Sustainability vs Minimalism: The Ultimate Match-Up
I often get myself all tangled up when thinking about sustainability and minimalism. In fact, I think it took “minimalism” to help me focus on what “sustainability” actually means for me… and now I have trouble separating the two. Not necessarily a bad thing, although I do think for someone who’s sort of a perfectionist, it can become an ever-tightening spiral. We can get into that some other time. 🙂
Okay, to begin to sort through this, I have two questions for myself:
- What is the difference between sustainability and minimalism?
- What is the same between sustainability and minimalism?
I think we can all agree that the best way to answer questions like these is with a Venn diagram!
I took a moment to actually physically draw this Venn diagram because my brain thinks most clearly when I’m working with pencil (or marker, as the case may be) and paper. Instead of buying something new and/or single-purpose, I used what I had at hand (in this case, my beer glass, to draw the circles) – minimalism – and drew it on the back of a piece of already-used paper – sustainability! It’s a win already. Hopefully the content is just as good.
By clarifying what each of these means to me, I can begin to sort out what’s what and understand my motivations, impulses, and intentions around living a life centered on core values of sustainability and minimalism. (And speaking of minimalism, can we please abbreviate these lengthy words? From now on, I’m referring to “sustainability and minimalism” as “sustainamalism.” Sustainamalism: 1. the state of being both minimalist and sustainable; 2. of or referring to the above; 3. a shorthand to refer to the combination of ideas of “sustainability” and “minimalism.” )
For me, it really comes down to those last points in each specific segment as the distillation to the essence of each topic, individually.
Sustainability = appreciation of the natural world Minimalism = appreciation of the manufactured world
Appreciation of the natural world means doing my best to use as few irreplaceable resources as possible, and to treat plants, animals, planet, and people with respect. Appreciation of the manufactured world means purchasing or obtaining consumables with intention, things I truly need, that I will actually use and enjoy. For me, putting these two things together equals the opposite of standard – often mindless – consumerism. It’s paying attention to what I need or want, and ensuring that I am going about getting it in the best way for myself and for the planet.
To put it another way: Minimalism helps me figure out what I do (and don’t!) need in my life; sustainability provides the guideposts for bringing those “essentials” into my life.
Now that I’m straightened out on the separate meanings of each, what is the meaning of the combination (besides what I defined above, of course!)? Combining sustainability and minimalism gives me sustainamalism, this idea that each action I take, each choice I make, can be done with full attention.
For example, in the case of consumer goods, I can ask myself:
- Why am I choosing to purchase an item new to me?
- Can I make do without it?
- Can I borrow it from a friend instead?
- If I have to buy it, what brand or company should I be supporting? Can I source it locally?
- Can I buy it used?
Or in the case of, say, transportation:
- Do I need to drive?
- Can I carpool?
- Could I bike instead, or walk?
- What about public transit?
- Are there other errands I can combine this trip with, to make the most of it?
- Should I be purchasing a Rivian R1S in order to do my part to save the earth?
(The answer to this last question, by the way, is obviously yes, but I still need to fine-tune my case on this one to convince my husband of that!)
It might seem exhausting, but I’ve found that, the more I make my decisions and live my life through a sustainamalism lens, the easier it actually becomes. It’s no longer second nature to just click “purchase,” and going shopping just for the sake of it has almost totally lost its appeal to me. If anything, I’ll “go shopping” just for the chance to hang out with an old friend, and I’ll be perfectly happy to spend hours in a store with almost no temptation (I’m only human!).
This all makes me realize that I shouldn’t be thinking about this as the match-up of sustainability versus minimalism; it’s an even more ultimate match-up: that of sustainability plus minimalism! Sustainamalism for the win! Okay, maybe I’m going a little overboard, but I’m excited! Clarifying what these two concepts mean to me, and understanding how they interact, has provided me with a heightened awareness, and that’s never a bad thing.
Until next time, sustainamalism buddies!