Day: February 26, 2020

And therein lies the rub. Currently organic, plastic-free living is a lifestyle option that’s only truly accessible to those with a significant disposable income and who live in particular areas. It is, in other words, a niche market. Time, money and access will restrict most people from being able to make ethical consumer decisions, even if they want to.

While we can make some significant changes to our own consumption habits, relying on market mechanisms or placing the burden of responsibility onto the consumer won’t solve the problem: plastic is a political issue.

That means nothing will change without collective, grassroots demands for reform at all levels – from how it is used to how it is sold to how it is disposed of. It’s a problem that requires thinking much bigger than the shopping cart – though perhaps the shopping cart is as good a place as any to start.