This
September more than seven million people took part in the Global Climate
Strike. Impressive. I wonder how many of them recycle.
It
appears that the meaning of being green varies by generation. Baby Boomers are the most passionate about
recycling. Makes sense to me. I won the poster contest in my middle school
for the first earth day in 1970. From
that point on I thought that being green was party of the deal. Clearly I was wrong.
These
days being green means eating less meat, avoiding air travel and using soap
that comes in cardboard boxes. Hopefully
it also means a move back to goods that last.
(Paquette, 2019)
But I
can't help wondering how motivating these features are to potential
purchasers. Sure I am going to try the
new soap since they sent it to me for free.
But if I don't like it, will I buy it anyway because it is green? Doubtful.
People
are creatures of habit and we don't like change because it stokes loss
aversion. So if we are asking people to change we need to persuade them that
doing so aligns with their values.
Have
you changed your habits to be more green? Who convinced you? How did they do it? Which Cialdini techniques did they use? Were your actions consistent with your
generation? How would you convince
others?
Do you
know that eating vegetarian, even one day a week is the biggest contribution
you can make to the environment? If
every American did it the carbon dioxide savings would be equivalent to taking
more than half a million cars off our roads. (Krantz, 2016)
But
most Americans fail to eat even the 5 - 9 servings of fruit and veggies a day
that the USDA recommends. Can we
convince people to eat healthier to save the environment? Or are we all too addicted to processed foods
to be persuaded?
Paquette,
A. (2019, November 14) How To Join Teens
In Going Green. mediapost.com. Retrieved
November 20, 2019, from
Krantz,
R. (2016, March 24) The Single Biggest
Thing You Can Do For The Environment. bustle.com.
Retrieved November 20, 2019, from
16 comments:
I'm guilty of not being the most environment-conscious in my consumer behavior, despite knowing that the environment is something I should care about. Although my values might align with doing what is "good" or "best," my wallet does not always agree. Sustainable products tend to cost more than those that are not, so most of the time, pragmatism and practicality triumph. If the market wants to impact true sustainable change and scale "green buying," products will have to just ALL be green so consumers can be green without making a conscious choice to be so.
I've consciously changed several of my habits over the years to be more green; I recycle, avoid single-use plastics, and eat a plant-based diet. I don't believe that being green or eco-friendly is enough on it's own to make loyal customers, but I think it's a great differentiator. Liking and consistency seem to be the greatest persuasion techniques I see brands leveraging. Below are two examples of how both techniques were leveraged in my own experiences.
When I chose to switch to my current shampoo and conditioner, Love Beauty and Planet, I didn't specifically buy it because it was more eco-friendly. I was at Target, and my primary concern while reading bottles was whether or not the products includes parabens or sulfates. Honestly, I hadn't considered what the unintended consequences of my shampoo/conditioner choices had on the environment prior to reading the packaging of the LBP products. The brand's story felt genuine and pulled from the same values I have, making me like them more. The messaging worked and I choose to buy LBP over any of the other products that also met my minimum requirements (didn't contain parabens or sulfates or cost an arm and a leg) because it made me feel good to know my choice was also helping the environment. I'm now a loyal LBP user because I legitimately love the products. Had I not, I don't think being eco-friendly would have been enough to keep me, even if it was enough to get me to try for the first time.
Diet choices are a whole different animal. (Pun intended.) Much like we discussed in class about how and why the Weight Watchers program works to motivate weight-loss, I think it really does take a "tribe" to motivate the adoption of a new lifestyle. I had been interested in being vegetarian for years prior to making the change. But, like most, I was concerned about missing my favorite foods and feeling too restricted. After about 3 years of volunteering with the no-kill shelter here in Houston, something changed. Spending time working along side people who believe the Friends for Life mantra, "every animal matters", to the core of their bones gave me a new kind of confidence in my ability to choose better; to be better. Choosing to eat meat wasn't consistent with the rest of my actions. And having the "tribe" to talk to meant that I had cheerleaders and plenty of recipe and restaurant recommendations!
I remember the most recent habits change towards more green is the home garbage sorting process. This process can help me to organize a tidiness home and also benefit the environment. I was convinced by the current terrifying outcomes and the future. We still use the traditional landfill system to accept the garbage. However, the space is running out very soon and the government need to find a new space to fill the new garbage. I care about the next generation. Therefore, the key element for the change is the combination between the green environment, tidiness home, and the future outcome. If this behavior can not make my apartment looks tide, I may not adopt it.
During my past experience, the scarcity, authority, consensus. The scarcity is the current terrible situations, authority is it from the notable people, consensus is I already known many people has already had this behavior and it can help us build a better society. In my opinion, I can use the same tactics to convince other people.
