Top: Grant BLVD | Skirt: Reformation | Bag: flea market | Scarf: Urban Outfitters | Shoes: Steve Madden

photography by Celina Georgeadis

I talk a lot about going plastic-free, zero-waste, living environmentally friendly and living an overall conscious lifestyle, but I have never quite touched on how privileged I am to be able to live the life that I do. Despite one of my recent posts being about how you can be sustainable on a budget in college, there is a large amount of privilege that comes along with being able to live a low-impact lifestyle. After one of my Instagram followers suggested I dedicate an entire post to the privilege that is required for living a sustainable lifestyle, this post slowly came together. I have a LOT of thoughts about this topic, and hope to continue this conversation in future posts as well.

Something I talk about almost every day with my roommate is convenience. She lives a convenient lifestyle. I often find myself criticizing her for choosing to purchase pre-cut vegetables in a plastic bag instead of buying them in bulk without packaging, or for choosing to run the half-empty dishwasher because we ran out of forks instead of cleaning one or two by hand, or for not leaving 15 minutes before class to get coffee in her reusable mug instead of ordering a plastic cup to go. I even give her a hard time for recycling improperly (PSA: paper towels – especially used paper towels – are not recyclable). I was thrilled when I got her on board with Imperfect Produce, but she was more excited about her produce conveniently showing up on our doorstep each week than the food waste the company is working to divert. Upon reflection, I realized that if given a choice, I always give up my convenience to benefit the environment. I also realized that I rarely reflect on the privilege I have to be able to do so.

I am privileged to have the time to think about my environmental impact. I have the time to wait in line at Starbucks before class to use my reusable cup. I make the time to spend cutting a full cauliflower into cauliflower rice, purely so that I don’t buy it pre-packaged in plastic. I have the time to line-dry my clothing instead of putting it in a drier. I have the time to take public transportation or take Uber Expresses instead of Uber X’s. I have time away from my courses at school, extra-curricular activities and part-time job that I can afford to take the time to forego convenience to benefit the environment. Not everyone has time to spare, and that is important to recognize.

I am privileged to have the access to education that I do. I went to pre-school, I went to public elementary and middle school, and I went to private high school. Education has always been important to me and my family. I now go to a university that has an extensive environmental studies program. I have been able to take multiple courses in environmental studies, even though I am a business major, and learn more about food waste, recycling programs, and energy through student organizations and speakers on campus.

I am privileged to live where I do. I grew up in a suburb of New York City. I lived a four-minute walk away from a train station that brought me directly into Manhattan, so I learned to rely on and appreciate public transportation from a very early age. I even took the train to high school every day. New York as a state has high environmental standards as well. New York has the lowest energy consumption per capita in the United States, the lowest gasoline consumption (in gallons) per capita, and strong recycling infrastructure (Wallethub). Since starting college four years ago I have lived in Los Angeles. Like New York, California is also known for being progressive in terms of environmental policy and practices. Plastics 1 through 6 can be recycled in my county, farmers markets happen year round, and people are overall more conscious of their environmental impact. In both of these states, I have lived in relatively high-income areas. Lower income neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by climate change and pollution (aka Environmental Justice). For example, “the water contamination in Flint, Michigan, is just one window into the failures of infrastructure and environmental quality that have threatened communities across the country for generations”. Residents of Flint, Michigan need to purchase bottled water to be safe. I am privileged to have grown up places that has recycling infrastructure, access to safe water, and environmental protection policies already in place.

I am also privileged to have the discretionary funding that I do. I will not spend long on this topic, because most conversations about privilege in relation to sustainable lifestyles focus only this point, but it is still important to mention. While some of the environmental changes that I have made will save me money in the long run, they required larger upfront investments that not everyone is able to make. I save 10 cents on my Starbucks every time I use my reusable cup, but I had to purchase it for $16 in the first place. I could afford to buy this tee-shirt from eco/ethical brand Grant BLVD and this skirt from Reformation. I can afford to buy organic, locally grown, plastic-free produce. I realize that many of my daily sustainable lifestyle choices require a level of financial stability that I am privileged to have.

In addition to everything I have already said, I am privileged to be able to do something about my environmental impact. No matter how educated or passionate someone may be, it is not fair to assume that they have the time, money, or ability to do something about their environmental impact. People with food allergies may not be able to go vegetarian or vegan in the name of environmental impact. Students who intern or work part-time after classes may not have the time to complete their school work and take an environmentally friendly mode of transportation to get to their office. Some people may not have access to bulk bars and plastic-free produce, even if they have the discretionary spending to afford it, purely because of where they live and the food their grocery stores choose to stock. I am privileged to be able to vote for political candidates that hold my same views about the urgency of political environmental intervention, and realize that I – a white citizen of the United States – will not experience voter suppression as many people in this country do. I have become increasingly more aware of the way I talk about the importance of doing something about your environmental impact, and hope to remain more inclusive in my future recommendations.

One thing I have been conscious of, though, is not letting the privilege I have prevent me from doing what I am able to do. I am a firm believer that corporations and businesses should be responsible for their impact because they have the means to do so. So why would it be any different for me? If I have the knowledge, the time, the access, and the financial means to live a more sustainable life, I believe it is my duty to do so. I will do what I can to educate those around me (and all of you on the internet), but will not hold everyone to the same standards as me because I realize that I am privileged.

I hope more than anything that this post sparks a conversation, whether it is with your roommates, your parents, or just in your inner dialogue. Privilege is something that can be awkward to talk about, but is important to discuss nonetheless. Have you ever thought about privilege in the sense of your environmental impact? When is the last time you reflected on the privilege in your life?