Do you often doubt yourself when it comes to your impact on fighting climate change?
Have you ever had people tell you that your impact is too small compared to the big companies and that your 'small' actions aren't making much of a difference?
While your efforts may seem small compared to the impact these vast corporations can have, that doesn't mean that individuals like you and I have no power at all.
In fact, it's often the combined actions of individuals across the world, from all walks of life, that can make a huge difference when it comes to fighting for our planet.
I believe that together, we can help inspire a cultural movement that helps create a better future!
"Our individual actions may not save the planet, but the culture shift we're making will."
So, if you're wondering how to create an impact as an individual on your imperfect eco-journey, you've come to the right place: here are 4 steps you can take to have a positive impact on our planet (and inspire others to do the same):
1) Spread the Word
One of the easiest things you can do to support the eco-movement and inspire change across our planet is by spreading the message on the impact - and dangers - of climate change, and why we must act now to prevent it.
Not everyone will be willing to listen, but by letting your friends & family know how they can support the planet, you'll be making a difference by encouraging others to do their bit e.g. by recycling or ditching fast fashion.
If you want to take this to the next level, you can also start your own eco-blog or Instagram (like I've done with All Things Green) to help inspire, educate, and motivate others within the community!
2) Become an Activist
Making a difference as an individual involves more than simply talking about sustainability. It's also about being proactive by consciously getting involved in the cause and doing what you can to help save our planet.
For example, you could start by holding those large companies accountable and writing to them to step up their efforts to offset their carbon footprint or sign petitions to demand better policies when it comes to corporations' environmental responsibility. If these companies have a larger impact than one single person, it's time to start demanding change from them!
3) Make a Career out of Sustainability
If you're committed to going the long haul on your eco-journey, a career in sustainability may be for you. Choosing a career path that aligns with your values is important, and what better way to dedicate your life to sustainability as an individual than by incorporating it into your work?
As a student of Global Sustainability Development, it's my goal to work in sustainability to help transform companies, and there are so many career paths out there to choose from that can really make a difference.
4) Step Away from Fast Fashion
With the latest 'de-influencing' trend on everyone's TikTok For You page, it's becoming more and more popular for people of all ages to reconsider the content they consume and resist buying another (most likely unsustainable) product they don't need - and I'm all here for it!
Our final tip for creating impact as an individual on your imperfect eco-journey is not to buy more sustainable skincare or that latest kitchen gadget marketed as 'green', but to simply buy less and avoid supporting brands that don't respect the environment! This includes those fast fashion brands (looking at you H&M and Shein), products made from single-use plastics and anything that's obviously 'greenwashing'.
Wondering how to spot the tell-tale signs of greenwashing? Click here for my tips!
To sum up, all of these actions help shape the values of society and create a cultural shift that's needed to help create a better, more sustainable future. 🌍💚
So, next time you're in doubt that you're making any difference I want you to remember this...
Together our actions have a BIG impact - and you can too!
Fancy strengthening your impact as an individual and joining a community of imperfect environmentalists?
At All Things Green, we share simple, eco-friendly tips to help you lead an imperfect sustainable lifestyle.
We believe that ‘small steps are still steps’, and that we can all have a positive impact on the planet - no matter how small.
Join the ATG community today and take that first step towards an imperfect sustainable future by following us on Instagram and clicking the button below!
Want to read more? Take a look at our previous blog posts, bag yourself some amazing discounts on eco-friendly products, and find out more about our story all right here on the All Things Green website.
Thanks for reading - I look forward to welcoming you to the ATG community!
Naomi 💚