Accessibility in our world is a major issue, whether it be health care, clean water, food, or sustainability. Unfortunately, there are so many people around the world who do not have the means to live a more sustainable or environmentally friendly lifestyle. Sometimes this is a lack of affordability of products, and sometimes it’s simply not being able to buy them at the available retailers. 

Regardless, this is a major issue because it not only shows one of the many injustices in our world but also creates a huge roadblock for being able to shift towards a more sustainable mindset globally. As a young person working myself, I can empathize with being on a budget but I can still also recognize how privileged I am to even have access to all of the sustainable items I use every single day. 

While there are so many social media campaigns going around about not using straws, going zero-waste, etc. the truth is, those are only targeting a small percentage of people and honestly they’re usually targeting the people that actually have the means to buy plastic alternatives!

Who Has Access

For example, last year when I was in Thailand I was living in a small rural village. There were water refill stations and the locals would go with their large water jugs to refill them to have fresh water in their homes. 

Unfortunately, the tap-water was not healthy enough to drink so the majority of people also had to buy plastic water bottles at least once a day to stay hydrated in the intense heat. This was eye-opening for me to see that wow, these people are doing the best they can, but they do not have an alternative. While on the other hand there are millions of examples of people with the ability and access who simply are unwilling to refill a water bottle to avoid plastic.

But what about the third group of people. Those who do technically have access to sustainability in the sense that maybe they do live in a first world country where they could order these items or find them at the store. However, they cannot afford to pay more for buying a reusable item once rather than spending more overtime but paying smaller amounts monthly for single-use items. By this I mean, they may not be able to afford a $40 metal water bottle that they could reuse for years because their budget does not allow for this. But they can spend $10 a month on plastic single-use water bottles. Yes, it costs them more in the long run but they simply cannot spend that large of a portion of their paycheck on the more expensive item. 

This is the gap. 

Managing the Gap

Our current sustainability methods are only available to a small percentage of the world population, those who have access and means. When I was in Thailand seeing all of the plastic waste, it made me angry. Not at the Thai people, but at the people around the world who CAN do better, but choose not to. Those who do not see that their actions are not only for them, but for those who don’t have the means to do better. And it ultimately made me realize that those who have the means but choose not to are not the people we need to be targeting with sustainability campaigns, because they are the most unlikely to change, even when presented with the facts. And yet, current marketing for sustainable items targets this exact demographic, then we wonder why it’s not working…

Rather, we need to be gearing sustainability towards the people who, at this moment, cannot access sustainability. Much like reducing meat consumption simply by lowering the prices of vegetarian alternatives, if sustainable items were cheaper and more widely accessible, we would see a huge influx in the number of people participating in a low-waste lifestyle! Solely because it is a cheaper option.

For this exact reason, I have left my e-books and resources on my website all completely free. Because that’s the point isn’t it? To make resources such as these accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford the “luxury” of zero-waste!

In reality, reducing our waste is about necessity, it’s about cleaning up our planet and attempting to reverse the immense damage we’ve done! It’s not about status or profit… or at least, it shouldn’t be.

But It’s Trending

Unfortunately, a number of the companies making these products must make a profit to continue producing, therefore amping up prices and continuing to widen the gap. And then there are the companies who have simply added sustainability items to their products and upped the prices in order to follow the “trend”.

Isn’t it a bit sad that saving the earth has become a “trend” that companies are taking advantage of for profit? While it does increase sales, it strips away the core message and meaning behind why it is important to reduce single use items.

However, among these, there are companies that are in it for the right reasons. Companies with charitable components that donate items with each purchase to ensure their products are more far-reaching. These companies are often in it because they want to see their product change the world. They’re in it because they truly care about the damage being done.

My point here is, by supporting the companies who actually care, we are better able to create accessibility in the products we cherish. By buying your reusable bottle from a company that sends reusable bottles to communities without access when you purchase yours, you are doing your part in making sure people have access to the sustainability they need in order for us to keep our planet healthier.

With small actions like these, we can create inclusivity and make a greater impact than ever imagined!

Who Are You In This Scenario?

For everybody reading this, think back to the groups I discussed at the start of this post for a second, and try to identify where you fall… are you in a country where sustainability is simply not an option? In a position where it is not accessible/affordable to you? Are you simply choosing to disregard it? Or maybe you’re living your best zero-waste life already? 

Regardless, now tell me which zero-waste or sustainable item you would find most helpful in your current life if accessibility or affordability was not an issue. If you could think of one item you could make a zero-waste swap for, what would it be?

Instagram Giveaway

I asked this question of my Instagram followers and so many mentioned that they would find it most helpful to have alternatives to Ziplock bags. So, I decided to do a giveaway over on my Instagram! The giveaway is for a bundle of Stasher bags to replace plastic food and storage bags. Stashers are even better than your plastic ziplock because they’re dishwasher, microwave, oven, and freezer safe, chemical-free, and durable!

I hope this can help one winner to access sustainability a little bit easier, if you want to enter, head over to my Instagram! If you don’t have an Instagram account, don’t worry. I’ll be doing another giveaway in the near future where you can enter right here on the blog. 

** This giveaway is not in partner with or sponsored by Stasher or Instagram. Because of this, by entering you are agreeing to Instagrams terms of use and releasing Instagram from any responsibility. It is only open to the US and Canada. Stay tuned for more giveaways open to other regions of the world!**