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by danpalmer 998 days ago
This is so true. Another example is the many packaging-free/plastic-free shops cropping up in cities. I can buy a plastic packet of oats for £0.80 for 1kg, or I can buy without a packet at one of those shops for £5/kg. Same for rice. Same for flour. etc.

No one is going to have an impact on the environment charging >5x for products because no one in their right mind will switch, especially for undifferentiated commodities like food basics. These shops are only appealing to people with too much money and too little sense.

There are a few cases where products actually do need to be priced higher to price in all the externalities that aren't being accounted for at the moment, but even in those cases I believe that meeting consumers where they're at right now, providing value and changing behaviour, and then advocating for change when you have market share, is likely to be a much better approach in the long run.