The ‘Other’ Side of Green

So much of the outdoor industry pretends to be green while at the same time their very existence is founded upon the notion that you need to buy more new stuff. Now granted, there are times when you do need new gear, and I think that is ok. But the big joke about this whole “green” movement is that people think you can save the world by buying more stuff.

This commentary speaks a lot of truth about what is taking place in the world of outdoor gear. Flip open an “Outside” magazine and check out all the latest ‘green’ gear. From sleeping bags made of recycled plastic bottles to laptop computers with solar panels–the benefits look good, the products sound great, yet if you buy all the new equipment provided by manufacturers each year, honestly, how much is being done for the environment?

On one hand, new equipment means you have to ditch the old. Getting rid of that old ripped and torn Northface Fleece may actually be more harmful to the environment than what you imagined. Before the ‘green’ movement took off, we were fine and dandy with just continuing on with our old stuff. Sure, I would love the latest am/fm/ weatherband radio with a built in flashlight and cell-phone charger to lug around to the campground, but in all honesty, isn’t the point of getting outside to get AWAY from all of the stress of life? If you know you have that instant hand-crankable cellphone charger radio, would you not be more apt to carry the cellphone?

I also don’t understand how being “green” can actually be more expensive. If you look at any product on the market currently, the ‘green’ version of that same product costs quite a bit more. Could this be little more than a marketing campaign to make more money, or do these ‘eco-friendly’ companies have our best interest in mind?

Case in point, Hybrid cars. The ads blast you from the television informing you of how much money you will save by using E-85 fuel rather than regular petroleum. They throw in a nice backdrop of some woods, perhaps a cliff or two, a winding road through the desert, all in an effort to gain your interest and relate to all of our concerns for saving the planet.

You run out and slap down an extra $5000 or more for a vehicle that will save you roughly twenty cents a gallon (if you can find an E-85 station). Rather than the oil companies making the extra money on the gasoline, the auto manufacturers have discovered that they can profit and fight the oil companies all at our expense. In the meantime, food prices have skyrocketed–oil prices have skyrocketed, and any way you put it, we are all still paying a hell of a lot more for things than we were two years ago.

Do we care about the environment? Sure we do. If we didn’t, these eco-friendly companies would not be turning record breaking profits every year. In order for a company to be truly ‘green’ or ‘carbon-neutral’ or whatever term they are using today, we must see them first in that perspective. Many of these companies that are offering up the newest (and more expensive) eco-friendly gear, are also still making their old tried and true products for those of us that have become fans. They put out an image and expect you to buy from your inner sensibilities.

I have a tent I have used for ten years or more. Is it ‘eco-friendly’? Who gives a crap! I have used it for ten years, through good weather and bad. If a new hole appears in the lining? So what, I throw on some tape and continue to enjoy my space. If I were to buy a new tent, as I have been pondering, then my old one would undoubtedly end up in a landfill while the new one would cost me twice as much.

I am starting to wonder what my point is with all of this banter. I guess I am happy with the simpler things. I do care about the environment, but I am not going to run out and buy a $400 tent to show off my eco-friendliness to the world. Nope, I will just sit back in my old taped up version at the campgrounds and watch the sun set and the $250,000 diesel RV’s roll in—who’s the idiot?

Editor’s note: The quote above my banter was taken from an article on “Splitterchoss“, one of the great rock climbing blogs out there-thanks for the inspiration.