Buying Green Products Is Good for the Environment, Right?
October 2019
In some cultures, you grow up believing that you must buy, buy, buy. And that it’s good thing, because it helps the economy grow, and that means prosperity for all. When you grow up like that, and when you see everyone around you doing the same thing, it’s hard to change your habits.
(Of course, you’re rarely told about the stress this constant buying puts on you, how hard you have to work to pay for all that stuff, nor the toll on the environment of a planet with limited / finite resources).
Consumerism rules – no matter how high our landfills rise with yesterday’s gadgets and clothes.
What About Buying Green?
But what if we continue buying – but buy green or environmentally-friendly products instead? Buying green has got to be better for the planet!
After all, buying stuff makes you feel good. It’s retail therapy.
Maybe we CAN have it both ways – buy responsible, green products that don’t take such a toll on the environment, while still abiding by the mantra of consumerism.
Or …. perhaps not. A new study sheds some light.
Does Buying Green Make Us Happier?
In a new study researchers at the University of Arizona analyzed this constant buying, and reached a sobering conclusion:
Buying green is another variant of materialism.
Millennials are considered to be the most influential consumers in the US. So the researchers followed two groups –
- one group continued to buy, buy, buy. They really felt they needed to buy things, but bought green products, made from recycled or biodegradable materials.
- the other group tried to curb their spending outright, by simply consuming less. Also, they fixed items (perhaps in a repair cafe) instead of buying new, making their purchases last longer.
The first group (the ‘green materialists) felt they were satisfying both the planet and their own desire to buy things.
The second group managed to overcome the “culturally entrenched” values of consumerism and simply make do with less.
Here’s Where It Gets Interesting
As well as their buying habits, the researchers looked at how happy the participants were and their personal well-being.
And a lot of people might think that the first group would be happier – because the second group were “making do” with less.
But when it comes to life satisfaction, the study concluded, less really is more.
The people who bought less felt happier and were much less stressed, than those who consumed – even though they were buying green.
You know that old saying – “you can’t buy happiness” …….
We already know that putting our money towards life experiences, rather than things, helps us feel more fulfilled.
Buying green won’t make us happy – no matter how small a footprint it makes on the environment.
When it comes to the environment, there’s no such thing as feel-good spending.
Buying less will actually make us happier. There IS joy in having less.
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.