Hey guys! After some feedback and further research I have decided to match donations to more than Campaign Zero. I understand that a large portion of the black community is advocating for radical change, and while I may not believe that method of advocacy is the most effective, I still want to be able to match donations to causes you can whole-heartedly support. So please feel free to submit your donations from any of the orgs listed on this doc to be matched, bit.ly/3cG3GQM Matching here, www.shelbizleee.com/donate
I think if we want to achieve widespread change we are going to have to remove our emotions from this situation and get strategic. What actions/ proposals will lead to winning elections ect. And asking most US citizens to defund the police is a losing strategy for sure. I think Campaign Zero is the next best thing and these actions have made difference in just the last year. 1/3 of unarmed black Americans died at the hands of police in 2019 that did in 2015. Incremental changes are not the end, but they are the most immediate and real start.
Woah, I forgot that was a thing... Tbh the most gringey nationalist politician in my town has a black partner and uses it as "proof" that he's not racist when he obviously is. (Just more specifically towards arabs than black people maybe, but still)
“I am constantly advocating for this planet, but am I advocating equally enough for the people that I share this planet with?” What EVERY white vegan/zero-waster needs to be asking themselves. Thank you for this content.
@@katyp.4907 because in many English-speaking countries, white people grow up with advantages over people of colour, in ways that we didn't ask for, but that still affect our lives in many ways that we might not even realise. We should use those advantages to help make the world a fairer and kinder place, and one way to do that is to seek racial justice, which is strongly entwined with environmental justice. Look up @ayanaeliza on instagram for more information about racial and environmental justice.
You should do a video on environmental racism!! How black communities often bare the brunt of environmental pollution (polluting factories are more likely to be built in these communities, illegal dumping/burying, etc.) yet black communities contribute to less environmental pollution themselves.
There is a podcast called hippie haven, they have a good episode on this topic and other environmental sustainability and how they impact Black communities and other communities of color
Even outside the country. Dumping garbage, tech trash, clothing/fabric trash, old over produced cheap appliances/furniture. In some ways it's great that people are finding second life and using what has been abandoned but not without the pollution of their lands. The US can't be bothered and people just think Americans store all of its trash in a landfill down the street when so much of it is just being exported and dumped in 3rd world countries who can't stop them. Even if some people can find some useful items it truly just destroyed and wasted material
I'm a geologist. When people say "We have to save the planet," I'm just like --- Nah, man. The planet will be FINE. We have to save ourselves from making the planet inhabitable for us. The planet's been around for 4.5 billion years, and, like you said, it'll be here way after we're gone.
Soo true....like if we are doing wht we r doing earth will just make us gone...but the problem is not only us but many more species will be gone...n yet some human will survive n continue to screw this planet once agin....like this cycle will go on n on n on....or we will be completely wiped out n new species will evolve but I don't want them to be intelligent enough to screw whole biodiversity but then they r going to be more intelligent than us n god knows wht they will do...well this is pointless to think or discuss....but still we can try to save our future generation.
"You cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do" - I absolutely LOVE this 💛 Thank you for all the good you've done for our world, so far 😊
I live in a black & Latinx community, I cannot emphasize how hard being in a lower income city + food deserts+ trying to be an environmentalist just makes me feel like 💩 I see these perfect zero waste people and they are all aesthetic and I can't achieve that, makes me feel like a failure. Thank you for making this video and understanding your privledge and taking account how others don't have this privledge in the Minimalist community
This convo was spot on. I literally was shopping yesterday for silicone bags and tempting myself with the cheaper versions on Amazon and resorted to buying stashed bags and am glad I did. I hate hearing comments from people of “zero waste” items they found on amazon and how much cheaper things are as if the more sustainable brand is ripping people off with their pricing. Also stashed has a take back recycling program Which I think is so cool!
Another super frustrating thing about cycles of poverty and sustainability: we all know that in the US the backbone of our economy is cheaply made (but widely available) products and the truly sustainable products (which would save the consumer money in the long run) require more of an upfront cost. Producers know this and intentionally hook low-income consumers on the cheaply made product, and because the US has made building wealth near-impossible for POC and other marginalized groups, the cycle continues..just makes my blood boil.
Misconception #3 is so prevalent in my family. I keep explaining to my parents that it is more economical and ethical to buy sustainable clothing. They just think I’m doing just to “look good”. When I explain it’s because I don’t want to contribute to factories/ unregulated practices, they dont’ care or they say it doesn’t matter. I have no idea how to explain it to them.
Say the people that make it basiclly arent just harming the planet they are also paying people to have slaves make clothes for them. And even some of those workers are children. They dont even have to buy sustainable clothing, buy clothing from thrift store.
Even if your relatives don't accept it right now, you have still planted those ideas in the back of their minds. They are still aware that there is a different option. They may come round in time and adapt some of your solutions. Those discussions are probably annoying, I feel for you. But really, the most effective thing is leading by example.
I struggle with this too, but with my fellow Gen Z friends :/ some people just genuinely do not care if others are harmed as long as they get what they want. They all seem to argue that unethical things will happen regardless of whether they partake or not, so they may as well enjoy it. So frustrating. People seem to think Gen Z is going to be the change, I think we're the most reliant on unethical consumerism of all :/
Thank you for this video. I need more white sustainability influencers to call out the fact that this space is so white. There's a lot of work to be done
i love that you are willing to reflect on the work you have done and recognize where you could have done better. having that open, reflective dialogue with a (typically) white demographic is SO important because many white folks are too afraid to make mistakes, they just want to get it right the first go around. you're showing them that it doesn't happen like that and that is SO important to look back and ask "how could i have done better?" thank you Shelbie!
Also, it’s not just other countries who exploit workers. The US does it with prison labor. Important to note that we look down on other countries for not paying their workers properly, but we also exploit Americans’ (largely black) long sentences to make materials for American companies.