I think it is extremely hard and nearly impossible to convince people to eat healthier until they realized the benefits to their own situation, such as wellness. The saving environment is not working on most people since not so many people can realize it. On the other side, the proceed food can provide the instant happiness. At the same time, general healthier food is not taste as good as processed food.
Wow! I feel GREENSHAMED!! What's worst I don't feel motivated to change my diet (though I don't eat much red meat). I actually thought I was GREEN! I recycle my garage, separating it and hauling the recycle out on Wednesdays and Fridays. I began this weekly process seriously when my kids were young. I bought into the save the planet for your kids.
I like many others, find it easy to be green when it fits my lifestyle and I enjoy finding new palatable ways to reduce my carbon footprint. I don't have an electric car, but I'd consider it. Its a change that's relatively close in (if you need a car). Overhauling my diet still seems too much, perhaps we could start with some recipes? Nonetheless the good news is it's getting easier and easier to be green. Here's a tip... The Salvation Army is hosting its first Black Friday Sale this year. There's recycling gone mainstream. Happy shopping!
LH
When I was a child I was introduced to recycling by my grandmother, but at her house and in public (where appropriate receptacles were available), were the only places I would continue the practice. I would say the Cialdini technique she used was authority, because to recycle in her presence was not a suggestion, but a demand which I chose to carry over in select places of my life. Unfortunately, I have not significantly changed my habits to be more green and I believe my actions are consistent with the majority of my generation. I think Cialdini’s principles of authority (for stubborn people), consistency (for accountable/reliable people), and social proof (for followers/suggestible people) would work best to convince others, but liking and reciprocity could work too.
Although eating vegetarian is the biggest contribution you can make to the environment and most Americans fail to do so, I do believe SOME people can be convinced to eat healthier to save the environment by using personality traits to persuade them into changing their eating habits. Generally speaking, people (Americans) are selfish and averse to change, so in order to bring on any type of change, you have to make the transition easy and directly/immediately beneficial for them to change. In my opinion, the two most effective ways to convince people will be with availability and affordability. A lot of people choose to eat the way they do because it’s forced on them; the worst foods tend to be the most readily available and affordable, especially in low-income urban areas. If vegetarian/vegan items were priced based on their worth and not their trend-appeal and as abundant in local supermarkets as they are in specialty markets, I think more people would be inclined to change their diets. Flavor also plays a big role; if there were better recipes out there, people wouldn’t mind converting as much.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482049/
Going green has been an objective that has captivated many however, despite the fact that many individuals are concerned and passionate about it they remain unaware of what they can do to go green. Individuals are less informed about the concept of going green and there is need to create awareness of this aspect. Change is therefore, an essential element that needs to be embraced in all aspects so as to the impact of going green. Climate change is an essential aspect that needs to be addressed by each individual. Eating healthy is part of cultivating a positive mindset for individuals who are willing to conserve the environment. Small changes begin with having a healthy dietary plan to have a stable and reliable ecosystem. Less consumption of meat reduces the emission of harmful components that tamper with the environmental set up.
I have tried to change my eating habits and was successful for a couple weeks but when my dad started grilling over the summer and I got one smell of a burger I was back on meat. I am most definitely a creature of habit and when I enjoy a certain product I use it for years. When it comes to being more green I am more aware than ever about recycling and using plastics. In my science class in 8th grade we did a fascinating experiment where the goal was to not use plastics for one day. It was nearly impossible and made me open my eyes to how much we rely on a product that is so harmful to the environment. One interesting article I read in regards to going green speaks about how people want to hop on the trend, not due to the environmental impacts but merely because they want to be a part of some sort of community. I found this really interesting because their decision is based on being popular and fitting in rather than actually saving the planet we live on. This could make companies big bucks because they can have the ability to cash in on people who like to hop on trends.
More info can be found here: https://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/4-reasons-why-going-green-has-gone-mainstream-in-business.html
Yin Lei
Recently, garbage clarification is a significant activity that executed by government in China, especially strict in Shanghai. The government want people to be more green and care about our environment. There are various advertisements on TV, slogans and separate bins on the communities. In my community, there is even a cleaner stands around the garbage bins to teach people sorting trash. I used to throw the trash randomly, but now I am educated by the government and I start to keep sorting garbage.
I think it is very hard to convince people to eat healthier to save the environment because people have their eating habits. Some of my friends are meat lover, they can't eat without meat. It's just ridiculous to tell them don't eat meat, It's bad for our environment. They won't care. I think it is very hard to let a group of people reduce their meat consumption. If you reason is eating less meat is good for health, I might think about it. But if you reason is eating less meat is good for environment, I think even though I eat less, there is still a group of people eat more.
