Say Goodbye to “Vegan or Die”
At Sustaio, we try to keep clear of language like zero waste, vegan or die, eco-warrior, do your part, and much more. We avoid this language because A, it’s kind of culty, and B, because it’s exclusive and unapproachable making it divisive. By avoiding this language we hope to engage with and inspire more people which helps to create a much larger community. Using “eco shaming” language doesn’t help us to fight climate change or promote sustainable living. It only creates barriers between people, groups, and decision-makers.
“By avoiding this language we hope to engage with and inspire more people which helps to create a much larger community. ”
Why not demand “zero waste”?
Zero waste is a hot topic these days among self-proclaimed “eco-warriors” and can prevent a lot of people from living sustainably. The main reason for this is that it is discouraging to someone who is still learning how to live sustainably. Eliminating all waste from your life is not something that happens overnight and honestly is not even close to being possible for some people. “If I can’t go zero waste, why bother at all?” Answer: Yes, please bother. This is a goal that you set and then begin to work towards.
By declaring that all people should live waste free lives, we are not recognizing the effort required to implement that decision. Most importantly, you disregard everyone's unique situation.
Not everyone has the accessibility and energy to live a zero-waste life
Not everyone has the time to put in the effort toward a zero-waste life
Not everyone has the resources available to them to live a zero-waste life
We don’t need a handful of people doing ‘zero waste’ perfectly, we need the masses doing it IMPERFECTLY.
A Different Approach
Rather than make demands or shame those who are not yet living their most sustainable life, we can lead with empathy. An empathetic and compassionate approach will be drastically more successful at creating a healthier planet. Under the umbrella of empathy, There are three principles that we can work to adhere to.
Don’t convert, educate
Disagreement is ok
When we discuss different ideas and ways of living, the chances of us reaching a common ground is much better than if we argue or debate the topic. Discussion requires active listening and engagement with ideas that challenge our perception of the world. This challenge helps us to learn and engage with the basic concepts of our beliefs and others. Also, when entering a discussion about sustainable living, it is important to avoid trying to convert someone. It is better to approach from a place of education. When the goal is to educate we are more likely to actually help someone make real change in their own lives. This approach also helps to motivate a person to actually create change in their life. Showing someone the why of the environmental debate before we demand their action will ultimately lead to more people living sustainably. More effectively showing someone how climate change is directly affecting them makes the issue relevant. Let’s take the Zero Waste example and show a better way to approach the discussion.
First off, most individuals do not truly understand the concept of zero waste. Instead of asking someone to change, discuss the basics of recycling, reusing, composting and what happens when you “throw something away.” Once they understand these concepts, it becomes easier to understand the importance of living without waste. Next, share some resources about how to implement this lifestyle. This is a really important step because this is how someone can actually begin to remove waste from their life. Maybe send them a DM of one of Sustaio’s Instagram posts (shameless plug). Finally, provide support and encouragement to someone working to make this change. It is going to be challenging and no one achieves this goal without making mistakes along the way. Having a community of people working to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle will make the process much easier.
Inspiring people to live sustainably may seem daunting but it is not impossible. Using empathetic language while talking about our current environmental issues is vital when working to create a sustainable world. Eco shaming and demanding action from people only slows down progress and makes enemies along the way. In order to help we should prioritize discussion over debate and focus on educating not converting. With these two principles in mind, we can inspire and empower all people to live sustainably. And hey, why not have some fun with it! Maybe have a (COVID-safe) get-together with some friends and talk about sustainability over a few beers. Just how valuable is that aluminum can you’re drinking out of? Answer: It’s infinitely recyclable!!!