Why Are Sustainable Products More Expensive? — Sustainably-Yours

5 min readMar 29, 2021

It seems like everything that is made these days is meant to be thrown out. From phones to clothes, it’s only meant to last a few months before it’s useless. This throw away society is exactly what capitalism wants. It keeps you buying more and more so that companies can make more money.

People are taking notice and now, consumers want to help the environment. In fact, one study found that 65% of consumers said they would buy eco-friendly products. But they also found that only 26% actually do. Why is that?

If you’ve tried to shop for more eco-friendly options before, you’ll know that it’s almost always more expensive than the disposable products. This is why even though people want to help the environment, they don’t always do it.

Although these hefty prices may seem inconvenient when you are thinking about making a purchase, it’s important to understand why sustainable products are more expensive.

It’s not only because the companies want to make more profit. It’s because the cost to produce the products is expensive.

It’s important to keep in mind that when you buy a sustainable product, you aren’t just buying it. You are investing in it!

Keep reading to see reasons why sustainable products are more expensive and how you can help.

If you are trying to save some money while also investing in eco-friendly products, check out my eco-friendly brands page. You’ll find discount codes for some of the best sustainable brands.

Why Sustainable Products Are Expensive?

1. Sustainable shopping is a niche

Currently, the demand for reusable products is low compared to disposable products. That means that companies have to order products in smaller batches. They can’t mass produce their products.

When companies order in big batches, they get a discounted price. But since environmentally friendly companies have to order in small batches, they have to pay more.

Here’s what’s so frustrating about this: demand for eco-friendly products is low so products are expensive. But eco-friendly products are expensive because the demand is still low.

That’s why you should try to invest what eco-friendly products you can afford so we can help increase demand and lower prices.

2. The items last longer

Eco-friendly products are meant to last years. They are made from durable materials like glass or silicone that won’t break.

That means in the long run, you’d be saving a lot of money. You won’t have to keep buying plastic ziplock bags every month. Instead, you can invest in silicone ziplock bags once and they will last for 5 years.

You are getting the benefit of only having to invest in the item once so you are paying a premium.

Don’t believe me when I say you save money? See exactly how much you can save when you switch to an eco-friendly bathroom or kitchen.

3. Companies pay ethical wages

Sustainable products have sustainable practices. Not only in the production of their materials but with all their staff. This means that they don’t pay pennies to factory workers in third world countries or use child labour.

They pay living wages to each and every one of their employees. That means that they need to charge more so that all the employees are being paid well. They walk the walk unlike most major corporations.

4. Certificates aren’t cheap

Sustainable companies often pay for certificates so that they can be easily recognized as eco-friendly companies. Getting certifications like B Corp, 1% For The Planet and Leaping Bunny aren’t cheap.

These can go from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the size of your business. But they are a necessary expense if the company wants to be taken seriously by customers and competitors.

5. Sustainable materials and organic products cost more

Sustainable materials cost more to source. So do organic foods. This means that companies have to pay more to source and buy these products.

And as mentioned earlier, they are bought in smaller batches. This means that it increases the price even more.

When You Should and Shouldn’t Invest in Sustainable Products

You 100% should invest in the sustainable option over the disposable option. Every time. But, there are good reasons and bad reasons when to invest in sustainable products. You should invest in them if:

you can afford it
the product is from a reputable company
you will actually use it, care for it and make it last

You should not invest in them if:

it’s from a company that is greenwashing or not a reputable company
you don’t have enough money
you already have the product in good condition and are just looking for a new one
only the product is sustainable but the packaging isn’t

It’s important to remember that the best eco-friendly product you can get is the one you already own!

How You Can Help

Now that you know why sustainable products are more expensive, here are a few ways for you to help these companies.

Invest in sustainable products — sometimes it can seem very pricey to invest in reusable products. But if you spend a few extra dollars to invest it, the company will see that there is a demand for these products. This isn’t to say you should buy as many things as you can and horde them. Instead, invest in what you really need instead of buying the disposable version. You’ll save money in the long run.

Give them as gifts — it could be that your friends and family don’t even know about some alternatives. During holidays or birthdays, give them reusable products as gifts. This way they can learn about the product and potentially start investing in their own products.

Talk to friends and family about shopping sustainable — people like to do what others are doing. If your friends and family see you using reusable products, they’re more likely to shop for their own.

Final Thoughts

Shopping sustainable can become expensive sometimes. But in the long run, you do save money. Not only that but you help the planet too.

You don’t have to go out and invest every single eco-friendly product that you see. But when you are shopping and you have a choice between the disposable one and the reusable one, opt for the reusable one.

You’ll be saving money and helping the planet. Plus, each purchase you make will be one step closer to getting more people to invest in reusable products.

Originally published at https://sustainably-yours.com on March 29, 2021.