To believe most people who say they care about the environment are hypocrites?

[SharpUmberLeader]

I hear so many people talk about reducing waste or going green but they still fly multiple times a year, buy fast fashion, or order takeaway in plastic containers. AIBU to think most people aren’t actually practicing what they preach about sustainability?

We try - don't fly very often (short haul every 2-3 years), don't buy fast fashion (or any fashion 😁 - last new clothes purchases were 3 supermarket t shirts and a multipack of pants last summer). Don't do takeaways or fast food, don't buy stuff. Don't have kids. Not veggie but don't eat much meat/fish.
But do drive and do have pets.

Not perfect by any means but better than many in western societies. In the face of corporate behaviour I don't feel guilty. Nothing will change until government stop conflating success with GDP and financial growth.

@Willoo ha I was trying to avoid that particular debate

We're all hypocrites (e.g. I fly) but that doesn't mean we should give up and do nothing. I can only do what is within my control and much of it benefits my local environment even if it doesn't have a global impact. Less cars, less waste, shopping local improves health, local jobs, less pollution etc etc. We need those in power to force big change, but beyond campaigning there is a limit to what we can do about that.

Getting new habits to help the environment does usually feel inconvenient at first but then you get used to it. It is easier when the new routine has become habit.

I think it was about ten years ago we decided that we had to become more environmentally friendly every year. It was not that difficult at first. Even though we already had a lot of environmentally friendly habits, there were still some low hanging fruits we could pick.

It was in the fifth year it started hurting and becoming noticeably inconvenient. We decided we would avoid palm oil if possible. We still do buy something with palm oil in it but only a couple of times a year. What is annoying with palm oil is that you need to check the ingredients of everything all the time. Because items that didn't use to contain palm oil suddenly do. Then they don't, then they do. But you get used to it.

Eating less meat was easier for the rest of the family than for me as I already ate veggie lunches most days. So I had to be more careful to ensure that I got the necessary nutrients. But I added more beans and broccoli to my lunches and we now know a lot of recipes for tasty veggie dinners.

Our electricity supplier used gas when the wind doesn't blow and it is grey weather because they don't get wind power and only a little sun power then. We already didn't want to use gas due to the environment and now we also want to keep the demand and thereby the price low because we want Russia to earn less money. So we are inconvenienced by that. The laundry will have to wait until the wind is blowing. Wear that ugly blouse instead of your favourite. Dinner cannot be made in the oven so we'll have to figure out what else to cook. Drink water instead of tea.

But we still could do more for the environment. And we will.