My sustainability journey really began in January 2020. I was watching a BestDressed YouTube video when she explained why she thrifts much of her clothing. It intrigued me that a majority of her fabulous collection was secondhand. I couldn’t believe that you could be so fashionable and environmentally ethical. This shock led me to research just how much of an impact fast fashion has on the environment. And I made the decision to only thrift my clothes for a whole year.

Related Article: I Thrifted All My Clothes For A Year

I’ve learned since then that the world of sustainability is much larger than fashion. Sustainability can impact every aspect of our lives! Recently, sustainability has become a major buzzword on the internet, which is so important because we should all be aware of the small steps we can take to slow the destruction of our planet. It is important to note that the biggest contributors to climate change are large corporations, so though we can make impactful changes, holding corporations accountable is where the greatest change will occur. That being said, I believe we have an individual responsibility to our Mother Earth to make better choices. Luckily, there are so many steps you can begin to take in your day-to-day life, and this summer is the perfect time to start! Here are a few easy steps you can take this summer:

1. Do a Meatless Monday!

   Did you know the meat and dairy industry contributes around 14.5% to man-made emissions? (Forbes) That’s extremely impactful. Ok so, maybe you aren’t ready to take the vegetarian or vegan plunge. That’s understandable. Sometimes, drastic changes are hard to maintain and that’s why I encourage small steps. A good start is cutting out meat one day of the week. Meatless Monday is a catchy phrase, but you’re welcome to do any day that fits into your schedule. Make sure it’s something you could do consistently for it to have the greatest impact. You could also make small changes to your grocery list, such as buying non-dairy products.

2. Take the No-Buy Challenge!

   I’ve talked about the fashion industry’s impact on the environment, so I won’t continue here. I will encourage you to take a similar challenge as I did in 2020. Try a period of time without buying any new clothes. Only thrift or share with friends what you already have. I won’t lie, it’s difficult, but try a month to start and see how long you can go. Sometimes things feel like challenges at the start but before you know it, you’ll be a year in like me!

3. Recycle

   This seems so simple, but you’d be surprised how many people still don’t know how to recycle. It isn’t as simple as just throwing a plastic bottle in the blue bin. You should research which plastics and paper products your local recycling center accepts. Additionally, make sure you’re washing out the things you recycle—no food residue! And lastly, remember it’s always better to reuse, so turn that bottle into a flower case.

4. Start a garden!

   This was one of my favorite quarantine projects with my Dad. It took some hard manual labor, but after my vegetable garden was complete, we had our own produce section right in our backyard. The best part is harvesting multiple crops from one plant. At one point, I had so many tomatoes I didn’t know what to do with them. Luckily, you can always share with neighbors or try some new recipes. *Here’s the stewed tomatoes recipe I used*

5. Compost

   Another sustainable feature of my garden was that I could add compost to the soil. You don’t need a garden to compost, I recommend researching exactly what can be composted before giving it a try.

6. Use a Reusable Water Bottle

   Summers are hot and we all need to hydrate, but let’s hydrate sustainably. If you can, invest in a quality water bottle or reuse a plastic bottle around the house. Either way, cut down on how much plastic you use by carrying around a reusable bottle. It’s the cool thing to do.

Remember that sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for taking baby steps. Just a desire to learn about sustainability is a big step in the right direction. I’m still learning as well. Leave a sustainability tip in the comments below so we can all learn from each other.