I wish we could hear a more diverse vioce within the sutsainability movement, especially from indiginous peoples. They will have a different perspective, which may bring in new ideas, but also undoubtadly have a more knowladgeable perspective on what the land in their area needs in comparison to other places and I don't think this is payed attention to enough, especailly as the countires seeing the most imedaite and dramatic impacts of climate change and pollution are not white.
Would be great if you were more explicit about barriers to sustainable practices e.g. when you say not everyone has access to bulk stores or shampoo bars this might be due to food equity/food deserts/planning and zoning and grocery stores avoiding predominantly black residential areas/don’t have the luxury of time to go to more than one grocery store or do research into sustainable brands or vegetable boxes/research into shampoo bars/beauty products not being formulated with natural hair in mind/and of course cost all being barriers that are a result of systemic and institutionalised racism and inequality. The link is probably clear and obvious to you but a lot of people (potentially younger viewers) need that education and explicit connection.
Hey Shelby, something to discuss would be how racism and environmental injustice intersect. It is vital to care about the environment because it directly affects communities of color, whose homes are usually closer to the worst cases of man-made environmental hazards. Check it out! I would love you to see a video of how it effects communities of color directly.
You are very well spoken!! Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness to these issues! I know a lot of people look up to you, and role models like yourself need to talk about these things to change the mind of those who follow them 👌🏽 beautifully said
This is an amazing example of practising what you preach. This is what integrity looks like. It is so easy to say things but to follow through with your actions is a different story
You're right, it's not a level playing field! Never has been. We need to do better! We need to raise our voice and say "That shit's not okay!". We also need to stand with those that are tired from having to stand for themselves every damn day! Good stuff, Shelbi!
Thank you so much for talking about the finances part of being zero waste! I’m quite lucky to attend a private college but I’m one of of the least well-off students there. I’m eternally grateful that the community cares so much about sustainability, but I’m always being criticized by other students for little things like not buying eco friendly floss
"Remember, you can not do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that you can do." 💛 Loved this! I really enjoyed this style of video, couldn't get enough! Thank you for sharing 😊☀️
Thank you. I'm so happy that you have made a stand for Black Lives. I know that some people don't want to discuss the issue, but you have proved to be a thoughtful, educated person.
This video was entertaining, informative, and helpful in so many ways for me. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for using your platform in this way. You addressed everything so eloquently. I love that you addressed the paradigm of safety, finance, and health as potential barriers to having access in leading a more sustainable life. It’s so important to talk about the nuances and I’m glad you did it!
You should do the reviews of the brands you bought from on youtube! I dont check instagram, but would love a follow-up. Thank you for having this discussion and knowing that there's more you can and will do going forward.
I feel the same about the price points. As I’ve turned to buying more ethical, sustainable, and local things are simply more expensive because of the background of the item. My family doesn’t understand that the reason some things are so cheap is because some things are made cheaply and not ethically.
it’s so fun to watch your videos every week (something I genuinely look forward to), but so glad you decided to stay silent last week and create this video. thank you for all of your research to bring us information, resources, and new perspectives 🌻🌻
I looove these videos! You might think you're ranting but you're explaining it so wonderfully and it so important to have knowledge besides which brand of what thing we should buy. Also why does your outro line always make me tear up?
I’ve literally been binge-watching your videos since I found out about you yesterday. My life is forever changed because of your scientific and reputable answers to a lot of ethical questions about sustainability. I’m loving it! I have one suggestion: I’m from Canada, and duties and shipping makes it hard to want to buy from the US. Also, I definitely don’t live near any thrift shops. Could you make a video on any Canadian-based brands? (Pro-Ecolo is a Quebec based company I found, but I want to know of clothing and other brands!) thank you so much
Recently on fb a very large zero waste group had an issue with intersectionality to the point where a new group splintered off into an entirely new intersectional zero waste group.
Thank you for sharing this video! Do you have one / could you make one on ways people can call out companies or communicate with them about sustainability? Like "how to email wal-mart to demand better practices" or some such? I think something actionable we can do to demand better besides just buying elsewhere would super helpful!
You are so badass, so amazing, so beautiful on so many levels. Im sorry for your family issues and the world around you, but together ALL of us are going to make the change to make the world better. Thank you so much for your bravery and courage!
Dear Shelbi, thank you so much for this video! I really hope that the world will change and we will live to see people live in peace together and responsibly on this planet. I wish you all the strength and energy and courage and everything you need to support your family in your current situation.
Thank you so much for making this video. I learned a lot. I was just looking at silicone bags on Amazon trying to decide which to buy. I was overwhelmed by all the brands and knowing if they were decent or not. I had heard of stasher bags but I thought they were too expensive. After learning from your video, I’m going to make the investment in Stasher and apply this concept to my other purchases too.
Gah! Thank you for explaining why organic and sustainable is more expensive! I always get those arguments from naysayers and it is always good to have more information to explain to them when the question comes up!
Thank you so much for this! I have stopped following a lot of sustainability people (unofficially. Just don't watch them as much) and diverting mu attention to deeper discussions like this. Cancel cancel culture. Start education culture!!! Im here for it!
What a generous thing you're doing, Shelbi! Your content has always been incredible and I will absolutely continue to support moving forward even more so now x
Thank you for diving deep and really telling us whats up. A little off topic but.. I just learned about CSA's. Community Supported Agriculture. I had no idea you could get a weekly produce subscription to a local farm. Is that a thing in texas? Its a thing in Washington state. I know you talk about and use imperfect foods. I was going to go that route until i learned about CSA's. Hoping to start that soon!
