NEW YORK, Oct 24 — Have you ever ended a date after deciding that someone just didn’t care enough about the planet? This is a trend that’s known as eco-dumping, and it’s particularly prevalent among Gen Z, who are increasingly looking for environmentally committed partners.
You may already be aware of green dating. At a time when awareness about environmental issues is growing, this very specific dating trend has slowly but surely emerged. As its name suggests, it involves favouring meeting people who share a common concern for nature and an active commitment to the preservation of the planet. The craze is such that a dozen or so dating websites and apps specifically catering for green dating have emerged in recent years.
But the industry giants are also getting in on the act. According to data from OkCupid, an American application that matches users according to their interests, climate change has become the number-one topic discussed by Gen Z users. For its part, Tinder also notes an increased appetite for green dating and recently added “climate change” and “vegan” filter options that users can add to their profile to reflect their interests.
In light of this, it’s perhaps not surprising that the trend for eco-dumping has developed. It effectively involves ending a date because of someone’s lack of commitment to the environmental cause. You might, for example, discover that a date swears by fast-fashion, despises vegans, encourages greenwashing, or even makes comments bordering on climate skepticism (in the most extreme cases).
The term was recently brought to light through a survey posted by the Canadian dating app Plenty of Fish, which lists eco-dumping as one of its top dating trends of 2023. According to the survey, “nearly one in five singles know someone who has dumped someone because their views on climate change and the environment didn’t align.” By way of example, Plenty of Fish suggests the following use case: “OMG this guy I was on a date with doesn’t believe in recycling; his garbage can was overflowing with plastic bottles so I eco-dumped him on the spot.”
So don’t say you haven’t been warned: if you fall for someone whose bio clearly states that ecology is a primary interest, make sure you take this into account and keep it in mind before putting your own convictions on the table. Otherwise, you could find yourself getting dumped or ghosted. Indeed, if ecology isn’t really among your concerns, it might be wise to look elsewhere! That said, if you’re keen to find out more about these issues, engaging with a green-minded date could be the perfect opportunity to learn about environmental causes. — ETX Studio
