Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a reality we face today. And unfortunately, its effects are not distributed equally, with marginalized communities often bearing the brunt of environmental degradation. Now, sustainability isn't just a trend, it's a call to action.
And while we may not be able to single-handedly reverse the effects of decades of environmental damage, we can make a difference by adopting sustainable habits in our daily lives. Let's face it, going green can be daunting. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start and what impact our individual actions can have. But the truth is small changes can add up to big results.
So, if you're feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the climate crisis, remember that you're not alone. There are countless resources and communities out there to support you on your journey toward a more sustainable lifestyle. After all, sustainability is not just about sacrifice, it's about innovation and creativity in finding solutions to the challenges we face.
Here are some practical and achievable tips that can help you reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote a healthier planet.
Reduce, reuse, recycle!
Our mamás have always been ahead of the eco-friendly game – they knew how to work their magic by turning cookie tins into sewing kits and ice cream tubs into frijoles storage. It's time for all of us to hop on board and make sustainable choices by cutting back on consumption. Remember the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. By doing our part to minimize waste and find new uses for old things, we can make a big impact and keep those landfills in check.
Support brands that implement sustainable practices in their supply chain
Sustainability goes beyond not creating waste or emissions - it’s also ensuring that garment workers are fairly compensated for their work. From beginning to end, the entire lifecycle of a garment shouldn’t cause harm to the environment or the workers producing that garment. We love brands like Selva Negra and Wasi Clothing that are Latine-owned and sustainable!
Adopt zero-waste lifestyle practices into your routine
Some of our favorite examples of this include bringing your own bags to the grocery store, composting garbage at home, and creating less trash by purchasing packaging-free foods or products. You can usually do this by buying from farmer’s markets that typically use less packaging overall, or by buying from bulk food stores and bringing your own reusable packaging. It’s all about making less trash!
Give garments a second life
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: around 57% of all discarded clothes end up in landfills, producing half a million tons of microplastics each year. So next time you're eyeing that fancy new outfit, think twice about the true cost of fast fashion. Thrifting is a great way to give clothing a second life cycle, and some of our favorite ways to do this are by purchasing used clothing to upcycle it into newer pieces that fit your style. This way the fabric gets used again, and you get to fire up your sewing machine to show off your fashionista skills. Not into sewing? No problem! Thrifting is still a great way to use clothing that is already out there and make sure it doesn’t become trash at the end of the season.
Take public transit or use alternate ways to get around when possible
Public transit, ride-sharing, riding a bike, and even just walking are all excellent ways to get from point A to point B without hurting the environment.
BYOC - Bring your own cup
Love a morning coffee but always get a disposable cup? Try bringing your own to your outings to save on the trash (and money). This also applies to refusing disposable cutlery, using reusable straws, refusing receipts (opt-in for e-receipts when possible - they’re amazing), and avoiding wasteful single-use packaging.
Replace your hygiene products - or make your own
There are a few options when it comes to getting more eco-friendly period products, but we love reusable silicone soft cups or period panties. Going chemical-free for your pads, tampons, and opting for an aluminum-free deodorant also makes a huge difference not only for the environment but for your body as well - we’ll say thanks but no thanks to the unnecessary exposure. Into DIYs? You can make your own products at home, including soaps and more if you’ve got the knack for it!
Eat less meat
We know this one can be tough for some (we all love our carne asada) but meat production is one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases. Animal agriculture accounts for more greenhouse gas than all of the world’s transportation systems combined. Can’t go fully meatless? No problem! We recommend a Meatless Monday to start off with and work your way up from there.
Follow social media accounts to inspire your sustainable journey
IE on Instagram: "Introducing this week's Community Spotlight, Ashlie Thomas (@the.mocha.gardener) 🥬🧘🏾🌾 Ashlie Thomas is a food security, and home gardening advocate and entrepreneur known on social media as The Mocha Gardener. Her blog has been featured on popular sites and magazines such as NBC, Taste of Home, Epicurious, MindBodyGreen, Country Living, Country Woman, Apartment Therapy, and House and Home. Even more, she has engaged in partnerships with companies such as Accuweather, Stihl, and UNC Health. Though her formal training is in biology and chemistry, she is currently undergoing training as a certified health and wellness coach through Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Outside of her career, you will find Ashlie using her passion for gardening and training in health coaching. She seeks to bring awareness through practice to growing issues of food insecurity in vulnerable communities, while empowering and educating others on how to take control of their wellness through growing the very thing that sustains them...good, nutritious, food. All of which are covered in her new book titled “How to Become a Gardener: Find Empowerment in Creating your own Food Security.” (Available in major retailers in December 2022). 📚🍏🪴 “Lacking access to the foods we need to live well ultimately limits our ability to thrive as beings. Yet, cultivating our own food is a practice of empowerment. Believe it or not, we’re actually cultivating freedom. Freedom to not just survive but to thrive. Food is power." - Ashlie Thomas Follow @the.mocha.gardener to support her work! 🥗🥑 #IE #IntersectionalEnvironmentalism #IECommunitySpotlight"We find that just seeing more things in our feeds reminds us to be more environmentally conscious. After all, we’re all in this (earth) together. Here are some of the accounts that keep us feeling inspired:
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- How “Eco-Chic” is Driving Tulum’s Environmental Devastation ›
- New Report Confirms We're Almost out of Time to Avoid Climate Catastrophe ›
- That $8 Fashion Nova Top Is Wreaking Environmental Havoc - Luz Media ›