Stuff & Happiness
Featured
When I started writing about why donating clothes is not sustainable without introspection and change, I got asked “what do you suggest that I do with older clothes that I’ve had before I went zero waste?”
The idea that taking care of the planet, is new or only for certain people is not true. And the way some ethical movements are getting marketed makes it seem like there’s a rule book or that using what you already own is not good enough…
There are many aspects of our relationship to objects and consumerism that I believe are problematic; like the illusion that something external, like physical possessions, will bring lasting happiness.
We’re sold the message that when we get the right stuff, job, clothes, relationship, we'll be happy. If this were true and stuff held intrinsic happiness, we wouldn't need to keep buying, and producing. Because once you got the thing you’d have happiness forever, you wouldn't need more.
Did you know that in most stores every piece of clothing comes shipped to the store in a plastic bag? Each bag gets removed by staff and goes into the garbage, all before the item hits the sales floor. These bags are not usually recyclable.
When you scroll through Instagram and look at pictures of things in jars you may get the feeling that you're making less waste, but you’re actually just on your phone… The reality is that we can't consume our way out of a situation that is a result of over consumption.
The truth is, I didn’t start using a reusable bottle because of the environment or to reduce plastic pollution, but rather because making the switch ended a conversation.