Sustainable Shopping: Better for the Planet = Better for Your Pockets🛍

August 2025

Hey GPE girlies, the summer interns are back and ready to drop some more gems. Building on Olexa’s blog last month on greenwashing we wanted to dig a little bit deeper and explore the flip side of that convo.

The word on the street is that living sustainably is expensive and inaccessible. We’re often told that making sustainable swaps isn’t an option for everyone, and I get it. Spending $400 on a Reformation dress is a lot, and installing solar panels on my apartment roof is not really an option…for many reasons, like cost and feasibility. 

But let me level with you, this isn’t the full story. Yes, SOME sustainable swaps are expensive, others aren’t, and a lot of them can actually SAVE you money in the long run.

The truth is that big corporations and companies want you to believe that you aren’t capable of making real change because if you did, that’s one less dollar in their pocket. These are the same companies doing the most damage to our planet, and they are using our money to do it. But here’s the power we hold: the more intentional we are about our spending, it shows them we’re not going to stand for their eco-unfriendly practices. 

We refuse to let them push the blame of climate change onto us, and withholding our dollars is one of the strongest forms of resistance we have. This practice is deeply rooted in Black American history, starting with the Montgomery Bus Boycott and extending into everyday acts of spending wisely and with intention.

We also see this kind of resourcefulness in immigrant households, where making things stretch is part of the culture. Using every container, repurposing items, and making things last is second nature. Low-income families, too, have been practicing sustainability out of necessity for generations. Think hand-me-downs, the plastic bag full of other plastic bags, and turning the lights off when you’re not using that room. They’ve found creative ways to make the most of what they have, often without calling it “eco-friendly” or “green.”

Sticking it to the man is often enough motivation, but there’s more reason to care: sustainable shopping can save you serious coins. 

Let’s talk receipts: 

• On average you’re saving 30-40% when buying refurbished tech.

• Massive savings can always be found at thrift stores, you’re typically buying things 80% off.

• Savings can even be found in household goods with laundry sheets costing a fraction of the price of pods for even more loads. (laundry sheets $10.49 for 70 loads vs tide pods $12.99 for 42 loads). 

  
  

When you know how to shop sustainably the savings keep adding up, and gives you an opportunity to save for those bigger splurges, like a $400 Reformation dress.😉

But beyond the money, shopping sustainably can help many of us take real, tangible environmental action and quell some of that climate anxiety. Not only will you feel better about the planet, you’ll be doing better for the planet. Shopping sustainably does have a significant impact on the planet. By thrifting clothing and extending its lifespan by even just 9 months, you’re reducing 20-30% of its carbon, water, and waste footprints. We’re discouraged from making these swaps because one person's shopping habits “won’t change the world”. But that doesn't mean our actions don’t matter!

If we weren’t in this together, we wouldn’t be seeing the growth of small and local businesses focused on sustainable values. Our options for sustainable shopping keep growing year after year because people are paying attention and want better. Supporting these businesses not only helps us shop sustainably, but we’re also building stronger and more resilient communities. 

Now I wouldn’t tell you all of this just to leave you hanging. I’ve put together a guide to help you get started. As you begin or continue in your journey of sustainable shopping it’s important to give yourself grace. It is not our sole responsibility to fix climate change, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do what we can to slow it down.  Two principles that helped me when I was getting started are: Shop Less, and Shop in Person. 

Here are some swaps you can try that are better for the planet and better for your pockets ;)