Sustainability Shaming

Meaning: when people criticize/mock others for being unsustainable.

Calling out people and mocking them for not doing enough to reduce environmental impact isn't a solution. 

We must understand that sustainable fashion isn't as accessible as fast fashion. The major issues one can face while shopping sustainably are: price and sizing. Fast fashion is more affordable and sometimes shopping second hand isn't the best option. 

There's no shame in shopping fast fashion if that is your only option. The problem with fast fashion is over consumption. We must avoid over consumption to minimize fashion waste. By becoming a conscious consumer we can change the consumption pattern. We must buy less and learn how to repair our clothes rather than throwing them in the landfill.  If we are not able to mend, reusing will be an answer. We can give our clothes to second-hand/thrift shops or to the brands that take back old clothes and recycle them. Using recyclable items and returning them for recycling is another way of being sustainable. Instead of buying a garment which we will wear only once, we can rent it. Henceforth, we need to repeat these actions to alter our consumption habits. As a result, we must focus on reducing our consumption level to slow down the fast fashion.

We need to stop sustainability shaming. It is unkind and can bring down a person for not doing enough. We must remember, zero waste living isn't a competition. Instead we should applaud and praise their efforts.