Why Recycling Isn't Enough

Given the rise of recycling over the past few decades, it's obvious that consumers today care about protecting the environment. In fact, according to a poll conducted by OgilvyEarth, 80 percent of shoppers in the U.S. claim that they want to make more environmentally sustainable purchasing decisions. Unfortunately, only 20 percent of those consumers actually follow their conscious; other shoppers still buy inexpensive, disposable products that contribute to pollution. However, reliance on cheap goods comes with high costs for consumers and the planet. While recycling helps cut down on landfill waste, people must start buying goods that are built to last.

In the UK, efforts to encourage recycling have been tremendously successful. More than 44 percent of all household waste was recycled in 2015, which is well on track to meet a target goal of 50 percent by 2020. Nonetheless, landfills continue to grow in size, and much of this growth can be attributed to cheap furniture, kitchenware, electronics and other products that were never made to last more than a few years.

Running Out of Room

Earth's resources are being consumed at an unprecedented rate. Population growth is partly responsible, and it's wonderful that more people are living longer lives than ever before in history. On the downside, humans produce a lot of garbage. In addition to taking up space that could be used for other purposes, landfills can contaminate nearby water supplies and forests, which can have devastating ecological consequences. Deforestation, soil erosion and rises in carbon emissions can at least partially be attributed to the proliferation of cheaply made consumer goods.

For several years now, the Global Footprint Network has tracked global pollution to determine Earth’s “overshoot day,” or the annual calendar date on which humanity uses more resources than can be replenished within a year. Earth's overshoot day came as early as August 2 in 2017. In other words, we're operating at an ecological deficit.

Human consumption first started to surpass Earth’s capacity as early as the 1970s. Unfortunately, the problem isn't immediately visible to consumers, so many people won't take notice until it's too late. Governments, businesses and economic experts acknowledge the impending crisis, yet little is being done to turn the tide. According to GFN, we may need two planets to support all of our waste by 2030 if our habits remain unchanged.

It should be no surprise that highly industrialized nations are the biggest contributors to global waste. Per capita, the UK consumes three times more than what is considered economically sustainable each year. Nonetheless, developing nations are quickly catching up as their economies grow. Products manufactured in China are especially likely to end up in landfills due to the country's use of cheap production materials, yet Western manufacturers also produce many disposable goods that are overflowing our landfills.

Those of us with limited say over social policy can make an impact through our everyday choices. Buying well-made products helps cut down on waste, which is what we really must do to keep our planet sustainable.

Why shop sustainably?

How much thought do you put into sustainable shopping? You may believe that eco-friendly shopping means spending more money, but that's not necessarily the case. There are several benefits that come with purchasing more sustainable goods:

1. Long Term Cost Savings

Whenever you need something new, it makes short-term sense to go with the least expensive option. Of course, you usually get what you pay for, so you'll likely have to buy a replacement before too long. This not only adds more waste to landfills, but it also depletes your wallet.

Manufacturers know that consumers will gravitate toward the cheapest price tag, which is why they mass produce so many shoddy products. Goods that are built to last usually cost more, but making long-term investments can actually save you money.

For example, a $10 non-stick frying pan might work well for a couple of years before it starts falling apart. The metal may bend or the handle might start to wobble, so you'll likely end up throwing it away and buying another one. Over the course of a few decades, you could spend up to $100 on pans that were essentially designed to break.

On the other hand, you can find a much higher quality cast-iron skillet for about $30 online. That's significant savings just on pans, so imagine how much money you could save by applying this principle to other products.

Higher quality products also retain their resale value. If you buy a nice chair today and decide to sell it five years from now, you can ask a higher price assuming that the chair is still in good condition. A cheap plastic chair has no resale value, so it could end up in a landfill after it outlives its utility. Therefore, reselling saves you money, and it saves a chair from the landfill, which is great for your wallet and the environment.

2. Long Term Health Benefits

Some cheap consumer goods contain chemicals that are not good for your health. Due to the proliferation of household cleaning products and air fresheners, indoor air quality in the industrialized world is often worse than outdoor air quality, and allergies to such chemicals are on the rise. Nonetheless, cheap paints are perhaps an even bigger public health threat. Many inexpensive paints used in factories contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which can cause mild side effects like headaches and dizziness or even serious illnesses like cancer. If these paints end up in landfills, they can contaminate the surrounding land and water, which can cause exponential damage to the environment and humans. Look at labels and go for products that are non-toxic and free of VOCs for the sake of your health.

3. Long Term Ecological Savings

Keep in mind that anytime you do something for the environment, you're really doing it for yourself. The future of humanity depends on our ability to protect the planet we live on. We are already experiencing an ecological crisis, yet we won't feel the full impact of our actions; our grandchildren will. We have an opportunity now to improve their lives, and we have an obligation to set an example for future generations. The population will continue to grow, and our planet could certainly support more people, but not at the rate at which we are currently depleting natural resources.

Making long-term investments in quality, durable products translates into long-term environmental benefits. Buying products that help save electricity also helps reduce waste and pollution. If you must buy disposable goods, choose products that are biodegradable. There are likely several eco-friendly alternatives to the items you currently use every day. For example:

• Bamboo toothbrushes with biodegradable bristles
• Metal or silicone drinking straws
• Reusable beeswax wrap for food storage
• Solar powered batteries for electronics

Shop Sustainable and Carry On

The next time you want to buy something, think about where it will be in ten years. If the answer is a landfill, then consider an alternative. We're running out of space, and the planet is suffering due to our waste. Patting yourself on the back for recycling while you continue to buy landfill-bound products is hypocritical. If you really want to lighten your ecological footprint, incorporate some long-term planning into your shopping habits.

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/593040/UK_statsonwaste_statsnotice_Dec2016_FINALv2_2.pdf

https://futurism.com/how-long-do-we-have-until-we-exhaust-all-of-our-resources/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/12/humans-have-already-used-up-2015s-supply-of-earths-resources-analysis

https://buymeonce.com/uk-articles-and-tips/reasons-to-buy-once-and-buy-green/

http://www.overshootday.org/