging on products, and choose products with recyclable, compostable, or little packaging in order to reduce the amount of pointless waste. You should also look at the stuff in what you are buying. Is it sustainable? Is it non-toxic? Is it made with plastics and synthetic materials or natural, renewable materials? These are some questions to ask yourself when determining if a product is good to buy for sustainability reasons. Lastly, making a list and sticking to it is a good way to be sustainable, meaning to only buy what you need and plan carefully what and when you will buy things. I find that if I just do a “look-through” in Target, I will come out with unnecessary things I could get by without using, so I try to avoid doing that. So instead of impulse buying, think about what you truly need. Overall, these types can help you get on track to be a sustainable shopper.
Links that I used for research, and you can use for additional resources:
Want to Shop More Sustainably? These 6 Tips Will Help. | Reviews by Wirecutter (nytimes.com)