If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. There is a paradox facing the twenty-first century consumer. For those of us wishing to make responsible, ethical and sustainable choices, every decision we make is a land mine of contradictions. I wish to reduce my plastic consumption, so I buy a tote bag to take to the supermarket. Then my friend tells me that producing a tote bag uses more energy than a plastic bag – I’d have to use my cotton tote 393 times before it had the same environmental impact as using a plastic bag three times. But then... my carbon footprint might be higher, but at least my bag won’t end up in landfill or the ocean. At the supermarket, I wish to buy “eco” vegetables. But these are packed in plastic, unlike the non-organic loose veg. And the organic peas I buy here in Sweden have 50% higher emissions than the normal peas. I also want to protect my fellow customers from COVID-19, so I wear my handmade facemask. I can re-use my fabric mask, unlik...
Current affairs according to a European Politics graduate