I don’t think anyone is denying that zerowaste *doesn’t hurt.* However, in my opinion, it is greenwashing, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it barely scratches the surface, probably being only a fraction of a percent difference. Secondly, it puts the onus on the consumer, rather than the big producers of waste. I have a chronic illness, and I know you do as well, and we shouldn’t have to be the ones that bear the brunt of “saving the environment”. Thirdly, a lot of the changes that have occurred are kind of ableist, or at least ignore the needs of those with disabilities. For example, plastic bags being outlawed in favour of paper ones. Hanging those off my chair, they split and dump my groceries on the ground pretty regularly. I have reusable bags, but sometimes I forget them, because of my psychosocial disabilities. So my choice then is cheap, shitty paper bags, or paying for more expensive reusable bags, when I’m only on a disability pension. Meanwhile, not a single thing I buy (and I tend to buy more processed, plastic-packed food because of said disabilities) has had to change its packaging in any way. It’s ridiculous that I’m required to use a shitty paper straw (plastic ones are outlawed here) with a cup and lid made from plastic. That is literally just greenwashing at that point.
Also, if you wanted to genuinely make a difference as an individual, then cutting all beef consumption would have a hundredfold impact over cutting plastic usage.
(doing zerowaste perfectly doesnt hurt though — and especially sharing it and encouranging others to do it is actively helpful)
I don’t think anyone is denying that zerowaste *doesn’t hurt.* However, in my opinion, it is greenwashing, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it barely scratches the surface, probably being only a fraction of a percent difference. Secondly, it puts the onus on the consumer, rather than the big producers of waste. I have a chronic illness, and I know you do as well, and we shouldn’t have to be the ones that bear the brunt of “saving the environment”. Thirdly, a lot of the changes that have occurred are kind of ableist, or at least ignore the needs of those with disabilities. For example, plastic bags being outlawed in favour of paper ones. Hanging those off my chair, they split and dump my groceries on the ground pretty regularly. I have reusable bags, but sometimes I forget them, because of my psychosocial disabilities. So my choice then is cheap, shitty paper bags, or paying for more expensive reusable bags, when I’m only on a disability pension. Meanwhile, not a single thing I buy (and I tend to buy more processed, plastic-packed food because of said disabilities) has had to change its packaging in any way. It’s ridiculous that I’m required to use a shitty paper straw (plastic ones are outlawed here) with a cup and lid made from plastic. That is literally just greenwashing at that point.
Also, if you wanted to genuinely make a difference as an individual, then cutting all beef consumption would have a hundredfold impact over cutting plastic usage.