Thank you for bringing up the first point about the 3 pillars of sustainability. Would love to hear you discuss this further! I personnally think that going zero waste/living a sustainable lifestyle is one of MANY ways to use our priviledge as white people to avocate for social justice; by choosing not to contribute to a consumerist society that relies on the destruction of indigenous communities/other POC communities & their environment overseas (and at home), we are taking away a bit of the power of the corporations that profit off that abuse, and doing our best to prevent climate disasters that will affect those same communities mostly. Obviously it's not the full picture, voting and speaking out are also critical, especially at this moment.
I fell prey to misconception 2 early on in my attempt to be more sustainable. Now I'm stuck with poor quality silicone bags that are difficult to use. But I'm using them until they die. I've found that using them as freezer storage means that I don't have to constantly open and close them, which is difficult. I definitely wish that I had Stasher bags instead.
Long time follower. I LOVE your videos and your world view. This was my favorite so far. Thank you so much for all the work always put into sharing your insights and thoughtful perspective.
I think this is one of your best videos. I like the zero waste swaps etc but really drilling down on what are we doing and why when we try to reduce consumption/waste and what does that mean is far more meaningful. And really, who bears the brunt of pollution, toxic dumping, etc? Poor people who are statistically far more likely to be people of color.
Yet again, another amazing video filled with KNOWLEDGE and TRUTH This is one of your best videos yet, and I appreciate you shouting out POC brown and black
Thank you Shelby for speaking out on racism. I'm a mixed race white woman. I have priveledge because if my skin colour. But it also exposes me to a lot of racism because people don't look at me and think my dad is black or half my family is black. I think it is important to talk about racism if you have priveledge because unfortunately people take white people more seriously. It's also important in the climate movemant to talk about racism because climate racism is a thing. Communities of people being killed for defending their home and I think that's something people forget. The UK is also horrific atm.
Really great to see some content that addresses these more nuanced questions and goes a bit further than just "buy a reusable straw!". This is seriously good content and it is appreciated! Hope your family-related struggles are soon behind you.
I am so sorry that this has nothing to do with the video but It just needs to be said. Your hair is so pretty! And thank you so much for talking about all of this and for everything you teach us! Loves
Love this video and the content you make on this channel! I love that you discuss topics beyond the surface of sustainable living. Keep creating amazing and insightful content!
Hey shelbi! I enjoy your content and i often hear you say that "zero waste" is meant to be an industrial term. I was hoping you could make a video thats super educational and technical about this topic, and some of the things we can do as consumers to help make zero waste more of an industry standard. I liked your video about swaps for beginners and more advance swaps, so maybe model this video off that one? Like a beginner swap would be to not support companies like walmart, or shopping second hand. the advance swap might be to do something with our local and federal regulations, where and how do we vote for these standards, etc. what exactly does a zero waste company look like, what practices do we need to make sure were voting in to be standard or when talking to companies? What wording should we use in our demands?
Thanks for the great work, especially considering everything that's going on in thr world and in your personal life. And you're matching donations! That's amazing!
Thank you for using this platform to share the movement! I started watching your videos this evening and I can’t stop! I swear we’d be friends in person! lol.
I think that "sustainable items are only expensive because of label" myth is closely related to your second point about dropshipping. People buy one relatively expensive "sustainable" item, get totally disappointed because it's crap quality cheaply produced stuff (I personally did that with bamboo toothbrushes which were terrible to use and three of them molded in the package so I just had to throw them out unused, welp, there goes my 12 eur), and think all the sustainable items work like this.
I think I'd cry. I got one from a local drugstore chain, one toothbrush per cardboard pack. It's going nice, though it has coal bristles which I didn't realize but so I use that only when I gotta run without toothpaste. 🤷
Shelbi, I missed you! Sending positive thoughts your way for you and your family. I'm sure we all will be okay if you have to pause your content for a minute so you can focus on what matters most. Xoxo.
Very well said and as always you’re asking the important questions and taking action in changing the world. You’re very inspirational. ~ product recommendation wise: I didn’t realize my job sold stasher bags then they went on clearance and I was like oh shit that’s them so I bought 3 for me and one for a friend. I’ve also just made the investment in four pairs of Thinx (two separate orders, and if anyone decides to buy from them I highly encourage donating as well). Also bought WGAC recycled toilet paper and now I’m stocked up for like, the rest of my life. I try to keep track of my finances so the *goal* is to take what I saved as things pay for themselves and put that money into helping the community I live in. We just had a protest here and a few speakers really focused in on coming together as one. Should’ve been common sense but I hate the town I live in 🙄 doesn’t mean I shouldn’t help the people who live in it.
thank you so much for putting the correct meaning behind sustainability out here. I think one of my dad's favorite "jokes" about sustainability and "lets save the planet" branding is that, and I quote "the planet will be fine, it's just us that will be gone", as if somehow that invalidates striving for sustainability, and it drives me nuts. Like, yes, the planet will bounce back, it did so after the dinosaur age and will again. I would prefer if I can still live on it while it does tho, thank you very much.... Also thank you that you tackled the social and economic issues that are attached to sustainability. That tends to get ignored quite often and as a result , sustainability can come across as quite elitist, a thing that rich people do when they buy expensive reformation clothing. I have seen sth similar happen in the vegan community. For example, entire channels expecting that people can shop organic whole foods all the time. Or bulk shopping, which you cannot do if you live in a food desert and dont have a car. or if there are simply no bulk shops. I have also seen people flat out denying that such conditions can exist or blaming the ones in such conditions as if it was just laziness. thank you for not doing that.
