Things that are not as sustainable as you might think

By Ivan Chen

​Many of us want to make more sustainable choices, but some habits and products that seem green aren’t as eco-friendly as they appear. Here are some examples of things that aren’t as sustainable as you might think.

Sustainable clothing

Clothing with labels like “organic cotton,” “recycled polyester” or “vegan leather” can make purchases feel guilt-free. While clothes made from organic or recycled materials may have less of an impact on the environment than their less sustainable counterparts, the most sustainable clothes are the ones you already own. 

Today’s fashion industry is environmentally intensive. It consumes significant amounts of resources like water, natural and synthetic fibres, energy and dyes. Most vegan leather is made from polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride, which are plastics. 

Overall, the industry generates large amounts of wastewater, carbon emissions and microplastics that often enter the environment. And this still applies to new clothes marketed as “greener” than other options. 

True clothing sustainability means wearing and repairing your clothes. When you need to buy clothes, consider mindfully buying them secondhand instead of adding more “eco-friendly” items.

Reusable items (when you have too many of them)

Reusable items reduce waste only when they are consistently used. Reusable water bottles, containers and tote bags all still require resources to manufacture. These products often have to be used hundreds of times before they offset the environmental impacts of their production, but many people use them only a handful of times. 

Indeed, some of these products have become trends that people collect. For example, reusable Stanley cups gained significant popularity between 2022 and 2024, with people seeing them as a trendy status symbol to collect rather than use consistently.

This is unsustainable and negates the benefits of these reusable products. Instead, make use of the reusable products you already own, even if they aren’t the prettiest. Keep them in visible and accessible areas in your home to ensure you use them as much as possible.

If you want these types of reusable products, consider buying them secondhand — the trendy nature of some of these items often leads to them being donated, sometimes in new condition.

Clothing donation bins

Dropping off unwanted clothing at a donation bin may seem responsible, but it isn’t a perfect solution. Only a small portion of donated clothes end up being sold and reused. Some might be downcycled into rags or mats, but many others get shipped overseas. Once there, some clothes may be sold, but many of them end up as waste.

While donating clothes is slightly better than outright throwing them away, the best sustainable practices are buying less and extending the life of your clothes. Treating donations as the solution for overconsumption doesn’t reduce overall waste.

Paper bags and packaging

Paper bags and packaging seem like a safe alternative to plastic, but producing them requires a lot of water, fuel and trees. Overall, a paper bag requires about four times the amount of water as a plastic bag to manufacture. Fertilizers and other chemicals may be used in tree farming and paper manufacturing, which can contribute to acid rain. Some paper products also aren’t made from recycled material because new paper has longer and stronger fibres. 

However, paper bags are biodegradable and easier to recycle or compost compared to plastic, as long as they are relatively clean and uncontaminated. 

Whenever possible, choose minimally packaged products, avoid single-use items and make full use of the reusable items you already own.

Plant-based milk

Generally, plant-based milk is actually more sustainable than cow’s milk. But that doesn’t mean it’s impact-free. 

For example, almond milk emits the fewest greenhouse gases throughout its supply chain and uses less land than cow’s milk, but almonds require a lot of water to grow and process. The U.S. state of California produces much of the world’s commercial almonds, but it is also a region that is prone to droughts, heat waves and wildfires.

The production of soy milk and other products derived from soybeans requires land to be deforested to grow the crop, though it should be mentioned that soy is largely used for livestock feed. Products for human consumption make up less than 10 per cent of global soy usage, but that can change if demand for plant-based milk increases.

Oat milk is a relatively sustainable option, as it uses significantly less energy, water and land compared to cow’s milk. It also produces much less emissions.

Overall, plant-based milk is often better than cow’s milk, but the most sustainable practice is to consume only what you need and reduce waste, regardless of the type of milk.

Summary

Living sustainably doesn’t require perfection, but it does require some awareness and intention. Many products marketed as environmentally friendly have hidden environmental costs. Sometimes, the most sustainable choice is to buy less, reuse more and think critically before adding another supposedly eco-friendly item to your life.

Edited by Jess Blackwell