Eco-Swaps Are Not Worth It

Hello, hello, Seasider. The allure of sustainability boils to a frenzy of "eco-swaps."

This boom in “eco-friendly” products is marketed to consumers’ concerns about the impact of the stuff we buy. But the "eco-swapping” approach doesn’t solve the bigger pickle: overconsumption and overproduction — the key drivers of pollution and climate stress.

While the 'swap' frenzy has its place in raising awareness and empowering people to make conscious choices, it's not enough.

Because it's not about buying eco-friendly products; it's about being a conscious consumer and taking collective action.

We need behaviors that change the system (govt, corps, social norms), not lifestyles.

Actual sustainability change requires a fundamental shift in our understanding of our consumption and a collective effort to challenge the system.

Let's get into it, yeah? In this issue, you'll get:

• Why we need a mindset shift. Not a product swap

• How our collective voice shapes social norms

• Good reads to get you informed

— Camila

MINDSET SHIFT. NOT A PRODUCT SWAP

I was decluttering my home; because, as minimal or eco as you may be, random crap always ends up in our spaces (please tell me, can you relate!?).

What surprised me most was the number of ‘eco-swaps’ I have collected over time—certainly enough to live a good, comfortable life.

Honestly, I expected to feel more accomplished or better about making a difference after purchasing “the good stuff,” but that wasn't the case.

Instead, I realized that all these eco-swaps from mesh bags, bamboo brushes, reusable bags, and minimally packaged personal care products weren't enough.

Whomp. whomp. It was quite a disappointment.

Because have you ever stopped to question why you're eco-swapping?

Is it really about protecting the planet, or is it a subconscious effort to absolve yourself of responsibility?

Or is it for your wellness and because you believe it's also making a difference?

I learned that purchasing eco-friendly products alone is not enough, and it can create a false sense of making a difference—that you're actively contributing to a sustainable future.

And don't get me wrong. If you're looking to improve your health, reduce the number of toxins in your home, and living eco-minimally, by all means, start working on your swap game.

IT’S A MINDSET

So here’s the skinny:

Product swaps are tools within a larger framework of conscious consumerism.

Conscious consumerism encourages you to go beyond buying "eco" products.

It's about making informed and ethical choices at every stage of the consumption process, from production to disposal, while advocating (like speaking up) for a more just and ethical system. 

So, if you want to address climate stress with your purchases, you gotta move beyond individual actions and work on collective efforts to address the systemic issues.

THE PATH FORWARD

• Educate yourself: Think about something you love. Learn how sustainable that something is. (Example: A car, a hobby, a snack). Knowledge is power — you’re already doing good by reading this issue 😎

• Building community: Engaging in collective action through local initiatives, movements, and community-supported projects.
  

• Before you swipe your card: Do you need to buy that product at all? OR can you borrow, swap, get it secondhand? Always consider Sarah Lazarovic’s Buyerarchy of Needs!

YOUR COLLECTIVE VOICE IS POWER

So, it begs to question whether this "eco swap" narrative will continue to grow, will it significantly distract from influential actions that address climate stress? Like getting involved with others in your community and speaking up about something you love?

THE PATH FORWARD

Moving beyond the individual action requires a shift in your understanding of sustainability. It demands that you:

• Recognize the limitations of choices

• Challenge the power of corporations and advocate for systemic change

• Build community and engage in collective action

• Embrace a more just and ethical approach to consumption

This is not a call to abandon individual responsibility but to prioritize systemic change through a collective voice in your community.

Amplify your actions with others to create meaningful change in your community. 

We live in a time of revolution; movements are rising everywhere.

The people are still more powerful than the corporations if we start working together and using our collective voice.

Get involved with something you love and protect it.

GOOD READS WORTH A CLICK

What I’m reading:

Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet by Hannah Ritchie (affiliate link)

What inspired this issue:

• Debunking the False Choice Between Individual Behavior Change and Systems Change

  • https://www.climateworks.org/blog/debunking-the-false-choice-between-individual-behavior-change-and-systems-change/
    
    

• Climate Literacy is Essential for Effective Change

  • https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2020/10/23/climate-literacy-effective-change

Worth understanding:

• Jimmy Carter and the “Malaise” Speech

  • Transcript of the speech: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/activities/jimmy-carter-malaise-speech-july-15-1979
    

  • Video of the speech: 

    https://youtu.be/sXwZSzy9Ies
    

  • NPR takes a look at the speech:

    https://www.npr.org/2025/01/02/nx-s1-5244014/what-we-learn-about-jimmy-carter-from-the-presidents-crisis-of-confidence-speech

Get Curious

THE ART OF NOTICING
Check out this coastal photo of the day.

Tag your photos on Instagram or Threads @ecowaves.co for a spotlight.