I did change some of my habits more green. I guess I learned this from surroundings. I learned most of the concepts from class; especially when I entered college, I realized the truth of climate changes; that was the first time I was thinking about being “green”. Besides that, some of my friends are vegan; they told me the bloody truth behind animal testing. What I did to achieve to be more sustainable was stop buying animal products, using less plastic bags and support sustainable brands. I do believe my action consist to my generation, Gen Z. Researches show that Millennial and Gen Z are the top fan of concept of “sustainibility”. When I convince others, I will let them know the truth I learned. Saving the mother earth by eating healthier definitely works, especially when “green” is the current trend. Study shows that Millenials are mindful about health in general; millennials are certainly leading the change in the food revolution.
Vanessa Mejia said.....
This article mentions about the stand that people are taking to take care of our environment.
After reading this article, I was happy to hear that a lot of people were young adults, we, as the future we need to take care of the environment and appreciate it in order for us to enjoy the beauty of nature.
In my own experience, I do a lot of community service and mostly is picking up trash. Seeing all of this trash made me realized the damaged we are causing and destruction to the environment. This made me start using reusable bags. Every time going to the grocery store some people would stare at me weird because I would take some type to gather my reusable bags and bring them in the store. No one convinced me, it was something I had to see my self in order to make that permanent change. I would invite other people to do community service and for them to see the horror truth of what we are living and change needs to happen. I think I always try to find a way to be green like small changes because when people are very used to of something its hard to adjust. It is not impossible its just the matter of being consistent and think about others.
We could convince others to eat healthy so they can live longer, be healthier and doing something good for the environment too. I believe that we are very addicted to processed foods because they are the quickest to be cooked and have many condiments that would make the food taste good. Not saying that fruits and vegetables dont taste amazing, but processed foods have so many bad ingredients that people do not realized how harmful is for their bodies.
Being “green” is a concept so broad that is almost impossible to completely accomplish. There are so many different avenues or approaches one can take to be more environmentally conscious, however, it is near impossible to accomplish them all. For example, the argument that giving up meat will reduce your carbon footprint drastically, yet one still chooses not to carpool. Why do consumers choose the meat avenue in favor of the carpool avenue and vice versa? It’s all about what is the most convenient way to make ourselves feel like we are contributing, and less about the impact our contributions actually have. If people can justify their actions by saying its good for the environment then they will. There are also negative environmental impacts to not eating meat that people refuse to address as it doesn’t confirm their already held opinions. For example, “Since we were (mistakenly in my view) encouraged to switch from animal to vegetable fats 35 years ago, we’ve also consumed and used ever-greater quantities of palm oil from south-east Asia. Its production has been responsible for the near annihilation of many species, including orangutans, pygmy elephants and Sumatran elephants, rhinos and tigers” (Young). Is the destruction of these species considered green? Does it pale in comparison to the carbon emission problem? That is for each consumer to decide what they can and can't live with and since for most people these animal species are not close to home, they usually end up being the ones forgotten.
Reference
https://climateandcapitalism.com/2018/06/26/why-avoiding-meat-and-dairy-wont-save-the-planet/
Speaking of green issues, I would think of a speech by Swedish environmentalist Grate and the strikes she led. In her speech, I learned that the climate is gradually warming. She is also working to encourage the masses to develop a zero-carbon lifestyle. However, she did not convince me that human development depends on the industry, and zero-carbon is almost impossible to achieve unless it returns to the era of primitive people in the past.
As a person in the Gen Z era, I have not fully realized the importance of low-carbon life. In short, it is difficult for me to change my lifestyle to cater to the concept of green. But my mom and dad advocate green life, they will take the plastic bags in the supermarket home for reuse. They prefer to eat vegetables rather than meat. In this environment, I think I will change slowly, even if it is not subjective. For example, when ordering from ubereat, I have the option to choose whether or not I need tableware. I generally do not choose tableware but use tableware at home. For example, when going to the supermarket, it takes money to buy plastic bags, and I will consciously take out the excess plastic bags at home to reuse.
When it comes to promoting green living for others, I think I prefer to start with their habits. For example, when you want to go to a relatively close place, you can choose to walk or bike, because this will not only allow your body to exercise, it may also be faster than using a car in a traffic jam. For example, you can eat more vegetables, because not only can you lose weight, your skin will also get better. For another example, you can choose some reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags.
