Q: I buy only green products these days, including things I didn’t even know I needed. While I like being environmentally conscious, I worry I’m overdoing it and contributing to the waste problem.
It feels good to go green. For real: Research shows that using eco-friendly products creates a warm glow known as the green-consumption effect—a heightened sense of enjoyment and a deeper feeling of connection to others. Buying items that show you care about the planet signals to others your virtue and values. Capitalizing on eco-conscious consumers’ eagerness to do good, feel good, and look good means marketers are working overtime to convince us to buy green products. But if you already own three pairs of yoga pants, buying that fair-trade, recycled-plastic-bottle fourth pair isn’t really helping the environment.
Take out the word green from green products—and you are still left with…products. “Green materialism” (coined by researcher Sabrina Helm at the University of Arizona) is still materialism. Advertisers pressure us to acquire more eco-friendly items, but, from a sustainability perspective, reducing consumption is key. So, a better strategy is repairing (not replacing) older items, getting only what you need, and avoiding impulse buys. Plus, contrary to what most ads tell us, research shows that buying less makes us happier and more satisfied with our lives. Bottom line: Acquiring less really is more—and it’s good for your wallet, the world, and all of our well-being.
Dr. Samantha Boardman is a clinical instructor in psychiatry and an assistant attending psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and the founder of positiveprescription.com.
This article originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of Marie Claire.
Related Story
-
The Best-Dressed Stars at the 2024 Governors AwardsThey're putting an under-the-radar red carpet on the map.
-
Meghan Markle's 5 Best Royal Re-WearsThe Duchess of Sussex knows what works.
-
Louis Vuitton's Destination Flagship Sure Is a TripIt's taking over a five-story building with custom chocolates and fashion history.
-
The 25 Best 2024 Planners and Agendas, Reviewed by Experts and EditorsYou'll never want to leave home without yours.
-
The 60 Best Virtual Gifts You Can Buy OnlineShow someone how much they mean to you (without leaving your couch).
-
The Best Diptyque Cyber Monday Deals in 2023It's the most wonderful time of year.
-
16 Sustainable Product Swaps to Make Your Home More Green (And More Chic)You aren't trashy, so don't let your household be.
-
Nordstrom Is Having a Low-Key Amazing Home Sale Right NowWhy yes, I do need another throw blanket.
-
The Best Board Games for Adults for Your Next Night InYou'll never be bored again.
-
21 Coffee Table Decor Ideas For Your First Adult ApartmentStep away from the coasters.
-
The 23 Best Bath Towels for Turning Your Bathroom Into a SpaYou might even forget you're still in a studio apartment.
