Greenwashing

Almost everything I do to save the planet is likely just the result of greenwashing.

For example, my toothpaste costs more than average because it says it’s in a recyclable tube. I have recently watched a documentary saying that no toothpaste tube is recyclable.

I separate my waste into eight categories: plastic, metal, glass, organic waste, paper, electronics, batteries, and lightbulbs. Only 25% of what I gather will be recycled.

I bring my old clothes to H&M bins. Then I read that only 0.1% of donated clothes are recycled, according to H&M.

I used to buy beverages in glass, as I heard it’s greener. Apparently, metal cans are actually more sustainable; they are not 100% recyclable, but at least they aren’t so heavy to transport.

I used to buy clothes that say “Recycled plastic” on them. Then I learned that when you make clothes from plastic, it cannot be recycled any longer.

I could go on.

When businesses tell me to do something to be more green, it’s likely complete bullshit. To appeal to Gen Z, businesses use our care for the environment as an opportunity to sell some more.

I have recently seen an ad saying “Most clothes get thrown away because of their dull colors. Buy this liquid to get your clothes colorful again!” Bullshit. Especially among Gen Z, who made Avant Apocalypse style a trend.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. In this exact order.

The “Recycle” part is very beneficial to consumerism, and “Reduce” and “Reuse” are harmful to it. If we reduce and reuse — stop buying things we don’t need, sell each other second-hand items, fix broken stuff, and give each other expiring food for free — the economy will not survive. So between a 4-billion-year-old Earth and 400-year-old consumerism, we choose the latter.

Since the dawn of humanity, people tried to leave their mark in history; to leave their footprint. Gen Z and Gen Alpha will be the first generations whose biggest desire is to not.