Everything Old Is New Again...and a Lot More Expensive

When plastic was first aggressively marketed to the general public in the early 1950s, it was advertised as the modern replacement for tried-and-true materials like glass, wood and metal.  It went hand in hand with the convenience of the “throwaway society” featured in a 1955 Look Magazine article introducing the concept of using something once and then throwing it away.

Plastic was indeed a miracle product but as global production has grown from 2 million tons in 1950 to 220 million tons today, we are learning that we have been misled by marketing geniuses.

Convenient, yes, but also not recycled to anywhere near the extent that plastic manufacturers continue to lead us to believe.

Lightweight, yes, but made from thousands of chemicals, most of which have not been tested for safety.

Durable, yes, but its inability to biodegrade has blanketed the planet in microplastics (tiny bits of photodegraded plastic) and nanoplastics (microscopic pieces of plastic) that will never go away and are impossible to clean up.

Replacing old-fashioned materials with plastic has turned out to be a very bad idea.  Given the growing concern about the significant disadvantages of plastic, natural materials are making a comeback as a non-toxic way to hold our beverages, store our food, and carry our groceries. 

The materials our grandparents used are still available although they are considered somewhat out of fashion in our fast-paced, convenience-focused modern society.  However, some “new” versions of those items are entering the limelight with strong marketing campaigns behind them.  Sustainable products have become fashionable and garner a large portion of the consumer goods market.

Many sustainable products can be very expensive.  Part of the higher cost is legitimate and comes from materials that have been grown, harvested or extracted in ways that minimize the impact on the environment, paying fair wages to workers, sourcing non-toxic materials, and meeting third-party certification requirements that verify the manufacturer’s commitment to environmental and social standards.

But some manufacturers charge more for a product simply because they can.  “Eco-friendly” or “sustainable” branding is an effective marketing strategy that appeals to certain shoppers.  For example, there are dozens of reusable beverage containers available and consumers are urged to buy the current designer favorite to add to their collection of the previous favorites.  Stanley, Yeti, HydroFlask and more!  Grandma and Grandpa probably made do with the same glass Mason jar for years!

Shopping for sustainable products is very much a “buyer beware” undertaking.  Greenwashing is alive and well as manufacturers design packaging that draws consumers in with images of forests and mountains and empty promises of “pure,” “natural” and “non-toxic” ingredients or packaging.

Generations past relied on simple and inexpensive sustainable items – a glass or cup for beverages, a bowl with a plate on top to store food, a basket or bag to carry purchases, and natural fiber clothing that was worn until it wore out. Sustainability wasn’t a fashion statement.  It was simply a way of life.  We can easily return to that mindset. 

While the desire to support a healthy environment is laudable, falling prey to the lure of purchasing the latest trendy item can quickly lead to excessive consumerism.  Remember that sustainability doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.  In fact, buying something new is certainly less sustainable than using a simple but less currently fashionable item that you undoubtedly already have.  Try “shopping” in your own cupboards and closets first.  You may be surprised by what you find.