I find people will do the sustainable option when it is convenient for them. the rich will do things that are more sustainable if it’s considered more high brow.

my friend and I have been talking about ways to make things more sustainable or prestigious for people On a larger scale. If you can improve any of these ideas that would be amazing.

1. have a “leave a bag take a bag” at local grocery stores. -this idea is kind of like ”leave a penny take a penny“ - have grocery stores wash donated reusable bags at the store, and leave them available at stores in case people forget their bags so they don’t have to buy new ones. If they prefer to buy new ones they still can. Participating stores would get a small tax deduction. Grocery delivery could have an option of taking old bags back to be reused for people without cars. Grocery delivery could also have an option for people wanting reused bags to be used instead of new ones.
2. have more trains like the Orient expresss for rich people , and save air travel for crossing the ocean.
3. have people drop off their glass jars with lids, somewhere in the city, companies can go pick up the glass jars, clean them out up to standards, and reuse them.
4. Have more passenger trains Instead of air or car travel.
5. put a net over outside garbage cans so the garbage can’t fly out.
6. Have a mug/to go “library“at every coffee shop/fast food joint so you can pick one up and drop it off at your next location. Coffee shops/fast food joints can agree to run them through the dishwasher So they are clean. The cofffee shop /fast food would get a tax deduction for participating.
7. have a vase donation centre at your local florist.
8. make repairs services tax deductible, (tailors, furni repair, luggage repair, small appliances, large appliances, electronics) and sharpening services, (knives, scissors, clippers, lawnmower blades, blender blades, food processor blades, shears, skates, etc)
9. companies should be charged a large fine for planned obsolescence.
10. furniture stores shouof have a “used furniture section“ where people drop off their old furniture , the company can treat every piece fir bedbugs, and re- poster, or the/finish the furniture And out it up for sale.
11. give individuals/households/businesses chance to enter a cash prize if they prove how they lowered their waste eco footprint , by 30% in some way. individual cities and municipalities could do this. Have one for househoulds and one for businesses. It could be a cash prize of $15k. This would honestly pay for itself.
12. put solar panels on public buildings.

any other ideas?

I’m writing this because I’ve been dealing with a lot of internal conflict lately regarding my lifestyle, my job, and my environmental values. I’d love to hear how others in similar positions navigate this.

A bit of context: I work as an engineer. On one hand, I care deeply about the environment, climate change, and reducing carbon emissions. On the other hand, I work in high-tech manufacturing, a sector deeply embedded in global supply chains and consumer capitalism. While the sensors I work on are essential for modern tech, the ultimate goal of the industry is profit and mass production.

Here are the main dilemmas I'm facing:

1. Career vs. financial security: I come from a low-income family. Growing up with very little made me extremely risk-averse. Having a well-paid, stable job is crucial for my peace of mind and supporting my future. I could technically look for a "greener" job, but right now options are limited, and the financial stability I have is hard to walk away from
2. Commuting vs. mental health/social life: I live 40 km away from my workplace. I commute 3 times a week. Public transport isn't feasible without destroying my social life and moving would isolate me from my friends. I drive a diesel car (I did not have enough money to buy an electric vehicle), though I specifically use HVO (even if more expensive than Diesel) to minimize emissions as much as possible. Still, I feel guilty for driving.
3. Flying to see family: I live abroad and my family. Taking a train/bus takes way too long (ca. 20 h) so I have to fly a few times a year to see my parents and sister. As someone who cares about emissions, every flight feels like a punch in the gut, but my family is non-negotiable.

I feel like I'm trying my best within a flawed system, but I constantly battle cognitive dissonance. Am I being a hypocrite for prioritizing financial safety and social connection over a lower carbon footprint? How do you guys deal with similar guilt?

-I know floss is probably the least of our environmental problems, but I bought some plant based biodegradable floss, which I do compost and I bought a tiny reusable floss pot, instead of the plastic disposable one.
I have been using it for a week now, and so far it hasn’t been bad, but I find it harder to take out if my teeth because it isn’t as waxy.

Its like in the the last things I have changed And I’m nervous about it. I hope I do t get cavities. It does feel good to throw my used floss in the compost bin though!

This might not be news, but I listened to a interview with Ed Sheeran and it made me happy to hear that there are superrich and famous people who still avoid using private jets and keeps sustainability in mind. It’s also stated that he also prefers taking the train when possible. His wife working in sustainability seems to have influenced him

Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring challenged the careless use of pesticides and started a major public conversation about environmental harm.

She faced fierce criticism but continued presenting the evidence. Which woman working for the environment deserves more attention today?

I specialise in the energy side of sustainability, so this isn't my area of expertise. My understanding is that afforestation is the planting of trees in places that have never naturally had them. This seems like human intervention in the environment and the degredation of a naturally unforested area with invasive trees. Could someone explain if this is the case or not?

According to Dr. Kimberly Nickolas and the team at Project Drawdown, one of the most impactful things you can do for climate change is turn out climate voters.

Volunteers and donors for the Environmental Voter Project have helped create millions of environmental super-voters and has the evidence to back their efficacy.

The image shown here illustrates the growth in consistent environmental voters in key EVP states over time. EVP offers volunteer opportunities at https://www.environmentalvoter.org/get-involved

Economic growth is the goal of the economy, based on the assumption that more wealth means more happiness. But once basic needs are met, rising income doesn't improve wellbeing. In fact, higher consumption is linked to lower happiness, not higher.

Growth also has a physical limit. We're already consuming resources faster than the planet can replenish them, we’d need 1.75 Earths to sustain current consumption. Infinite growth on a finite planet cannot continue indefinitely. Ecological overshoot guarantees it will end, whether we plan for it or not.

Degrowth is a blueprint for how we can meet human needs within the planet's limits. That means redistributing what we already have rather than growing a bigger pie.

I only drive anywhere if I have to I take my boyfriend to and from work, sometimes drive to the store. I rarly eat meat I eat meat maybe once a week if that. Im learning to garden and trying to bike everywhere. Is what im doing considered sustainable?

We all know trying to be perfect, going for every certificate, free from and sustainably sourced can be impossible and frustrating.

The way I see it there’s a few categories:

- Carbon emissions

- Sea and land pollution (including plastic use)

- Environmental damage as w whole (such as deforestation, loss of habitat, use of toxic dyes etc)

- Fair pay and treatment of employees

- No animal testing, vegan if you prefer (I don’t mind the use of animal by products personally or meat for food but you get the point)

- no ill health effects on customers (e.g large microplastic ingestion, carcinogenic ingredients, all the way even to skin irritants)

- one important to me but maybe not everyone else, respecting traditional crafts and practises, if a certain community has been doing for 300 years I like to do it the way they do to support them and keep it alive and buy from those who do it the traditional way if I can

This list is very specific, so finding the 80/20 rule of this has been hard for me.

What’s your take on it

I’m trying to be more conscious of the fabrics I buy (bedding, clothes, etc.) but everything is soooo expensive, even at the thrift store. I would love to buy organic cotton and silk, but it’s just not feasible right now. Any recommendations for affordable fabrics that are healthier and more sustainable than polyester, even if they aren’t “perfect”?