The Unexpected Baby Boomer Habit That's Helping Save Planet Earth

There are a lot of classic traits attributed to the baby boomer generation. People born in the mid-'40s to the mid-'60s are considered wealthier, more technologically illiterate, and more conservative-leaning than the younger generations. Indeed, studies have found that conservative baby boomers outnumber liberal baby boomers by a ratio of two to one in the United States. This makes sense, since people tend to become more conservative and less liberal as they age. It may come as a surprise, therefore, to learn that baby boomers are more environmentally conscious in some regards than Gen Z.

One report suggests that baby boomers are around 14% more interested in environmental issues than Gen Z, and they're up to "65% more likely to say they always recycle." These environmentally friendly habits, such as diligent recycling and buying local produce, are likely a direct consequence of baby boomer's experiences growing up in the 1960s and '70s. As plastics proliferated in the 1970s, baby boomers were educated on the tenets of the fledgling environmental movement of the 1970s: reduce, reuse, recycle. As a result, baby boomers are also known to repair items rather than replace them, and many prefer to reuse items, such as plastic bags, before throwing them out.

Early environmentalist teachings focused on the individual's impact. As environmental science grew, however, it soon became clear that systemic changes, not individual habits, would be necessary to help save the earth from global warming. It was discovered that recycling paper creates toxic wastewater byproducts, and that the shipping, agricultural, and energy industries alone emit over half the world's carbon dioxide. Even more disheartening, the entire concept of the "carbon footprint" was intentionally promoted by the fossil fuel industry to shift blame onto the individual. It's no wonder why younger generations feel less individually responsible for the environment.

There's a gulf between the eco-friendly habits of baby boomers and the global scale of the climate crisis. Plastic recycling can reduce pollution, but only a small percentage of what you place out for pick-up actually gets recycled — as little as 5—6%. The rest ends up in landfills, sold to other countries, or even incinerated, despite what many a myth about recycling plastic may say. Worse yet, recycling a plastic bottle can sometimes require more resources and emit more greenhouse gases than it would to create one from scratch. Clearly, the individual-focused environmentalism of many baby boomers is incomplete for saving the planet.

Nonetheless, the mere fact that many baby boomers are interested in environmental issues could prove to be a net positive for the planet. Their eco-friendly habits are often self-serving, with a focus on their local environments and a stronger urge to reduce pollution. According to a 2017 research study from Italy, this can be a powerfully effective strategy for positive environmental change. The paper, subtitled "Altruism Is Not the Only Pathway to Sustainability," suggests that appeals to self-interest promote "sustainable and pro-environmental behaviors." In other words, recycling might not be effective on a global scale, but the environmental awareness that it instills in baby boomers can have widespread local effects.

For example, baby boomers are the generation most likely to shop locally, while younger generations are more likely to buy products online. Researchers from Iowa State University have demonstrated that buying local produce has significant environmental benefits, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Transporting food from far away requires refrigeration, trucking, and shipping, while the local produce preferred by baby boomers is often sold shortly after harvest. So, while baby boomer habits won't solve the global crises, many of them are taking a step in the right direction.