Ever find yourself picking up a product with labels like ‘100% sustainable’ or ‘made from recycled materials’, only to put it right down after checking the price? You’re not alone.
It sometimes comes as a surprise to people that eco products manufacturers sell their products at higher prices than ‘regular’ products. This is especially if the products are made of salvaged or reusable materials, which is often considered less desirable and makes it even harder to justify paying more.
However, that can be a very simplistic way to gauge value. There are a lot of factors that affect the price of a sustainable product, which can ultimately make it worth the money. Let’s take a closer look at why sustainable products cost as much as they do and why it’s still worth paying a little extra for them.
Better Materials, Higher Prices
For certain types of sustainable products, the eco-friendly materials used are often more expensive to source because there’s more care involved in how they’re produced. Take sustainable wood versus regular timber, for instance.
Responsibly sourced (often FSC-certified) wood comes from forests that are managed in a way that minimises any harm to local ecosystems, wildlife, or communities. Harvesting sustainable wood also requires careful planning and stricter oversight, which can cost more. In contrast, wood obtained via indiscriminate logging can be cheaper because no expense has been incurred to mitigate any consequences.
Another important consideration is durability. Sustainable materials can often be more durable than their modern counterparts. For instance, using reclaimed wood to make furniture is sustainable because it reduces the need for deforestation, but at the same time is also likely to be stronger than freshly cut wood because of the aging process.
Ethical Labour Costs More (But Does Good)
The truth is that when you’re buying something that is produced quickly and oddly cheap for the quality, it’s often because costs are getting cut elsewhere — namely, on fair worker wages. The fast fashion industry is a common culprit of this.
According to an EarthDay.org contributor, “The modern fashion supply chain is designed for maximum efficiency and speed, driving huge profit margins for brands at the expense of workers. These coercive practices include demanding the lowest possible prices while placing large orders, setting unrealistic turnaround times, and switching suppliers whenever another factory can do the job for less.”
Bottom line is, yes, ethical fashion costs more. But paying fair prices shows companies that consumers want workers to be able to live on fair wages and receive better treatment at work. If enough companies embrace the change, then the fashion industry will naturally be more sustainable overall.
Saves Money In The Long-Run
One of the great reasons to choose sustainable products is their value for money; while they often have higher upfront costs, they can (and will) save you money over time.
Take reusable water bottles, for example. A high-quality stainless-steel bottle might cost around $20 to $30. In contrast, a disposable plastic bottle will run you around $1 to $2, or even more for well-known brands. While the stainless-steel option initially seems pricier, you only need to buy it once and then you can keep reusing it. Within just a few weeks, you’ll have already saved more money and produced less waste than purchasing disposable bottles daily.
You can apply the above example to many sustainable products, from clothes to kitchenware. By investing more upfront, you’ll not only save more money in the long run, but you’re also lowering your carbon footprint as well.
Cheap Products Aren’t Cheap For The Earth
Cheap items are often cheap because they fulfil the most basic requirements and don’t consider the hidden cost: damaging the earth.
Single-use items are a perfect example. That flimsy transparent plastic glove doesn’t just end up buried in a landfill; it could float into the ocean, get mistaken for a jellyfish by a sea turtle, and choke the turtle to death if they eat it. Plus, we’re often footing the bill to clean this waste up from the environment through our taxes.
Don’t forget that these products harm us as well. Commonly used chemicals in single-use products, such as BPA (Bisphenol A) in plastics,can leach into our food and water if exposed to heat and/or acid. Studies have shown possible links between BPA exposure and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease for adults, as well as on child health and behaviour.
Sustainable alternatives such as bioplastic manufacturing use natural materials that are healthier for both us and the planet. For instance, bioplastics are made from corn starch and other biomass feedback materials that eventually decompose into water and carbon dioxide at specific temperatures, reducing both overall waste production and our exposure to harmful chemicals and microplastics.
Your Money Funds Innovation
Have you ever wondered what happens when you buy an eco-friendly product? Apart from getting the product itself, you’re also helping to fund future innovations in sustainability, which contribute to making sustainable products better, more affordable, and more widely available.
As consumers, every purchase we make tells the market what to supply us. By purchasing sustainable products, we’re signalling to companies that sustainability matters, which in turn pushes them to develop smarter, greener solutions.
Think bioplastic manufacturing, biodegradable packaging, and cutting-edge recycling methods – all made possible by consumer demand. And as more people opt for sustainable products, these innovations become cheaper, better, and more widely available.
Mainly, It’s Better For The Earth
The actual forest for all the trees discussed earlier. Ultimately, choosing sustainable products is an investment into the future by helping to reduce pollution and environmental damage caused by mass production and cheap, disposable goods. Sustainable products consume fewer resources, promote circular economies, and are significantly less likely to end up in landfills.
It’s a simple switch that makes a big difference. So, the next time you spot an eco-friendly product with a slightly higher price tag, don’t discount it off the bat. Remember what you’re really paying for. Spending just a little more today might be able to save you money (and the planet) for years to come.