Generations in the environmental check: Who lives more sustainably?

Social media is full of claims that often aim to pit generations against each other. One such claim that has gained popularity recently is aimed at the younger generation and praising the sustainable practices of the older generation. The message seems clear: “We older people have lived more sustainably, while you young people are ruining the earth with your consumer behavior.”

These are the following and similar posts:

“I'm in year XX
and I have to listen to today, we're ruining the lives of young people.
I have to disappoint you, because in my youth I lived sustainably.
Stockings and tights were darned.

Longer cuffs were knitted on sweaters. Pants were lengthened with colorful trims. I had to walk several kilometers to go shopping and to school; the purchases were transported in a net. When clothing was no longer usable, all things that could still be used, such as buttons or zippers, were removed and the rest was used for patches or as cleaning rags.

Wrapping paper was carefully opened to be reused. We collected waste paper and bottles with the school and helped with the potato harvest.

I could list more of this type of sustainability,
but instead you have to let snotty people who drive themselves to school in an SUV, who alone probably use 20 times more electricity than we did in our entire youth, say that we are ruining your life. We didn’t have any electronic games, our WhatsApp notes were spread under the bench at school, we made appointments verbally, there was no telephone – that was intended for emergencies.”

Facebook post in plain text (sic!)

But how much truth is there in this claim? Let’s dive into the various aspects of the discussion and examine the facts.

Longevity of clothing

One of the points raised is the longevity and repairability of clothing in the past compared to today's “fast fashion” mentality. There is no denying that the fashion industry has grown exponentially over the past few decades. According to Greenpeace, clothing production doubled between 2000 and 2014 and the average lifespan of clothing has decreased. However, there is also a growing movement towards sustainable and fair fashion in response to these trends.

Use of plastic bags

Another interesting point is the discussion about plastic bags. While the text claims that purchases were previously transported in nets or reusable baskets, history shows that the plastic bag was introduced in Germany in the early 1960s and its consumption increased rapidly thereafter. The fact that the consumption of plastic bags has decreased in recent years speaks to growing environmental awareness.

Recycling practices

The text also claims that recycling of paper and glass was more widespread in the past. However, statistics show that recycling rates have increased in recent years. In particular, the recycling rate for waste paper increased from 40.2% in 1990 to 83.6% in 2017.

Transport to school

The “SUV to school” criticism is another claim that needs to be put to the test. The statistics show that interest in private transport among young people is decreasing. However, the actual responsibility for the choice of transport lies with the parents and not with the children.

power consumption

The discussion about energy consumption, particularly in the context of the use of electronic devices, is complex. General electricity consumption per capita has increased in recent decades, but the share of information technology in total energy consumption is relatively small.

Conclusion: Generations in environmental protection comparison

The claims that older generations lived more sustainably and that today's youth bear the main responsibility for environmental problems are overly simplistic and generalizing. The reality is more complex and requires further investigation that goes beyond mere blame. Environmental awareness and sustainable practices are not limited to a particular generation but should be encouraged and adopted by all to effectively address the challenges facing our planet.

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