Why Do Most “Sustainable Living” Groups Ignore Individual Impact vs. Systemic Problems?
I’ve been involved in sustainable living circles for over a decade and I keep noticing that most community discussions focus on individual actions: zero-waste swaps, plant-based diets, turning off lights, DIY cleaning products, etc. While I get that habits matter, I can’t help but feel like we’re sidestepping the bigger picture.
Major corporations, industrial agriculture, and poorly planned cities make up the vast bulk of emissions and waste. So why do we spend so much time debating compost bins and reusable straws? Is this just a way to feel good while the system keeps chugging along unchanged? Has anyone here seen a group (online or IRL) that’s actually mobilizing on the systemic level rather than encouraging small, purchasable lifestyle tweaks? Or are we just spinning our wheels, “greening” the status quo while the planet heats up?
Would love to hear from folks who share this skepticism or who can point toward groups actually taking on the root causes.