Thank you for the educational content as always! Thanks for touching on human rights and social justice issues as well! I was wondering if you could teach us how to research companies to see if they are sustainable/ethical. I am kind of having anxiety because I needed to replace my dish brush, I followed your link of a dish brush to amazon many times (since I have a tight budget and still have to shop on amazon for some stuff unfortunately) and it’s always showing as unavailable. So I searched and searched for an equivalent until I got dizzy. I finally purchased a different wooden dish brush, it was packaged & shipped without any plastic, it seems to be high quality, and I have been using it without any problems you might get with a cheap quality brush. BUT I somehow totally missed that it was made China, and I’ve been trying to get information on the company and how the product is produced and I‘m getting nowhere. I am kicking myself and feel guilty because it must have traveled very far if it was made in China and I’m in the US, and the fact that I can’t find any info on them makes me worry it’s not a sustainable or ethical company. I’ve been reaching out to the seller, but so far have gotten no more info. They could be a totally green and ethical company, but I want to know for sure next time. I have been doing the best I know how to research companies and products before making purchases but obviously am not great at it yet. Perhaps you have pointers for us. Things that might flag us that it’s an ethical or unethical company, how to know that the things they say on their websites about how wonderful they are aren’t just them green washing, etc. Thanks so much!
It is happening in our country! I live in Germany and I know we have our history especially with antisemitism but racism is a thing everywhere in the world, I think. The USA is the hot pot at the moment but it is boiling everywhere and it leaves me in tears that we just find out now, that racism is everywhere... Let's raise our voice for the world, for our planet it is our future and we can design it our ways if we try hard enough! WE ARE THE CHANGE but we have to go the long way in being peaceful. But there are enough examples that being peacful doesn't mean to be successful and the other way around. In USA it is worst, but in every country there is a bit of racism... Stay safe, stay edjucated❤️
So well done. I got chills thinking of the hard conversations you must've had and excited by your whole-hearted dedication to speaking the truth. I also LOVE how you explained sustainability; you hit the nail on the head, the traditional exploitation of capitalism/industrialism leads to unethical practices and short-cuts wherever the producer can find them (social-economic theory explains this) and makes our consumerism unsustainable, meaning our ability to continue this type of production - it is ultimately harmful to the inhabitants of this planet. Oh, and makes products cheap! :P
#3 is so true. We finally bought a new mattress after 10 years and a lot of back pain. So naturally I did my research and found a brand that had no flame retardants, all organic natural materials, made ethically and sustainably and handmade...just ticks all the boxes literally, and my husband saw the price and was like DAMN. We're not paying that for a mattress. And I was like okay dude...so we're planning on spending every night for 10 years on this mattress. Do you want to feel guilty every night of your life for 10 years knowing how manufacturing your mattress impacted people and the planet (not exactly in those words...)? He did some research of his own and came to the realization that yeah, we should care about the people who are physically making the things we buy.
Loved this..yes...more ' beyond the basics'....I learned a bit more...a good little brain shift...I'm going to try to remember your Venn diagram...the visual was very helpful..
Thanks for speaking up about these issues and talking about the aspects of sustainability that are not often discussed. Reminds me of JFK's moon speech which is very relevant to many other situations and circumstances, such as sustainability.
I would encourage you to look up Critical Resistance (they have a twitter for example) and the broader abolition movement because I think you would find that many of the 8 can't wait policies have actually been put into place by many cities in the US (some have a form of all 8 already) but every single one of them still has a violent police brutality problem. Please also look up the book The End of Policing by Alex Vitale and the TH-camr For Harriett on this issue.
Loved this video! I found the last object q tips a little pricey so I looked up a knock off online which was much cheaper. Turns out the knock off brands are actually dangerous because the silicone parts fall off in people's ear 😨I was horrified! Thank you for spreading the word on this, as always!
I also think it’s so important to realize that for people who are living paycheck to paycheck, they can’t afford to spend $30 to get a 4 month supply of toothpaste even if it might be “cheaper” in the long run than buying one $10 package each month, assuming they can even afford that. Saying something is cheaper when it has a large upfront cost, isn’t strictly true
Hey guys! After some feedback and further research I have decided to match donations to more than Campaign Zero.
I understand that a large portion of the black community is advocating for radical change, and while I may not believe that method of advocacy is the most effective, I still want to be able to match donations to causes you can whole-heartedly support.
So please feel free to submit your donations from any of the orgs listed on this doc to be matched, bit.ly/3cG3GQM
Matching here, www.shelbizleee.com/donate
@@tayloreatsny Police are quitting their jobs, they're evicted from hotels in the Washington era. It works.
hey i would just like to recommend black sustainability campaigners @climatediva and @ayanaeliza on instagram.
also for those of you who smoke, look up Marley Natural
I think if we want to achieve widespread change we are going to have to remove our emotions from this situation and get strategic. What actions/ proposals will lead to winning elections ect. And asking most US citizens to defund the police is a losing strategy for sure. I think Campaign Zero is the next best thing and these actions have made difference in just the last year. 1/3 of unarmed black Americans died at the hands of police in 2019 that did in 2015. Incremental changes are not the end, but they are the most immediate and real start.
elora jones Wrong. You need to do more research on reform policy because then you’ll see that the data says the exact opposite
Thank you for not using Maddison as a crutch for providing you’re not racist 💕
^THIS^
I kept watching waiting for a cringey moment that never came.
Woah, I forgot that was a thing... Tbh the most gringey nationalist politician in my town has a black partner and uses it as "proof" that he's not racist when he obviously is. (Just more specifically towards arabs than black people maybe, but still)
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯
“I am constantly advocating for this planet, but am I advocating equally enough for the people that I share this planet with?” What EVERY white vegan/zero-waster needs to be asking themselves. Thank you for this content.
Definitely going to start asking myself this more frequently!
Why only white? Why not everyone?
@@katyp.4907 because in many English-speaking countries, white people grow up with advantages over people of colour, in ways that we didn't ask for, but that still affect our lives in many ways that we might not even realise. We should use those advantages to help make the world a fairer and kinder place, and one way to do that is to seek racial justice, which is strongly entwined with environmental justice. Look up @ayanaeliza on instagram for more information about racial and environmental justice.
