Privilege in the Movement for Sustainability

As people who care about the environment, we constantly push ourselves to find eco-friendly lifestyle alternatives and reduce our environmental footprint. We go to bulk stores, say no to fast fashion, use reusable cutlery, and oftentimes, having done so, we may expect others to act in the same fashion. However, it is important for us to understand that social factors influence one’s ability to live this glorified sustainable lifestyle. Intersectional environmentalism acknowledges this, highlighting the social injustices caused by differences in race, gender, and class as well as identifying the areas in which such issues overlap with environmentalism. No issue can be understood fully when divorced from its context. The community of environmentalists includes those who are from marginalised communities, and it is important to recognize the impacts that social or economic standing can have on one’s capacity to create change. In the words of American philosopher Noam Chomsky, “The more privilege you have, the more opportunity you have. The more opportunity you have, the more responsibility you have.” The privilege that is being a conscious consumer can be seen in the most subtle and most obvious ways. 

To start, being able to consciously decide to live sustainably is a privilege in itself. This can be evidenced by two big examples of conscious consumerism lifestyle changes- changes in diet, and changes in fashion. Many climate activists, knowing the negative impacts of the livestock industry, have made strides to go vegetarian or vegan. The positive difference that this makes cannot be denied- eating three plant-based meals a day for a year can save at least 4 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. However, for some people, living meat-free is not much of an option. In a survey conducted in America in 2018, almost two times as many vegetarians and vegans came from low-income families (with an annual income of less than $30,000 USD) compared to those with more money. Meat is expensive, and some must opt for a different diet, not for environmental but economic reasons. In the same vein, sustainable fashion often involves shopping secondhand. This means that clothing is worn to its full capability and less waste is produced overall. Thrifting and secondhand clothing have become somewhat of a trend on social media, and while it is great that the practice is being adopted by many, we must take into account that many have been sourcing their clothing in this way as a means of keeping their lifestyle costs manageable. Overall, joining in on these sustainable practices is great, but when we make these methods mainstream, it can cause shifts in price. This means that the less privileged may have to look for alternatives. When living sustainably, we must be mindful and grateful for our agency. 

The other aspect of this privilege is our access to sustainable alternatives such as synthetic meats, bulk food stores, and sustainable clothing stores. These options often provide us with the same consumption that we are used to, with more sustainable products and practices being employed. Something that is very blatant when looking at these alternatives is the hiked up prices. Synthetic meats have not been made fully accessible across the food market, and thus, with a smaller consumer base than real meats, they are more expensive. Bulk food stores require dispensers and sustainable packaging as well as organically sourced bulk products. With a small consumer base, this does not make for much profit, resulting in a need for increased prices. Sustainable clothing requires natural materials, ethical labour, and fair wages, so it comes at a significantly higher price. These are just a few examples of inaccessible sustainable options. Without a doubt, living life with sustainable substitutes is pricey. Take the white ribbed t-shirt: a classic fashion staple. Lucy & Yak, a brand that prides itself in its high-quality products that are both ethical and sustainable, sells their white ribbed t-shirts at $166 HKD. H&M, a well known fast fashion brand, on the other hand, sells the same product at  $59.9 HKD. This makes it clear that for those who don’t have the luxury of thinking about environmental implications over price, a shirt from H&M would seem like the most rational option to go for. Another example is all-purpose flour, a kitchen essential. One kilogram of all-purpose flour at ParknShop can be priced at $22.9 HKD, but that same amount at a zero bulk store like Live Zero can be $80 HKD. This shocking disparity begs the question: what can we expect others to do when environmentally sustainable options seem consistently more costly than that of unsustainable products? 

The solution is to normalise sustainable alternatives, bridge the wealth gap, and support those in poverty. Consistently supporting sustainable brands can help to increase their profits and lower their product prices. Moving towards better economic equality would also give sustainable products the ability to become widespread. As we move towards greater social change, we must hold people to a certain standard- a standard that changes based on each individual’s privilege. All we can ask from each individual is for them to do their best. We will all meet limitations on our environmental journeys, and we must respect the ability, or inability, of others to adopt certain practices. If you have privilege, use it. Acknowledge the greater opportunity you have to create change. Raise your voice and amplify that of others. Always keep in mind that conscious consumerism and sustainable living looks different for everyone. The little things will add up to something more. The more important thing is that we, of all different social backgrounds, are united in our fight for environmental justice, and we will keep on fighting.