Living a sustainable life is the objective for many of us, especially if we are to manage our resources for generations to come. However, while we all endeavour to reach this goal, we have to ask, is a truly sustainable lifestyle possible for everyone?
It is a well-known fact that eco-friendly products cost more than those that are not. For example, a fleece jacket from Patagonia, a brand known for its economic endeavours costs $189 whereas a fleece jacket from Amazon costs $30. To answer the question of whether a sustainable life is possible for everyone we need to look at why it might not be possible (Copelli, 2020).
According to StatCan, historically women have received the raw end of the deal when it comes to financial security. Women’s financial security is often tied to relationships developed with men, especially in the context of families. Women also have consistently been earning less than their male counterparts. Coupled with the extreme financial vulnerability which comes with a divorce or single motherhood; there is no doubt that at times certain populations need to forgo a sustainable purchase option for a more accessible one (Fox & Moyser, 2018).
While making a purchase decision, often there are three spheres to think about:
- Safety
- Accessibility
- Sustainability
One has to consider how safe a sustainable choice is for oneself and any other dependents, and how accessible a product is in terms of affordability as well as for the disabled population. Finally, if the product is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable must be considered as well.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-relationship-between-safety-accessibility-and-sustainability_fig2_318239665
With certain populations at a disadvantage in terms of purchasing power, we cannot necessarily ‘ostracize’ those who cannot buy sustainable products; especially because they are often priced at a premium compared to other non-sustainable products. Instead, I believe the brunt of change on a macro level lies in the hands of corporations and governments to make changes. Governments hold the power to make legal changes and incentivize innovation and sustainable operations and help drive down costs as a whole so that choosing sustainable products does not become a difficult one.
References:
Copelli, F. (2020, June 26). The accessibility of Sustainability. Medium. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://medium.com/wherefrom/the-accessibility-of-sustainability-9221fd3d7843
Fox, D., & Moyser, M. (2018, May 16). Women in Canada: A Gender Based Statistical Report . The Economic Well-being of Women in Canada. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-503-x/2015001/article/54930-eng.htm
Hi Annesha,
This is an interesting read! I agree with you, living sustainably could be expensive, especially when the governments aren’t giving businesses and consumers incentives to make products more accessible and cheaper.