Why is "going Green" so expensive?

Question

I'd love to "go Green"...if I could afford it. Organic cotton clothing is SOOOO expensive. And I saw some organic cotton sheets in a magazine that are selling for $180 for a full-size set. I can't even imagine what a queen size set would be! And Hybrid cars are so expensive too!!!

If "going Green" were affordable for the average family, I think more people would be on board. What does everyone else think?

Answer 1

The main reason it is so expensive is because there is much demand for it, and it is new advanced technology so there is little supply. Also, the fact that it saves you money. Personally, I think the largest reason is the lack of competition though. The American economy is based on capitalism, which consists of two or more companies competing with each other for customers. When this happens, in order to keep on top of the other companies, they invent new ways to build it cheaper and sell it cheaper, and make their products better.

Answer 2

You could spend more then that for every day sheets.

Answer 3

it is not.

use less!

buy second hand textiles. i doubt if i spend more than £30 or £40 a year on clothes, towels, bedding all together.

you cant 'buy into' green life, that's a capitalist scam.

Answer 4

You are right at some point, its costly. Reason is its new. All alternatives of GOING GREEN are new. SO they are costly. All options will be cheap after some time. When all people will get used to it. It will be cheap. You have to wait and watch for that.

Some ideas to Live Green in Daily Life--

http://livegreenideas.blogspot.com/

Answer 5

I hear you!  Right now we are the minority.  Once the "going Green" is a little more mainstream I think prices will go down!  For the time being I visit resale shops and buy less goods.  Target has organic sheets now and an organic section of health care items.

Answer 6

Its expensive because the technology is expensive. Our tech. is not that advance and not that efficient.

Answer 7

Truly "going green" isn't expensive at all. Instead of driving any vehicle, opt for a car-sharing program, city transit, or walking and bicycling.

Buy used from thrift or antique stores, refurbish old items, learn to sew so you can use old material from a shirt and turn it into a new top or skirt (entire books are dedicted to this method of clothes making).

Grow your own organic veggies, power down more often, conserve water as much as possible.

Very few epensive "green items" are worth their price. A few of them may be worth investing in (such as a stainless steel water bottle), but most of it is just someone's way to make money. Nothing wrong with that but consumerism - even of organic/"sustainable" items - is still consumption and it's still bad for the earth. (Check out storyofstuff.com)

True green living is the opposite of consumerism. It puts you in touch with the earth, with your food, with your body. It's about buying and using less. I've been living green for years and I'm as thrifty as they come. Check out the blog for more ideas:

Answer 8

You aren't looking to go green, you're looking for the latest fashion trend.   Not buying that extra shirt is much better for the environment than buying an organic cotton one.   I've decided to go green by not buying any more clothes until I wear out the ones I have now- should be another 4-5 years for shirts.   My vehicle is green because its 16 years old now.   A hybrid might save on fuel some (regular cars are made that get better mileage than hybrids), but think of all the steel, plastic and glass that needs to be manufactured and shaped to make that vehicle.    An old one will save all the costs and pollution of construction of a new one.

Answer 9

Demand for green things has grown much more quickly than has supply. This has allowed vendors to ask what they will.

Some things are still new enough to attract early adapter premium prices, and naturally there are still some costs related to development that have still to be paid.

Yes, as soon as demand drops off a bit, prices should be coming down.

Answer 10

Yes you are absolutely right ... what is happening right now is a layer of "elite environmentalists" are really the only consumers of green products cuz they can afford them on a lark and say they are "green".  It is so sad that the people most passionate about this cause are of modest means but want to do something and simply can't afford it!  As the technology and the demand for supply increases the prices will come down.  Just keep thinking green and do the things you can by recycling and saving electricity and anything that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg, especially using your voice to tell family and friends what you are doing to be green.  Technology will catch up with us forward thinking people of more modest means, we just have to be patient for a couple of more years.  Right now "green products" are considered to be a luxury, you and I know that within ten years they will be a necessity!

Answer 11

It doesn't have to be. However cynical companies are making huge profits from current trend of being enviomentially conscious. It is mainly the middle classes who are more likely to spend more on 'green' products and buy spending a little extra people are buying peace of mind. In many cases they may not be helping at all but as long as the conscience is clear....