The Climate Crisis Will Not Be Vegan, Solar-Powered, or Biodegradable

In our quest for #sustainability, we've embraced vegan diets, solar panels, and biodegradable products as silver bullets for the #climatecrisis. But here's an uncomfortable truth: no amount of "green" consumption can solve a problem fundamentally caused by overconsumption itself.

This blog cuts through the eco-marketing hype to reveal why sustainable consumption starts with less consumption.

Green Isn't Always Clean: The Vegan Myth

Switching to plant-based diets is often promoted as an environmental saviour. While reducing meat consumption does lower our carbon footprint, simply replacing it with heavily processed vegan alternatives isn't necessarily the answer. These products still require resources, packaging, and transportation.

"As long as we live in a world where people litter, eat meat with every meal, live in massive single-family homes with huge monoculture lawns, use single-use plastics all day long, and more, that is not truly sustainable". But the key insight isn't just about switching foods—it's about consuming less overall and recognizing that even vegan products can contribute to environmental degradation when overconsumed.

Solar Powered Excess: The Renewable Energy Myth

Solar power represents a crucial shift away from fossil fuels, but it's not a free pass to unlimited energy use. Manufacturing solar panels requires minerals, energy, and creates waste. When we simply replace our excessive energy consumption with renewable sources without addressing the consumption itself, we're missing the point.

"Carbon capture currently requires quite a bit of energy which is slightly paradoxical but if powered via wind/solar would help mitigate things slightly. This will not solve any problems really". The truth is that a sustainable future isn't about powering our current lifestyle with different energy—it's about fundamentally changing how much energy we use.

The Biodegradable Illusion

Those "100% biodegradable" labels may ease our conscience, but they often mask a more complex reality. "While biodegradable products are certainly a step in the right direction, the idea that they will break down easily in all conditions is a myth". Many biodegradable products take years or even decades to decompose, especially in landfills where they lack proper conditions.

Even worse, some companies engage in blatant "greenwashing"—making products appear eco-friendly through packaging or marketing while continuing harmful practices. A biodegradable straw in your tenth takeout drink of the week isn't progress; it's distraction.

The Real Problem: Overconsumption

The uncomfortable truth is that our consumption-driven lifestyle is the core problem. "It's not a technology problem, it's a business problem... And some of these would have to happen at an industry or government level". We've been conditioned to consume more clothes, toys, gadgets, and food than previous generations, and simply making these products "green" doesn't address the fundamental issue.

The responsibility has been unfairly shifted onto consumers: "Much of the media we read today about sustainability is focused on what consumers should be doing to move the needle". But while individual choices matter, we need to recognize that our entire economic system is built on encouraging ever-increasing consumption.

Moving Beyond Green Consumerism

Real sustainability means consuming less, repairing more, and questioning whether we need new things at all. It requires systemic change: challenging the companies that produce unsustainable products and the economic systems that demand endless growth.

"Addressing this crisis requires significant societal transformations and individual behaviour change. Most of these changes will benefit not only the stability of the climate but will yield significant public health co-benefits". The most sustainable product is often the one you already own.

At Ikaya Earth, we understand that true climate solutions must go beyond consumer choices. We're committed to transforming landscapes and livelihoods through nature-based solutions that actually remove carbon from the atmosphere. Our approach integrates economic sustainability with environmental restoration because we believe the future depends on both consuming less and restoring more.