r/sustainability

https://www.reddit.com/r/environment/s/I7hAcdAkif

I’ve been reading a lot about the environmental impact of food lately — turns out things like carbon, water use, and land use matter way more than food miles, which is basically not really a great metric at all despite being the most talked-about one.

The more I dig into this, the more I keep running into a tension I can’t shake: most of the advice out there (“buy local,” “choose lower-impact swaps,” “read the label”) assumes you’re standing in an aisle with real options in front of you. For a huge number of people, that’s just not true. If your nearest grocery store is a dollar store or a gas station, “make a more sustainable choice” isn’t really advice, it’s just noise.

This is sometimes called food apartheid rather than “food desert” — the point being that unequal access isn’t some natural accident, it’s the result of decisions (zoning, subsidy structures, which stores get built where) not scarcity.

So I’m curious what this community actually thinks:

**•**	Does “consumer choice” framing for sustainability just quietly assume everyone has the same starting point?  
**•**	Is there a version of “make informed choices” that’s actually useful for someone with real constraints — money, time, access — or does that framing only work for people who already have options?  
**•**	For folks who *do* have grocery choices, does knowing the environmental impact of what’s in your cart actually change what you buy, or is it just guilt with extra steps?

Not trying to push a particular answer here, genuinely trying to understand how people think. Appreciate any honest takes, including “this framing is off”

https://preview.redd.it/p1boo3b6yxjh1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=da19acc48c044e6e33ea29b45add88ef8550b76b

I'm French and this guy who wrote the book is a renewed scientist in France who actually knows how to speak about climate change, has charisma and knows how to explain the why, the who and the consequences in a very very interesting way contrary to many scientists out there. This book is a must read! In the French version he references the 20/21st century man as Ironman but wasn't allowed to do it in the English version unfortunatelly for copyright reasons. It is not a lengthy, heavy reading book. It's illustrated and explained like a comic book which makes it excellent. I really recommend it to this community as well as if you want to offer this as a gift to people who still are not convince of the urgency of the situation.

Hi, I would like to have your opinion about something.
I am trying to be more ethic oriented when buying clothes or items I need in general and whenever possible I would opt for second hand.

In addition, I am actively boycotting brands such as shein or Zara and many others as they are actively involved in exploitation and genocide.

However, when it comes to second hand I am not that rigid as I am not actively supporting those brands and I have, for instance, bought a second hand Zara jacket months ago. I do not buy many clothes and I still have in my wardrobe Zara, Primark or Shein clothes I have literally bought years ago (either new or second hand).

This is to say: do you think that even if they are second hand it would be better not buying them at all?

I have to admit that when people see the Zara tag on my jacket I am tempted to scream it’s second hand 😂

What do you think?

Hi All,

Do you actively avoid any company/ies because of their environmental impact, sustainability or ethical concerns? Like even if their products are cheaper or more convenient?

If so, which companies have you stopped buying from or just try to avoid?

Also curious whether any founder, CEO or other prominent figure whose opinions or actions have influenced your decision to avoid a certain company/ies.

If you’re looking to reduce your water impact, eating less meat is a great place to start.