Sustainability Vs Frugality
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One thing I’ve been thinking about more and more recently is sustainability vs frugality. There are definitely elements of frugality that tie in nicely with sustainability but choosing to be eco-conscious can sometimes be more costly too.
Is it possible to do both? Be fully frugal and fully sustainable? I’m not sure it is.
Sustainability Vs Frugality
There are plenty of things we can all do that are both frugal and sustainable. This includes buying second-hand clothes and toys, upcycling furniture and reducing food waste.
But what happens when we want to step up the efforts with sustainability?
More often than not, eco-friendly versions of products can cost more. In some cases, considerably more. If you’re already on a budget this can make eco-conscious choices seem out of reach.
I think it’s difficult to deny that when it comes to being more sustainable privilege plays a huge part. The more money you have, the easier it is to make eco-friendly choices.
Supermarket Plastics
A prime example of this is supermarket fruit and veg, the majority of which comes wrapped or bagged in plastic.
Three peppers wrapped in plastic cost £1. A single, loose pepper costs 50p – you are instantly paying more for attempting to ditch the plastic.
Supermarkets argue that customers prefer vegetables to be packaged this way, but that doesn’t explain the price discrepancy.
However, in some cases, plastic wrap actually helps prolong the life of fruits and vegetables.
Cucumber, for example, lasts three times longer in the plastic wrap which prevents the skin from bruising and getting damaged.
This means fewer deliveries and fewer cucumbers ending up as food waste, so the plastic wrap, while not ideal from an environmental point of view does have its benefits too.
Finding a balance between being frugal and sustainable can be tough.
One easy way to get around this issue is to buy wonky fruit and vegetables. While they still come in plastic wrap, you’re preventing food from going to landfills AND they are often cheaper than perfectly formed fruit and veg.
The best value wonky veg I’ve found is Lidl’s £1.50 wonky veg box which aims to provide 5kg of fruit and vegetables, the majority of which are loose and free from plastics.
Another option is to buy fruit and vegetables from local markets. These are often plastic-free and you’ll also be reducing your food miles and carbon footprint. However, fruit and vegetables can cost almost double what they do in the supermarkets which doesn’t make this a long-term solution for those on a tight budget.
You also may have seen plastic-free shops popping up where you live. While these are great for the environment, often basics such as sugar, pasta and lentils can cost as much as double what they would in supermarkets, meaning this is out of reach for most people.
Long Term Costs
One thing to look at is the long-term costs of sustainable products. While the initial outlay can be a little more expensive, some products can and will save you money in the long run.
A great example of this is sustainable period products, such as reusable sanitary pads or moon cups. While they do cost more to begin with, they can save a lot of money over time as they can be used over and over again for several years before they need replacing.
Choose Your Battles
Sometimes it can come down to a choice on where you are prepared to spend a little bit more on a more sustainable product. For some people, this can mean spending a bit more to support small businesses where they can.
But of course, when you’re on a very tight budget or living very frugally, there may be times when you can’t and that’s okay.
Take Free Steps Towards Sustainabilty
If you want to be more sustainable, there are steps you can take that are free but that you may not have thought of.
These include:
- Switching to a sustainable energy supplier.
- Delete/minimize emails.
- Advocate – sign petitions, write to your local MP, vote.
- Use Ecosia who plant trees when you use their search engine.
- Takes steps to make your business practices sustainable – I talk more about that in this post.
Remember, Your Journey Doesn’t Need To Be Perfect
I don’t particularly agree with calling people out for not always making the most sustainable choices.
Yes, we could probably all do more but at the same time, I think it’s far better to praise people for the things they are doing to be more eco-friendly than single out things they are doing that aren’t.
I’m incredibly passionate about slow fashion but I would never judge anyone for shopping at Primark because I know for many people it is the only affordable way to buy clothes for their family. I recognise having the time to spending searching through Vinted and Charity shops is a privilege.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that sustainability isn’t about doing every single thing perfectly, it’s about more of us taking a few actions to be more environmentally conscious so that collectively we can have a positive impact.
