Sustainably Me

We all hear how people in the United States have an outsized carbon footprint, and we should adapt to a sustainable lifestyle. We know that large, multinational corporations and governmental inaction are the main culprits to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, but we should all strive to achieve to be environmentally conscious.

Here are a few steps I have taken to live a simple and sustainable life

1. I have alternated between reducing meat intake and being vegetarian for the last few years, but for the past 6 months and for the future, I am vegetarian.

2. I sold my car upon moving to Philadelphia and take public transit or bike for my overwhelming modes of transportation.

3. Reduced Plastic: I only use metal straws, I carry bamboo cutlery with me, only use reusable bags, and always have my reusable water bottle and coffee mug.

4. In my intentional living community, we compost our vegetable and fruit scraps, and the soil generated goes into our green spaces.

5. Instead of buying expensive new clothes, I thrift clothes from locally own stores, particularly shirts, sweaters, button downs, and jackets, along with some shorts and jeans. The fashion industry contributes 10% to carbon emissions.

6. In our house, we do not use paper napkins or paper towels, instead using reusable cloth napkins and towels.

7. In general, due to my fellowship stipend and environmental concern, I tend to buy less products in general, and spend most of my money on experiences.

8. If I travel by air, I weigh the cost of carbon offsetting to reduce the pollution generated by airline travel.

9. Part of my fellowship is to organize a community garden, which enlivens the local ecosystem, traps carbon dioxide, and provides local produce in a food desert, alleviating pollution generated from transporting mass quantities of food to supermarkets. In general, try and buy local.

10. I do not buy bottled water, as those massive companies are stealing water from other water sensitive areas, and I only use my reusable water bottle. This does come from a place of privilege, as areas like Flint, Michigan experience environmental racism and are not able to drink the water in their community.

11. Instead of trashing items I do not use anymore, I try and donate and/or resell as much as I can.

12. Recycle, but only if it has been cleaned of food remnants, and is within regulatory standards. If you are in doubt if something can be recycled, throw it out.

13. In addition to these actions above, vote for environmentally conscious candidates and propositions, protest and demand change from fossil-fuel paid politicians and laws, and use your voice and platform to impact change.

14. Talk to others about sustainability! We are able to achieve big, structural change when we organize and work together for environmental change!

15. You can't do everything and you can never be perfect, but find what works for you!