Sustainability: Tips for Beginners!
By: Erica Richter
Tags: Sustainability, Beginners Guide, Green, Tips, Environment

We’ve all been there. You are scrolling through Instagram and go down a rabbit hole into the “eco-friendly” community. It is a wonderland of glass Tupperware, compost bins, and trash in mason jars. These accounts are run by wonderful creators who have dedicated their lives to sustainability, however, they are quite a far reach from the lives most people live. These platforms serve as great inspiration for living more sustainably but can leave us feeling far-removed from this lifestyle. The truth is that sustainability is a journey (yes, I know how corny that sounds), and these creators are simply further along on that journey. Regardless, anyone can start being more sustainable at any time by taking small, gradual steps towards being more eco-friendly!

Sustainability isn’t a new idea. When we were elementary students, we were taught the catchy slogan of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. We are taught not to litter, and maybe even volunteer to clean up beaches and parks. We celebrate Earth day by taking a 5-minute shower and watering a plant. We buy a metal straw and a reusable cup for our daily Starbucks run. Sustainability is becoming more mainstream and people are beginning to truly understand the need for change. After all, it seems like every day there is a news story about another natural disaster, wildfire, melted glacier, or rising sea level due to climate change. The growing popularity of the sustainable lifestyle is a cultural response to this impending threat.

Before getting into how to start living more sustainably, I believe it is important to dispel some ideas that may hinder your sustainability journey. First of all, it has to be addressed: climate change is real. Having clicked on this post, I am hoping everyone reading this will know that. We have to understand that the beast we are fighting is real, and is important.

Going off of that point, one person can make a difference. The majority of pollution and carbon emissions are indeed the fault of major corporations, but because we live in a capitalist society that is 70% consumer-driven, we vote with our money. By buying products that fit into a sustainable lifestyle and avoiding products that don’t, we are shifting the demand curve. Corporations exist for the sole purpose of making money, so they will follow where the demand takes them. Furthermore, the biggest difference a single person can make is influencing others. I was inspired to go vegan by my friend, who let me try a slice of her vegan pizza one day. When I go shopping with my friends and buy a bar of shampoo, it starts a conversation. Now a few of my friends have also tried bar shampoo and fallen in love with it. My boyfriend and I love going to a small burger place together, and I love their vegan burgers. He got curious one day and ordered one himself. Now it is his go-to order. It doesn’t take being “pushy” to make a difference and spread the word about sustainability. Simply leading by example makes a huge difference.

Finally, never let anyone invalidate your efforts. You do not need to have a zero-carbon footprint to be making a difference. A huge pet peeve of mine is people making fun of people who use metal straws for not “actually caring”. Sure, you can do a lot more than just using a metal straw, but something is better than nothing, and shaming people for not doing everything they possibly can makes the sustainable community feel exclusionary. Our goal is to have as many people living a sustainable life as possible, so why would we shame others for trying? If someone says they are giving up red-meat, congratulate them! Taking small steps is important, and much more accessible than trying to plunge into the world of sustainability. Furthermore, many people have health restrictions/financial situations/extenuating circumstances that make certain elements of sustainability more difficult to achieve. Not everyone lives in an area where they can bike to work. Not everyone can afford bamboo toothbrushes. Not everyone can go cold-turkey vegan (or should I say cold-tofu?) One of my favorite quotes is “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero-waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing zero-waste imperfectly” as said by Anne Marie Bonneau. This applies to all-things-sustainability.

“So Where Do I Start… ?”

Just by clicking on this article, you have started your journey. Now it is a matter of learning and trying new things! So, without any more rambling, the following tips serve as a starting point for living more sustainably.

1. Find Inspiration

Remember those Instagram accounts I talked about earlier? This is their time to shine! Find a few influencers who inspire you to be more sustainable! Follow hashtags like “#sustainability”,”#eco-friendly” and “#sustainabletips”. Get involved in the community!

2. Spark a Fire

No, not literally (wildfires are a serious issue!) I mean get passionate about certain topics relating to sustainability. For example, I am extremely passionate about the use of public transportation and the need for more extensive public transportation programs. The more I research the topic, the more passionate I get about it, and the more I want to get involved. Hence, I started relying more on public transportation, as well as talking to others about the many benefits of it. I have a friend who is super passionate about the irresponsible sourcing of palm oil. She refuses to buy products that include palm oil and convinced me to try to do the same. Passion is a powerful force and is invaluable for a sustainable life.

3. Understand Your Limits

This is a tricky one, but it is super important. Living sustainably is a challenge. Our culture makes it difficult. There are some aspects of sustainability that may be out of your reach. That is fine. For example, if you rent, you probably have no control over how your apartment’s/house’s energy is sourced. Even if you own your home, you may not be able to afford to install solar/wind energy systems (they are very expensive). I am, in nice terms, financially challenged. This means my only feasible option for buying sustainable clothing is to go thrifting. While I love thrifting, some items are unsafe to thrift (i.e. underwear, swimsuits, some hats, etc.) I can’t afford to buy these things from ethical brands, so I have to buy them from companies that don’t practice environmental kindness. It’s okay! Never let these limitations make you feel “less than”.

4. Be Patient

No one can go 100% sustainable overnight. Furthermore, crashing into the world of eco-friendliness can lead to a quick fallout, making it… unsustainable (*ba dum tssss*). Taking small steps is easier and more effective in the long run. If you are interested in eating more sustainably, don’t immediately go vegan! Start by cutting out red meat, or maybe by changing to plant-based milk! If you want to go zero-waste, don’t immediately go out and buy fancy reusable products! Start by buying one reusable item and get used to using it/bringing it with you places. Take small steps and don’t rush the process.

5. Go Easy On Yourself

Like with any new process, you will make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up about them. I can’t count the number of times I’ve eaten something only to later find out that it had dairy in it. I’ve bought from companies that I thought used sustainable practices, but I turned out to be wrong. I’ve ordered food and forgotten to ask for no plastic silverware. It happens. It is normal. It is okay. There are some “mistakes” that aren’t even your fault but are just something you will have to live with. For example, one of my medications is only covered by my insurance in gel-tab form, meaning it contains gelatin and is therefore not vegan. I need my medication, and I can’t afford to pay for it out of pocket. So what do I do? I take it! Am I still vegan? Yes! We can’t dwell on things we can’t change, so it is best not to be hard on yourself about it.

6. Do Some Research

Ughhhhhh… homework? Research is a really great way to kindle your passion for sustainability, but is also a great way to learn new tips and tricks for living an eco-friendly life! As a writer, I love the research process, but I know not everyone does. The good news is that your research doesn’t have to include peer-reviewed scholarly articles (unless you are into that, in which case I highly recommend the academic journal entitled Sustainability published by MDPI). Research can also entail watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, following bloggers/influencers, reading books, and talking to other people interested in sustainability! Stay tuned for another blog post coming soon about my favorite documentaries, podcasts, websites, and books about sustainability.

7. Be Proud of Your Efforts!

You deserve it! Making a lifestyle change is difficult, and you are doing it! You are setting a positive example for everyone around you, and are part of a movement that quite literally will save the world. It can be hard to be positive when the thing we are fighting is so much larger than life, but, at the end of the day, our options are to either do something about it or do nothing about it; you are choosing to do something! So keep celebrating yourself! Your efforts are needed, wanted, and appreciated, and it takes people like you to change the world!

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more sustainability/activism themed blog posts!