Did anyone else focus on buying less stuff to be more environmentally friendly?
Recently I found that buying stuff makes up a third of my carbon footprint. That's according to the calculator www.wren.co
Stuff includes clothes, electronics, furniture, gifts and cleaning products. Clearly not buying stuff would be the most effective means of reducing my impact. This is difficult to achieve because the problem is diffuse, a lot of aspects of my life involve buying stuff.
I tried to come up with guiding principles, but it gets confusing to try to think through these options when buying anything, and frustrating that it's not clear how environmentally damaging some things are.
Avoid the need for the item
Make it myself
Buy second hand
Buy locally made (avoid transport emissions)
Buy without packaging
Buy something with green credentials
How did you focus on reducing the impact of stuff you buy?
Like most things it's a habit you need to get into.
What helped me most is a "waiting list". So whenever I feel I need to buy something I write it on a list with the date.
If I still need the item 2 weeks later I buy it. In 99% of the cases I
- thought of some other thing to repurpose
- was able to borrow/get it from someone
- realized I already own a similar item
- realized I didn't need it after all
- found it for free / very cheap on Freecycle/Craigslist style site
Once this is a habit, acquisition of stuff drops considerably.
For me the most effective cure for buying stuff is having gone through the hassle of selling it again. It's far easier to buy something, but it is only when the thing is sold again that the full cost of depreciation in money and time is realized. For example, it takes 2 minutes to order something online for $100. It is only when sold again, you realize that it was really worth $50 and required an hour to list, box, and ship.
Buying used eliminates factor like depreciation and packaging (you can reuse) but it won't recover your time.
The ERE book has a bunch of alternatives to buying in chapter 6.
For me the most effective cure for buying stuff is having gone through the hassle of selling it again. It's far easier to buy something, but it is only when the thing is sold again that the full cost of depreciation in money and time is realized. For example, it takes 2 minutes to order something online for $100. It is only when sold again, you realize that it was really worth $50 and required an hour to list, box, and ship.
Buying used eliminates factor like depreciation and packaging (you can reuse) but it won't recover your time.
The ERE book has a bunch of alternatives to buying in chapter 6.
I agree. I set a boundary with myself to sell everything I haven't used for the last 6 months. Ebay selling is annoying and time-consuming.
I refrain from buying unneeded items because I remember the pain of selling!
This is difficult to achieve because the problem is diffuse, a lot of aspects of my life involve buying stuff.
I don't know all your goals so I can't frame the problem for you.
For me, I'll buy a product or service if it is eco-friendly, reasonably-priced, made by an ethical corporation and if I answer yes to one of these questions:
1. Do I need it to survive e.g. food, medicine, safety?
2. Do I need it to avoid health issues e.g. toothpaste, sunscreen?
3. Do I need it to protect myself legally or reduce risk?
So you don't trick yourself, read the wants and needs article on the blog.