We all wish the products on our Christmas wish list were a lot cheaper, and occasionally, we might complain because of how expensive things are. However, do we stop and ponder precisely why prices are continually rising? Daily, we see news articles about saving the sea turtles, rivers filled to the brim with trash, and the many atrocities faced by the environment. With the increase in awareness of environmental concerns, the concept of "sustainability," though more common in wealthier countries, is now in wider circulation. In this idealistic concept, companies produce more environment-friendly goods that will have a minimal negative impact on the world's ecosystems. However, doing so is far from cheap.
The concept of sustainability has led to the rise of two types of products: brand new items made with “sustainable means” and second-hand thrift products. The first is more costly because of the many measures that allow these products to be environmentally-friendly. This includes fees such as proper waste disposal and management, along with the price of the material itself. Thrift shops and the like have also become a widely popular shopping option, especially among the younger generations who usually have less disposable income than adults. Here, used clothing is being sold at an affordable price, and this allows the youth to shop for “retro” and affordable clothing for a lower cost while ensuring that clothes do not end up in landfills.
However, the very appeal of this concept could eventually become its downfall. Eco-friendly items are much more expensive compared to those made by fast-fashion companies. This means that shopping for sustainably-made and brand new items are only a feasible option for the upper class. Thrift shops, another popular source of clothing, can sometimes be taken advantage of. Items are sometimes charged double or triple their original price in said stores and may become a deterrent for buyers. Switching from extreme-reliance on things such as carbon to pushing its usage to net-zero is impossible in a short timeframe. Some may argue that the proponents of this movement are asking for too much too soon. The demand for items to be produced in a certain way may also lead to customers being taken advantage of by exorbitant prices. Time and financial constraints placed on most of the population may turn sustainability into a hobby exclusively for the elite. Given the toll that this will take on our economy, the sustainability movement may not be as sustainable as we thought after all.
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