Why Saying You’re Sustainable Doesn’t Always Mean Living Sustainably

Sustainability isn’t just about good intentions—it’s about real actions that make a difference.

Too many people claim to be eco-conscious but still engage in habits that contradict their supposed values. It’s easy to assume that carrying a reusable tote or buying organic automatically makes someone sustainable, but the reality is more complex.

Small changes help, but true sustainability requires deeper shifts in how we consume, travel, and dispose of waste. Without addressing the bigger picture, even the most well-meaning choices can still contribute to environmental harm.

If you’re serious about reducing your impact, it’s time to look beyond the surface. Some of the biggest sustainability offenders aren’t the people ignoring climate change but the ones who think they’re already doing enough.

Click through for the common behaviors that keep people stuck in eco-friendly illusions.

1. Your tote bag obsession isn’t saving the planet.

You could start with swapping plastic grocery bags for a reusable tote, but it’s not the sustainability badge of honor some make it out to be. According to a 2011 study by the UK Environment Agency, a cotton tote bag must be reused 131 times to match the global warming potential of a single-use plastic bag.

Instead of hoarding tote bags, commit to a select few and actually use them for years. Reduce waste by bringing your own produce bags, skipping unnecessary packaging, and choosing local, unpackaged goods when possible.

2. Biodegradable plastic? That’s just wishcycling in disguise.

Biodegradable and compostable plastics sound great in theory, but they often require industrial composting facilities to break down properly. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that plastics labeled as “compostable” often need industrial composting facilities, which are scarce, causing these materials to persist in landfills. Many even leave behind microplastics as they degrade, contributing to pollution in ways most people don’t realize.

Rather than falling for greenwashing labels, focus on waste reduction. Avoid products wrapped in unnecessary packaging, bring your own containers, and opt for materials that can truly be reused or composted at home.

3. Driving a hybrid doesn’t make you an environmental hero.

Producing a single electric vehicle battery can generate up to 74% more carbon emissions than making a conventional car engine, as highlighted by the International Energy Agency. If you’re taking unnecessary solo trips or long commutes without considering alternatives, you’re still adding emissions to the problem.

The best solution? Drive less. Carpooling, public transit, cycling, and even walking when possible all help cut down on emissions more effectively than just switching vehicles.

4. “Sustainable” fast fashion is still fast fashion.

Many brands have jumped on the sustainability bandwagon, offering collections made from recycled materials or organic cotton. But if you’re constantly buying new pieces, the environmental benefits are canceled out. Fast fashion, no matter how “eco-friendly” it claims to be, still relies on mass production, synthetic dyes, and exploitative labor to keep costs low and trends moving.

Rethink your relationship with clothing altogether, and invest in high-quality, timeless pieces that last for years. Shop secondhand to give clothes a longer life, and repair items instead of replacing them at the first sign of wear.

5. Recycling won’t erase your overconsumption.

Recycling feels like an easy sustainability win, but it’s far from the perfect solution people think it is. Contaminated materials, lack of processing infrastructure, and the sheer volume of waste mean that a significant portion of recyclables never actually get recycled.

Plastic, in particular, is notoriously difficult to process, with only a small percentage ever being turned into new products. Even paper and glass, which are more easily recyclable, still require energy-intensive processing and transportation.

Waste prevention is far more effective than treating the recycling bin as a fallback. Durable, reusable products beat single-use items for cutting your footprint. Refillable goods, repairs over replacements, and mindful packaging choices have more impact than tossing something in a blue bin and hoping for the best.

6. A plant-based diet won’t fix your food waste problem.

Eating less meat is an undeniable win for the planet, but if you’re throwing out perfectly good food, the benefits shrink fast. Wasted food means wasted water, energy, and resources, not to mention the methane emissions released when food rots in landfills.

A better way to approach sustainability is to rethink how you buy, store, and use food. Planning meals, buying only what you need, and getting creative with leftovers can make a huge difference. Freezing excess food, composting scraps, and learning proper storage techniques help ensure that sustainability extends beyond what’s on your plate to what stays out of the trash.