My favorite phrase around the topic of sustainable products being more expensive is ‘if you aren’t paying, someone else is’.
You should do a video on environmental racism!! How black communities often bare the brunt of environmental pollution (polluting factories are more likely to be built in these communities, illegal dumping/burying, etc.) yet black communities contribute to less environmental pollution themselves.
That’s the story of the town I’m from! Literally there is a trash center, factories, and is a food desert.
There is a podcast called hippie haven, they have a good episode on this topic and other environmental sustainability and how they impact Black communities and other communities of color
id love to know more pls:(
This is true!!
Even outside the country. Dumping garbage, tech trash, clothing/fabric trash, old over produced cheap appliances/furniture. In some ways it's great that people are finding second life and using what has been abandoned but not without the pollution of their lands. The US can't be bothered and people just think Americans store all of its trash in a landfill down the street when so much of it is just being exported and dumped in 3rd world countries who can't stop them. Even if some people can find some useful items it truly just destroyed and wasted material
I'm a geologist. When people say "We have to save the planet," I'm just like --- Nah, man. The planet will be FINE. We have to save ourselves from making the planet inhabitable for us. The planet's been around for 4.5 billion years, and, like you said, it'll be here way after we're gone.
Thanks for the professional George Carlin approach :)
Soo true....like if we are doing wht we r doing earth will just make us gone...but the problem is not only us but many more species will be gone...n yet some human will survive n continue to screw this planet once agin....like this cycle will go on n on n on....or we will be completely wiped out n new species will evolve but I don't want them to be intelligent enough to screw whole biodiversity but then they r going to be more intelligent than us n god knows wht they will do...well this is pointless to think or discuss....but still we can try to save our future generation.
I'm 100% here for videos about racial equity, feminism, diversity, etc, in addition to environmental sustainability. 💯💯💯
"You cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do" - I absolutely LOVE this 💛 Thank you for all the good you've done for our world, so far 😊
makes me smile at the end of every video
I live in a black & Latinx community, I cannot emphasize how hard being in a lower income city + food deserts+ trying to be an environmentalist just makes me feel like 💩 I see these perfect zero waste people and they are all aesthetic and I can't achieve that, makes me feel like a failure. Thank you for making this video and understanding your privledge and taking account how others don't have this privledge in the Minimalist community
This convo was spot on. I literally was shopping yesterday for silicone bags and tempting myself with the cheaper versions on Amazon and resorted to buying stashed bags and am glad I did. I hate hearing comments from people of “zero waste” items they found on amazon and how much cheaper things are as if the more sustainable brand is ripping people off with their pricing. Also stashed has a take back recycling program Which I think is so cool!
I didn't know that about Stasher, that is good to note!
What is the recycling program? I’d love to find more out about it! I’m not seeing anything on their website.
Recycling Stasher bags? I found that! Very cool to learn that they take damaged ones back!
Another super frustrating thing about cycles of poverty and sustainability: we all know that in the US the backbone of our economy is cheaply made (but widely available) products and the truly sustainable products (which would save the consumer money in the long run) require more of an upfront cost. Producers know this and intentionally hook low-income consumers on the cheaply made product, and because the US has made building wealth near-impossible for POC and other marginalized groups, the cycle continues..just makes my blood boil.
Sam Vimes boot theory?
Misconception #3 is so prevalent in my family. I keep explaining to my parents that it is more economical and ethical to buy sustainable clothing. They just think I’m doing just to “look good”. When I explain it’s because I don’t want to contribute to factories/ unregulated practices, they dont’ care or they say it doesn’t matter. I have no idea how to explain it to them.
Say the people that make it basiclly arent just harming the planet they are also paying people to have slaves make clothes for them. And even some of those workers are children. They dont even have to buy sustainable clothing, buy clothing from thrift store.
Even if your relatives don't accept it right now, you have still planted those ideas in the back of their minds. They are still aware that there is a different option. They may come round in time and adapt some of your solutions. Those discussions are probably annoying, I feel for you. But really, the most effective thing is leading by example.
I struggle with this too, but with my fellow Gen Z friends :/ some people just genuinely do not care if others are harmed as long as they get what they want. They all seem to argue that unethical things will happen regardless of whether they partake or not, so they may as well enjoy it. So frustrating.
People seem to think Gen Z is going to be the change, I think we're the most reliant on unethical consumerism of all :/
Thank you for this video. I need more white sustainability influencers to call out the fact that this space is so white. There's a lot of work to be done
i love that you are willing to reflect on the work you have done and recognize where you could have done better. having that open, reflective dialogue with a (typically) white demographic is SO important because many white folks are too afraid to make mistakes, they just want to get it right the first go around. you're showing them that it doesn't happen like that and that is SO important to look back and ask "how could i have done better?" thank you Shelbie!
Also, it’s not just other countries who exploit workers. The US does it with prison labor. Important to note that we look down on other countries for not paying their workers properly, but we also exploit Americans’ (largely black) long sentences to make materials for American companies.
I wish we could hear a more diverse vioce within the sutsainability movement, especially from indiginous peoples. They will have a different perspective, which may bring in new ideas, but also undoubtadly have a more knowladgeable perspective on what the land in their area needs in comparison to other places and I don't think this is payed attention to enough, especailly as the countires seeing the most imedaite and dramatic impacts of climate change and pollution are not white.
After the whole Lush debacle, the task of trying to find other sustainable brands seemed daunting, so thank you for actually taking the time!
Stan NeonPunch explain the lush lay-off situation.
I agree! It is so much work and time, but it pays off. I actually do a lot of that digging too for my viewers :)
Would be great if you were more explicit about barriers to sustainable practices e.g. when you say not everyone has access to bulk stores or shampoo bars this might be due to food equity/food deserts/planning and zoning and grocery stores avoiding predominantly black residential areas/don’t have the luxury of time to go to more than one grocery store or do research into sustainable brands or vegetable boxes/research into shampoo bars/beauty products not being formulated with natural hair in mind/and of course cost all being barriers that are a result of systemic and institutionalised racism and inequality. The link is probably clear and obvious to you but a lot of people (potentially younger viewers) need that education and explicit connection.