Of course, green living is worth advocating, but I hope it is built on without compromising the quality of life, so I will insist on doing things that are good for the environment and good for myself. Nature is a cycle in itself. If, as Grate said, all carbonization is eliminated, no transportation is used, and no meat is consumed, then industrialization will go backward and it will have a great economic impact.
Huiwen Xu
Do I care about the environment? The answer is yes. Am I willing to change my habits for it? The answer is no (or at least not if it means living less comfortably for it). I definitely wouldn't do anything to willingly harm the environment. I would never throw a can for example in the street or in a lac. On the other hand, I won't stop buying plastic water bottles at the supermarket.
The one time someone actually tried to "convince me to become more green" was my former supervisor at my former job. Seeing me walking everyday with two big plastic water bottles, it didn't take long for her to buy me an eco-friendly reusable water bottle (Reciprocity Cialdini principle). I was genuinely touched by her gesture. I also never used the bottle. Having a water bottle meant no more fresh cold water and go back-and-forth throughout the day to the kitchen to actually get the water... Plus since I do workout on a daily basis, I just couldn't imagine myself taking a reusable water bottle with me at the gym everyday.
I would say, based on my generation (GEN Z) I am probably one of the least engaged people regarding the environment. I also firmly believe it's partly due to where I grew up. Having been raised in Egypt, it is fair to say environment protection was the least of everyone's concern (Cairo being the world's most polluted city according to Eco Expert). Who knows, maybe after living a couple of years in New York, I'll become more mindful about the environment.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2018/08/23/the-ten-most-polluted-cities-on-earth/#19224cc918cc
Lastly, concerning convincing people to eat healthier to save the environment: people don't even eat healthy for their own health so I doubt they will do so for the environment.
Allan C.
I personally have not changed my habits to be more green. I remember in middle school, my teacher would tell me to unplug any electricity from the outlets when we are not at home, turn off the water faucet when we are brushing our teeth, etc. However, I do this now in my apartment in NYC not to be green, but to save money on electricity. For water, I do it to be green but only because I am from California and there is a drought there, so the thought of me wasting water hurts me. Out of the 6 Cialdini techniques (Reciprocity, Commitment/consistency, Social proof, Authority, Liking, and Scarcity), I think my teachers used reciprocity. I know that if I turn off the water or unplug outlets, I will receive something in my favor in return. I'm not sure if my actions are consistent with my generation because my roommate definitely does not do those 2 things. However, I think I am more convinced for a monetary reason, and not for being more green. I think a way to convince others to be more green and also eat less meat is for them to watch Vegan documentaries. One influencer that I watch on Youtube mentioned in one of her videos that she started being vegan after watching "Cowspiracy" on Netflix. I think visuals can persuade someone more than pure words. I think we can convince people to eat healthier to save the environment, but a lot of people these days also do it for the health aspects. As Janet Forgrieve from Frobes states, "People opt to go plant-based for various reasons, but the big three are animals, the planet and PERSONAL HEALTH." The trend nowadays is to eat a healthier diet, and going vegan becomes the trend. I think veganism is becoming more accepted. Taste is extremely important (Forgrieve, 2018) and brands like Kite Hill has been a leading brand that makes tasty almond-based cheese and yogurt.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetforgrieve/2018/11/02/picturing-a-kindler-gentler-world-vegan-month/#6c0d6a562f2b
Christopher Diaz
Throughout my lifetime I have ate a lot of junk food but I have also ate healthy too. Fruits and vegetables are a main source that I like to use, in fact compared to my generation a lot of millennials eat healthy as well. A recent survey showed that 57% of millennials follow a special diet (foodnavigator,online). The main reason for eating healthy was just for a better body, 67% of the poll said (foodnavigator). I also like the kale smoothies mixed with fruits. I think if people realize the obesity that exists in this country they would eat way better and try to manage taking care of their bodies. I think Baby boomers do a good job as they are slightly older but very well aware of the causes to eating junk food.
foodnavigator.com, Mary Ellen Shoup
Multimedia, Online 8/28/2019
https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2019/08/28/A-year-in-food-Survey-reveals-millennials-eating-and-spending-habits
For me it is really challenging to start eating a diet based on veggies only, I tried to do it once, but I failed. That´s why I start to contribute to the environment in a different way like recycling, using less plastic, avoid eating junk food, etc. I used to participate in different recycle initiaves in my country (Peru) which made me feel really satisfied, but I also realized that people is not used to do it. Recently there was a big fire on the Amazonia and apparently deforestation and meat production were the main causes of this event. It is really important that all of us start to do something to help to reduce pollution.
Baby boomers are the ones that take care most of the climate changes and millenials too.
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