7. “Clean beauty” means nothing if your bathroom trash can is overflowing.

Many sustainable beauty brands focus on non-toxic formulas and ethical sourcing, but the industry still has a massive packaging problem. Most beauty products come in plastic containers that are difficult or impossible to recycle, thanks to mixed materials, pumps, and coatings.

Begin with a shift toward truly sustainable beauty. This means looking beyond ingredients by choosing brands with refillable or recyclable packaging. Using bar soap and shampoo bars instead of bottled ones and cutting back on unnecessary products also help reduce the beauty industry’s footprint.

8. Oat milk won’t save the planet if your coffee habit is wasteful.

A simple way to lower your environmental impact is choosing oat or almond milk over dairy, but it barely makes a dent if you’re still grabbing coffee in a disposable cup every morning. Most coffee cups aren’t recyclable due to their plastic lining, and the lids, stirrers, and straws only add to the problem. Millions of single-use cups end up in landfills every day, making that “eco-friendly” oat milk choice a little less impressive.

If you’re serious about making your daily coffee run more sustainable, focus on reducing waste at every step. Bringing a reusable cup, making coffee at home, or supporting cafes that use compostable cups can help curb unnecessary waste.

9. Paper straws won’t undo plastic pollution.

The shift from plastic straws to paper ones became a viral sustainability trend, but it’s barely a drop in the ocean of environmental issues. Straws account for a tiny fraction of plastic waste, yet they became the face of the movement while bigger problems, like plastic bottles, packaging, and fishing nets, continue to wreak havoc. Even worse, many paper straws are coated in chemicals that make them difficult to recycle, meaning they still end up as waste.

Instead of focusing on just one small swap, aim for a broader reduction in plastic use. Carrying a reusable straw, cup, or utensil set helps, but cutting back on unnecessary packaging, buying in bulk, and choosing glass or aluminum over plastic has a far greater impact.

10. Flying “carbon neutral” is just greenwashing.

Buying carbon offsets to balance out flights sounds responsible, but it doesn’t erase the damage caused by air travel. Planes burn massive amounts of fossil fuels, releasing carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. The airline industry promotes carbon offsets as a solution, but many offset programs lack transparency, take years to show results, or simply don’t work as effectively as advertised.

The real answer? Fly less. Trains, buses, and even virtual meetings can replace some trips, dramatically reducing your footprint. If flying is unavoidable, choosing direct flights, packing light, and extending stays to reduce the number of trips all help minimize impact.

11. “Green” brands aren’t always what they seem.

Companies love to slap buzzwords like “eco-friendly,” “carbon-neutral,” and “sustainable” on their products, but those claims don’t always hold up under scrutiny. Without strict regulations, brands can use vague marketing language to appeal to conscious consumers while making little or no actual changes to their environmental impact. A product labeled “green” might still be made using unsustainable materials, exploitative labor, or excessive packaging.

Being a truly sustainable shopper means looking beyond the label. Research brands before supporting them, check for certifications from third-party organizations, and pay attention to supply chains. Businesses that are serious about sustainability are transparent about their materials, labor practices, and efforts to minimize waste. The best thing you can do? Buy less overall.

12. Your digital clutter is an invisible environmental disaster.

Sustainability isn’t just about the physical world; your online habits have a hidden carbon footprint, too. Every email, cloud-stored file, and video streamed requires energy, with massive data centers running 24/7 to keep up with global digital demand.

Internet usage now accounts for roughly 3-4% of global emissions, rivaling the airline industry in environmental impact. Yet, most people never consider their digital waste when thinking about sustainability.

It’s easier than you think to shrink your digital footprint. Clearing out unnecessary emails and files, adjusting video streaming quality, and using search engines that support reforestation all make a difference. Using devices longer before upgrading and opting for refurbished electronics instead of new ones also cuts down on e-waste.