That's a really good point and I agree that it needs addressed!
You've written what I was thinking, but so much better than I would have said it.
Good point! Perhaps in another video? Then Shelbi could go more in depth about it
Hey Shelby, something to discuss would be how racism and environmental injustice intersect. It is vital to care about the environment because it directly affects communities of color, whose homes are usually closer to the worst cases of man-made environmental hazards. Check it out! I would love you to see a video of how it effects communities of color directly.
I hope your family situation can be resolved smoothly. Thank you for another great video and take all the time you need to put family first
You are very well spoken!! Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness to these issues! I know a lot of people look up to you, and role models like yourself need to talk about these things to change the mind of those who follow them 👌🏽 beautifully said
This is an amazing example of practising what you preach. This is what integrity looks like. It is so easy to say things but to follow through with your actions is a different story
One thing you didn't mention, but I think is worth looking at and talking about is that many companies rely on prison labor to produce their products
You're right, it's not a level playing field! Never has been. We need to do better! We need to raise our voice and say "That shit's not okay!". We also need to stand with those that are tired from having to stand for themselves every damn day! Good stuff, Shelbi!
Thank you so much for talking about the finances part of being zero waste! I’m quite lucky to attend a private college but I’m one of of the least well-off students there. I’m eternally grateful that the community cares so much about sustainability, but I’m always being criticized by other students for little things like not buying eco friendly floss
"Remember, you can not do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that you can do." 💛 Loved this! I really enjoyed this style of video, couldn't get enough! Thank you for sharing 😊☀️
Thank you. I'm so happy that you have made a stand for Black Lives. I know that some people don't want to discuss the issue, but you have proved to be a thoughtful, educated person.
This video was entertaining, informative, and helpful in so many ways for me. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for using your platform in this way. You addressed everything so eloquently. I love that you addressed the paradigm of safety, finance, and health as potential barriers to having access in leading a more sustainable life. It’s so important to talk about the nuances and I’m glad you did it!
3:24 sighhh the same goes here down here in the U.K (more specifically, my life down here in England) 🤦🏾♀️
I wish I could love this a million times. Thank you for your knowledge and perseverance and dedication. Thank you.
As always, thankful for your content. I can tell you have really thought about the ethics behind your lifestyle and I am here for it.
You should do the reviews of the brands you bought from on youtube! I dont check instagram, but would love a follow-up. Thank you for having this discussion and knowing that there's more you can and will do going forward.
I feel the same about the price points. As I’ve turned to buying more ethical, sustainable, and local things are simply more expensive because of the background of the item. My family doesn’t understand that the reason some things are so cheap is because some things are made cheaply and not ethically.
it’s so fun to watch your videos every week (something I genuinely look forward to), but so glad you decided to stay silent last week and create this video. thank you for all of your research to bring us information, resources, and new perspectives 🌻🌻
I looove these videos! You might think you're ranting but you're explaining it so wonderfully and it so important to have knowledge besides which brand of what thing we should buy.
Also why does your outro line always make me tear up?
You are appreciated for having the dialogue with your family. I'm praying for your mental health
I’ve literally been binge-watching your videos since I found out about you yesterday. My life is forever changed because of your scientific and reputable answers to a lot of ethical questions about sustainability. I’m loving it!
I have one suggestion: I’m from Canada, and duties and shipping makes it hard to want to buy from the US. Also, I definitely don’t live near any thrift shops. Could you make a video on any Canadian-based brands? (Pro-Ecolo is a Quebec based company I found, but I want to know of clothing and other brands!) thank you so much
Recently on fb a very large zero waste group had an issue with intersectionality to the point where a new group splintered off into an entirely new intersectional zero waste group.
Yeah I joined the new one ✌️
What was the name of it? And the new group?
Thank you for sharing this video!
Do you have one / could you make one on ways people can call out companies or communicate with them about sustainability? Like "how to email wal-mart to demand better practices" or some such? I think something actionable we can do to demand better besides just buying elsewhere would super helpful!
You are so badass, so amazing, so beautiful on so many levels. Im sorry for your family issues and the world around you, but together ALL of us are going to make the change to make the world better. Thank you so much for your bravery and courage!
Dear Shelbi,
thank you so much for this video!
I really hope that the world will change and we will live to see people live in peace together and responsibly on this planet.
I wish you all the strength and energy and courage and everything you need to support your family in your current situation.
Thank you so much for making this video. I learned a lot. I was just looking at silicone bags on Amazon trying to decide which to buy. I was overwhelmed by all the brands and knowing if they were decent or not. I had heard of stasher bags but I thought they were too expensive. After learning from your video, I’m going to make the investment in Stasher and apply this concept to my other purchases too.
Gah! Thank you for explaining why organic and sustainable is more expensive! I always get those arguments from naysayers and it is always good to have more information to explain to them when the question comes up!
This provides so much insights, especially for newbies like me who just began this journey. Really appreciate it!
Thank you so much for this! I have stopped following a lot of sustainability people (unofficially. Just don't watch them as much) and diverting mu attention to deeper discussions like this.
Cancel cancel culture. Start education culture!!! Im here for it!
What a generous thing you're doing, Shelbi! Your content has always been incredible and I will absolutely continue to support moving forward even more so now x
Awesome well thought out and laid out video, thanks for sharing
Thank you for diving deep and really telling us whats up.
A little off topic but..
I just learned about CSA's. Community Supported Agriculture. I had no idea you could get a weekly produce subscription to a local farm. Is that a thing in texas? Its a thing in Washington state.
