Sustainability That Fits Your Budget
Updated: Nov 17, 2020
When we talk about sustainability for all we are referring to environmental justice and making sure everyone, no matter what community they live in or what they look like, has access to a clean, healthy environment. The coronavirus pandemic has particularly highlighted the disparities between different communities as it is disproportionately affecting people of color who tend to live in much worse environmental conditions than their more privileged counterparts. Through our newsletter, blog, and other educational material, we will work to inform and champion environmental justice for all. It is imperative to recognize that we will never truly be able to have sustainability for all until the price to be sustainable is reduced. As important as is it to clean up the environment people live in, it is equally important to provide safe, healthy products that do not compromise the consumers’ values. It is easy for companies and organizations to blame the consumer, in the same way they have done for years, for purchasing fast fashion, bath products packaged in plastic bottles, or any other product that is not “made sustainably.” In reality, sustainable brands that integrate well and perform for people’s styles and needs has only just recently come to fruition, and these products tend to be unrealistic for many to purchase. We acknowledge the privilege associated with being able to purchase and consume many of the products that make sustainability easier. While this is the current reality, we believe there is hope for us to allow some kind of sustainable option for everyone, for us to meet consumers where they are and help them adjust. The one thing we ask is that you (yes, you reading this) begin to change your perception and ideology of what you have always believed to be sustainable and have an open mind as we try to guide you. Here are the facets of our plan:
People who have the means to do so should buy the sustainable, high quality clothing that will last them longer and cosmetics, bath, and cleaning supplies that are effective but more natural. (This is, after they have used up all of their existing and non-expired products) These options are more expensive but will support the businesses, and the more volume they get the cheaper they can make their products.
One of the best ways to avoid textile waste is to give clothing a second life. Thrift shopping is a big trend right now and while many do it for fashion reasons, it is an extremely sustainable option where you can divert clothes from landfills and find styles that you want for a fraction of their original price. This is an especially useful option for consumers who may not have the budget to purchase new, sustainably made clothing due to its price tag.
Buying local is also a great way to be more sustainable and reduce your footprint. You can sometimes find cheaper options this way and will be supporting small businesses and your community. In addition, buying local allows you to have more transparency with the vendor, often times having better luck at determining how the ingredients for your product were sourced, how it was made, how the money you spend on it will be used, etc. This is a wonderful option for consumers who may have particular allergies or sensitivities to ingredients to confirm that the product they are buying does not include those allergens.
If you are unable to afford the more expensive and sustainable cosmetics, bath, and cleaning products, you may look for cheaper options that have safe chemicals that will not harm you or the environment, which you can find on the Environmental Working Group website, or apps like Think Dirty.
Lastly, through the Koura Platform and an initiative we are putting together called the Koura Collaborative, we will work to parter with sustainable brands to provide discounts to their products as well as bringing the brands together to come up with solutions to reduce their cost of production. As people join the platform and share amazing brands that fit their style, or in the case of bath & beauty products, actually work, we will be able to drive prices down and make our “Sustainability for All” mission a more tangible reality.
We are excited for what the future has in store and we hope you will come on that journey with us. Look out for the Koura Platform COMING SOON! Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page.