Imagine you are going to buy shampoo. One brand labelled its product as eco friendly as it uses the recycled paper box, recycled plastic, and all-natural ingredients. On top of that, the product is ethically produced as well. Does this excite you?
You might be thinking, "I can finally wash my hair and not worry about my waste will damage the earth!".
I used to react that way towards eco-friendly products. The fact that a product is eco friendly excites me and makes me feel good by using it. It feels like I am progressing and finally doing something to save the earth.
However, I am not the same person I used to be. In my opinion, using eco-friendly product may or may not benefit you. And the thought of saving the earth while using may or may not be relevant for you.
I know that my ignorance is probably disliked by many. Many would argue, "But you are doing something good! You use products that are made of recycled material, you are helping to reduce waste that goes to the ocean or landfill".
Recently someone asked me why would I use product that has petroleum jelly such as lipbalm? Petroleum jelly comes from petroleum, and the oil mining process is not eco friendly. I agree, which part of drilling the earth is eco friendly? In fact, there might be some unethical treatment during the work process too. But why I still use lipbalm that has petroleum jelly?
Because by not using petroleum jelly it just makes my life 10x more difficult while at the same time it probably only tries to solve the problem insignificantly. I mean, what's so significant about my choice in not using lipbalm when I myself still ride taxi that is fueled by petrol?
The same applies to ethical products. I don't really buy products just because it is ethically produced because first of all, how would I know it is ethically produced? I don't work in those companies. Maybe they treat their blue-collar workers well but their office staff are paid unfairly. Maybe they are being bullied at work. We'll never know. Second, I am still a mean person that gets angry at people and disrespects some people. How am I making the world better by buying an ethical product when I myself am not ethical?
I think it's insignificant to make myself feel good and lie to myself saying "I'm doing something good by using ethical eco friendly stuffs!" and then gives myself a pat in the back for it while I am also part of the problem.
What is even more disgusting is people's treatment for those who still buy eco-unfriendly products. They shame them and say how ignorant they are. In case you didn't know, eco friendly products usually come with its own problem as well. For example, most of the eco friendly products are very expensive, it is difficult to use, and sometimes the products don't work at all.
I never want to buy the product just because it is eco friendly or ethical. I will still buy them but there are other reasons on top of that, such as the product might work for me or the product will make my life much easier and better.
But that being said, I am not saying you should just absolutely don't care and trash the earth. It's like saying "oh you have some bad behaviours, just be extremely bad and get into jail!". We all know that the world is not polarised like that.
All I am saying is, be reasonable and moderate.
Before you buy a product that is labelled eco friendly or ethical, ask yourself,
Will my purchase significantly improve the problem?
Is the price reasonable enough to spend?
Does this product really useful and will work for me so I can use this long term and reduce buying similar products like this?
For example, let's say there is a really durable shopping bag. The bag is moderately priced and it has very useful features such as it is foldable that you can bring it in your pocket. However, this bag is made out of Polyester. Polyester is made out of plastic and plastic is not good for the earth. The manufacturer never mentions this bag is ethically made or eco friendly.
But if you think about it, when you buy this once, it will last you at least 10years and you don't have to use any more plastic bag in the next 10 years. That should be such a significant effort that you probably should buy the product.
Now compare it to another shopping bag that is made out of recycled 100% natural fabric. It is ethically made and eco friendly. However, not only it is unreasonably priced, It looks flimsy and might break when used with a heavy load.
If you buy this, you might support a business that helps society and earth but at the same time, this product doesn't work well and has limitations. You also might only use this product for 2 years until it breaks judging by how thin the material is.
So if you weigh in the positive and negative, it is still much better to purchase polyester, not an eco-friendly bag.
Or...maybe there is another shopping bag that is durable yet also eco friendly and ethically made but the price is skyrocket. Is it really reasonable to spend that much money just on a shopping bag while you have other priorities at hand?
Or maybe you just wait until you discover that makes ethical and eco-friendly shopping bag that very durable yet also reasonably priced. While you wait until you discover it, you use many single-use plastic bags. Does your wait really worth the single-use plastic bags?
This example is just for shopping bag, which is a fairly simple product to choose from. How about other products such as toiletries, facial skincare, or food? There are more factors at play such as whether it works on your skin or not, whether or not it tastes good or not, and whether or not it's actually healthy for you.
And if you do use eco-friendly product that is ethically made, are you still part of the problem? Are you still treating another human in an unethical way? Are you still driving/riding a petrol-fueled car? Are you still buying other unnecessary products?
The bottom line is: to decide a purchase on whether or not it is ethically made or eco-friendly is not a very good decision because it may or may not actually help solve the problem. It might just make you feel good while still continuing to be part of the problem.
But when you buy a product (whether or not it is eco friendly) with the intention to make you a better human with a better life, in the long run, will eventually help the earth and other living being more.
I have nothing against people who choose to buy eco-friendly product or those who don't. If you wish to buy an eco-friendly product because you believe it actually helps the earth, I have nothing against your decision. If you never consider the earth in your purchase, I am still not against your decision. Everyone is entitled to their own purchase because they have their own conditions, limitation, and resources.
Take me as an example, I still have my own limitations, conditions, and resources. I know that eating vegetable is much better for my health and for the earth but I have a condition when I eat vegetables make me vomit every time. For my limitation, I live in a shared rented place that does not allow DIY compost bin because the stink will disturb other people living here. And I also have limited resources such as I live on a monthly salary so it is not a really good choice to purchase eco-friendly products that are generally very costly.
Thanks for reading!
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