I know you talk about and use imperfect foods. I was going to go that route until i learned about CSA's. Hoping to start that soon!
Thank you for reminding me that CSA's exist. I was looking at misfits market but what's better than local fruit and veg?
Thank you for bringing up the first point about the 3 pillars of sustainability. Would love to hear you discuss this further!
I personnally think that going zero waste/living a sustainable lifestyle is one of MANY ways to use our priviledge as white people to avocate for social justice; by choosing not to contribute to a consumerist society that relies on the destruction of indigenous communities/other POC communities & their environment overseas (and at home), we are taking away a bit of the power of the corporations that profit off that abuse, and doing our best to prevent climate disasters that will affect those same communities mostly.
Obviously it's not the full picture, voting and speaking out are also critical, especially at this moment.
I fell prey to misconception 2 early on in my attempt to be more sustainable. Now I'm stuck with poor quality silicone bags that are difficult to use. But I'm using them until they die. I've found that using them as freezer storage means that I don't have to constantly open and close them, which is difficult. I definitely wish that I had Stasher bags instead.
Long time follower. I LOVE your videos and your world view. This was my favorite so far. Thank you so much for all the work always put into sharing your insights and thoughtful perspective.
I think this is one of your best videos. I like the zero waste swaps etc but really drilling down on what are we doing and why when we try to reduce consumption/waste and what does that mean is far more meaningful. And really, who bears the brunt of pollution, toxic dumping, etc? Poor people who are statistically far more likely to be people of color.
Love this video! I never know how to explain why sustainable things are more expensive this really helped.
Yet again, another amazing video filled with KNOWLEDGE and TRUTH
This is one of your best videos yet, and I appreciate you shouting out POC brown and black
Thank you Shelby for speaking out on racism. I'm a mixed race white woman. I have priveledge because if my skin colour. But it also exposes me to a lot of racism because people don't look at me and think my dad is black or half my family is black. I think it is important to talk about racism if you have priveledge because unfortunately people take white people more seriously. It's also important in the climate movemant to talk about racism because climate racism is a thing. Communities of people being killed for defending their home and I think that's something people forget.
The UK is also horrific atm.
Really great to see some content that addresses these more nuanced questions and goes a bit further than just "buy a reusable straw!". This is seriously good content and it is appreciated! Hope your family-related struggles are soon behind you.
I am so sorry that this has nothing to do with the video but It just needs to be said. Your hair is so pretty! And thank you so much for talking about all of this and for everything you teach us!
Loves
Love this video and the content you make on this channel! I love that you discuss topics beyond the surface of sustainable living. Keep creating amazing and insightful content!
Just finished listening to "The story of stuff", it was mind blowing! Do you have any more book recommendation?
I just started this book a few days ago (100 pages in)! I am loving it so far😊 I also HIGHLY recommend
I'm also reading the book right now. I have less than 100 pages left.
Hey shelbi! I enjoy your content and i often hear you say that "zero waste" is meant to be an industrial term. I was hoping you could make a video thats super educational and technical about this topic, and some of the things we can do as consumers to help make zero waste more of an industry standard. I liked your video about swaps for beginners and more advance swaps, so maybe model this video off that one? Like a beginner swap would be to not support companies like walmart, or shopping second hand. the advance swap might be to do something with our local and federal regulations, where and how do we vote for these standards, etc. what exactly does a zero waste company look like, what practices do we need to make sure were voting in to be standard or when talking to companies? What wording should we use in our demands?
Thanks for the great work, especially considering everything that's going on in thr world and in your personal life. And you're matching donations! That's amazing!
I love the videos where you go deeper into topics like this
Thank you for using this platform to share the movement! I started watching your videos this evening and I can’t stop! I swear we’d be friends in person! lol.
I think that "sustainable items are only expensive because of label" myth is closely related to your second point about dropshipping. People buy one relatively expensive "sustainable" item, get totally disappointed because it's crap quality cheaply produced stuff (I personally did that with bamboo toothbrushes which were terrible to use and three of them molded in the package so I just had to throw them out unused, welp, there goes my 12 eur), and think all the sustainable items work like this.
I think I'd cry. I got one from a local drugstore chain, one toothbrush per cardboard pack. It's going nice, though it has coal bristles which I didn't realize but so I use that only when I gotta run without toothpaste. 🤷
Shelby, you keep amazing me. You’re such a good example on so many levels.
This is such a beautiful video thank you for sharing!
Shelbi, I missed you! Sending positive thoughts your way for you and your family. I'm sure we all will be okay if you have to pause your content for a minute so you can focus on what matters most. Xoxo.
Excellent content. Hope your family situation clears up soon and that a lot of money is raised for Campaign Zero.
Very well said and as always you’re asking the important questions and taking action in changing the world. You’re very inspirational. ~ product recommendation wise: I didn’t realize my job sold stasher bags then they went on clearance and I was like oh shit that’s them so I bought 3 for me and one for a friend. I’ve also just made the investment in four pairs of Thinx (two separate orders, and if anyone decides to buy from them I highly encourage donating as well). Also bought WGAC recycled toilet paper and now I’m stocked up for like, the rest of my life. I try to keep track of my finances so the *goal* is to take what I saved as things pay for themselves and put that money into helping the community I live in. We just had a protest here and a few speakers really focused in on coming together as one. Should’ve been common sense but I hate the town I live in 🙄 doesn’t mean I shouldn’t help the people who live in it.
We CAN vote with our $$$ ~
Thank you for your voice !!!!
this is my favorite (imo best) video you have made. soooo much important and informative content!!!
thank you so much for putting the correct meaning behind sustainability out here. I think one of my dad's favorite "jokes" about sustainability and "lets save the planet" branding is that, and I quote "the planet will be fine, it's just us that will be gone", as if somehow that invalidates striving for sustainability, and it drives me nuts. Like, yes, the planet will bounce back, it did so after the dinosaur age and will again. I would prefer if I can still live on it while it does tho, thank you very much....
