One of the biggest issues I've found with the sustainability movement in recent years is how whitewashed and inaccessible it's become. Low-waste creators and influencers are often really preachy and exclusive, oftentimes it feels like these discussions are taking a punitive approach instead of one of compassion. These discussions often lack action steps and discard the indigenous histories that many of these practices come from.
As someone who has been transitioning to a lower-waste lifestyle since 2016, I've fallen victim to many of these whitewashed and almost bullying practices. I've wasted so much money on aesthetic sustainable swaps instead of subscribing to the ethos of #usewhatyouhave. I've personally had to do a lot of research on the origins and consequences of these practices, so I am better informed as both a consumer and an "educator" - as friends and family often come to me for advice on making lower-waste swaps.
I think it's important to recognize here that living a completely zero-waste life is nearly impossible. It's incredibly privileged, exclusive, costly, and, quite frankly, not as fun. The aim to live a lower-waste and more sustainable life is one that is more attainable and applicable to a variety of lifestyles and budgets. These lower-waste lifestyles can be something as simple as the addition of a Meatless Monday, taking a reusable cup to work, upcycling your old pasta jars, etc. Before jumping in to a further discussion of this privilege, let's briefly discuss the origin of many of these practices.
In an instagram post published one week ago, @DearDarlingDesignStudio wrote,
"Sustainable practices were started by BIPOC. Indigenous people have been in close relationship with the earth and all cycles of life. They made sure nothing went to waste. They closely monitored their resources making sure to keep them continuous, fully living off the planet. Through mass colonization, those practices dwindled, especially because those who knew how to implement them were shunned and oppressed. Now, the modern movement is accredited to and made to benefit white people, leaving the communities who originated it unable to participate freely...There needs to be voices in the conversation that represent the communities that are going to be impacted the most by climate change. We need money flowing into impoverished communities to give them the choice of living sustainably because, if the option isn't available, you can't take it...If you have the ability to live a more sustainable lifestyle, do it. And do it as much as you can. Just make sure you keep in mind that it's a privilege to be able to contribute to the cause. Keep in mind that there are other causes that also need to be at the forefront of the conversation."
In thinking about the modern sustainability movement, it's important to recognize the privileges that are taking place in this conversation: financial privilege, time privilege, standard body privilege, and white privilege. It's important to acknowledge these privileges and understand how they benefit you, rather than feeling deterred by them. For more information, please refer to DearDarlingStudio's instagram page that I linked above. They have a comprehensive post with a cover photo that says "Sustainability is a f*cking privilege."
As we move forward recognizing the privileges that are attached with the modern sustainability movement, let's discuss some realistic, cost-effective swaps that are easy to implement and realistically attainable.
On Fast Fashion
Fast fashion is one of the largest contributors to climate change. Not only does fast fashion have a significant impact on the environment, the system as a whole is inherently unethical. fast fashion exploits women of color all over the world for cheap labor, forced to work in inhumane conditions for little-to-no pay. However, slow fashion, while better for the environment and the people who make the clothing, is a huge financial investment and oftentimes excludes larger bodies. Many ethical and sustainable slow fashion brands are working on expanding their size ranges, whereas fast fashion often has those sizes available.
The most sustainable fashion practice is a combination of using what you have and shopping secondhand. Shopping secondhand, regardless of the origin of the item, elongates the life cycle of the item. The longer an item is in rotation, the longer the item is kept from a landfill. If you are looking to get rid of clothing, consider donating to a thrift store or a donation center instead of throwing out your clothing. I worked for Urban Outfitters as a teenager and still wear a few of the items that I purchased when I was 18. While the origin of the item is not ethical or sustainable, the item is being put to good use, carefully cared for, and kept out of landfills.
There's a more sustainable lens one can take when shopping fast fashion, however one is foregoing the ethical practices that are implemented when shopping slow fashion. If you are beginning your transition to a sustainable and aren't financially able to transition to buying slower fashion pieces, there are two important things to consider.
1. Refer to this resource from TheGoodTrade on 6 fabrics to consider when purchasing clothing. Fabrics like (organic) cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, linen, silk are a more sustainable, eco-friendly option.
2. Try not to buy clothing made from synthetic fabrics.
On Kitchen Swaps
Again, the ethos of #usewhatyouhave and shopping secondhand comes into play here. Try to buy items housed in recyclable packaging like glass and metal when applicable. Repurpose old jars and reuse them; I often use old salsa and pasta jars as canisters for my breakfasts and snacks. Shop secondhand for jars for storage.
When it comes to food waste, try your shot at composting. I keep mine in the freezer and drop it off at my local drop-off site every two weeks. Please refer to this resource for some more information on the benefits of composting. If you have a backyard space or grow your own food, or live in an apartment in a big city, there is a way to make composting at home work for you!
On Bathroom Swaps
I will be coming out with a blog post in the coming weeks about sustainable bathroom swaps to make. In the meantime, continue operating under the ethos of #usewhatyouhave, be mindful about the things you purchase (is it cruelty free? is the packaging recyclable?).
This is, in no way, the end of the discussion. In fact, the privilege of sustainable living is something I'm very passionate about. Please leave any questions or feedback in the comments space below, and please let me know what else you would like to know about sustainability and low-waste living.
- a.
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