Also thank you that you tackled the social and economic issues that are attached to sustainability. That tends to get ignored quite often and as a result , sustainability can come across as quite elitist, a thing that rich people do when they buy expensive reformation clothing. I have seen sth similar happen in the vegan community. For example, entire channels expecting that people can shop organic whole foods all the time. Or bulk shopping, which you cannot do if you live in a food desert and dont have a car. or if there are simply no bulk shops. I have also seen people flat out denying that such conditions can exist or blaming the ones in such conditions as if it was just laziness. thank you for not doing that.
Loved your link with all the resources you provided!! I would add the Netflix documentary “the two killings of Sam Cooke” and “LA 92”
Thank you for the educational content as always! Thanks for touching on human rights and social justice issues as well! I was wondering if you could teach us how to research companies to see if they are sustainable/ethical. I am kind of having anxiety because I needed to replace my dish brush, I followed your link of a dish brush to amazon many times (since I have a tight budget and still have to shop on amazon for some stuff unfortunately) and it’s always showing as unavailable. So I searched and searched for an equivalent until I got dizzy. I finally purchased a different wooden dish brush, it was packaged & shipped without any plastic, it seems to be high quality, and I have been using it without any problems you might get with a cheap quality brush. BUT I somehow totally missed that it was made China, and I’ve been trying to get information on the company and how the product is produced and I‘m getting nowhere. I am kicking myself and feel guilty because it must have traveled very far if it was made in China and I’m in the US, and the fact that I can’t find any info on them makes me worry it’s not a sustainable or ethical company. I’ve been reaching out to the seller, but so far have gotten no more info. They could be a totally green and ethical company, but I want to know for sure next time. I have been doing the best I know how to research companies and products before making purchases but obviously am not great at it yet. Perhaps you have pointers for us. Things that might flag us that it’s an ethical or unethical company, how to know that the things they say on their websites about how wonderful they are aren’t just them green washing, etc. Thanks so much!
Also, Thank you for matching donations! That’s wonderful.
It is happening in our country! I live in Germany and I know we have our history especially with antisemitism but racism is a thing everywhere in the world, I think. The USA is the hot pot at the moment but it is boiling everywhere and it leaves me in tears that we just find out now, that racism is everywhere... Let's raise our voice for the world, for our planet it is our future and we can design it our ways if we try hard enough! WE ARE THE CHANGE but we have to go the long way in being peaceful. But there are enough examples that being peacful doesn't mean to be successful and the other way around. In USA it is worst, but in every country there is a bit of racism... Stay safe, stay edjucated❤️
would love to see a video all about dropshipping!
Would love to see system sustainability as a series
So well done. I got chills thinking of the hard conversations you must've had and excited by your whole-hearted dedication to speaking the truth. I also LOVE how you explained sustainability; you hit the nail on the head, the traditional exploitation of capitalism/industrialism leads to unethical practices and short-cuts wherever the producer can find them (social-economic theory explains this) and makes our consumerism unsustainable, meaning our ability to continue this type of production - it is ultimately harmful to the inhabitants of this planet. Oh, and makes products cheap! :P
Thank you for the awesome video! Sending love and compassion for you& your family 🧡 how is Maddison doing? 🌞
Thank you
Great information thank you for talking about this
Thank you so much for this video! I learned a lot from it.
I REALLY, REALLY love your videos!! They are so informative and important!!
#3 is so true. We finally bought a new mattress after 10 years and a lot of back pain. So naturally I did my research and found a brand that had no flame retardants, all organic natural materials, made ethically and sustainably and handmade...just ticks all the boxes literally, and my husband saw the price and was like DAMN. We're not paying that for a mattress. And I was like okay dude...so we're planning on spending every night for 10 years on this mattress. Do you want to feel guilty every night of your life for 10 years knowing how manufacturing your mattress impacted people and the planet (not exactly in those words...)? He did some research of his own and came to the realization that yeah, we should care about the people who are physically making the things we buy.
I learn so much from you every video. LOVED this video!
Loved this..yes...more ' beyond the basics'....I learned a bit more...a good little brain shift...I'm going to try to remember your Venn diagram...the visual was very helpful..
Great video! Thankyou!
You're amazing and thank you for posting THIS video, Shelbi 🤎🤎🤎
Thanks for speaking up about these issues and talking about the aspects of sustainability that are not often discussed. Reminds me of JFK's moon speech which is very relevant to many other situations and circumstances, such as sustainability.
Love love this series!
I would encourage you to look up Critical Resistance (they have a twitter for example) and the broader abolition movement because I think you would find that many of the 8 can't wait policies have actually been put into place by many cities in the US (some have a form of all 8 already) but every single one of them still has a violent police brutality problem. Please also look up the book The End of Policing by Alex Vitale and the TH-camr For Harriett on this issue.
I think that this is my favourite video on the internet 💚👑
Do more videos like that! Thank you!
Keep going sweetheart, we’re with you xxx
Thank you for another great post, I learn so much from you each time I watch your videos. ❤️
Loved this video! I found the last object q tips a little pricey so I looked up a knock off online which was much cheaper. Turns out the knock off brands are actually dangerous because the silicone parts fall off in people's ear 😨I was horrified! Thank you for spreading the word on this, as always!
Shelby, what do you think of organic food?
Wonderful video! Wishing you and your family will stay safe, and happy 💚
GO OFF SIS!
I also think it’s so important to realize that for people who are living paycheck to paycheck, they can’t afford to spend $30 to get a 4 month supply of toothpaste even if it might be “cheaper” in the long run than buying one $10 package each month, assuming they can even afford that. Saying something is cheaper when it has a large upfront cost, isn’t strictly true