Individual Actions

Some individual steps you can take to help the environment!

Here is checklist with some environmental actions we can all take! The point system accounts for the difficulty and impact of these actions.

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Eat More Plant-Based Foods

Eating plant-based is one of the best individual actions that you can take because of how interconnected it is with various environmental issues from deforestation to climate change.

Learn more here

Start a Garden

Connect back with nature and your food through starting a small garden. If you don't have the best green thumb, don't worry (our founder Samantha also doesn't) Epic Gardening on YouTube can help you out.

Compost Food

If you live in California, we are all supposed to put our food waste into the green, yard waste bin because of SB 1383. Any food-related items can go in there, including napkins or greasy pizza boxes (food-contaminated, paper products). Go to your local waste management site to learn the specifics of it.

If you live outside of California, look to see if there are local composting sites that you can go to. ShareWaste is an app to connect local neighbors together so that you can drop your food waste there. However, you can always start composting yourself!

Eat Seasonal Food

Choose seasonal produce to avoid energy-intensive greenhouse growing. Seasonal produce is also typically grown more local to you, which reduces the transportation emissions.

Bike, Walk, or Roll

Biking, walking, or rolling to school not only help lower the need for fossil fuels and contributes less to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but it also helps promote healthier lifestyles and reduces city congestion.

For Parents: If you are worried about the safety of your kids walking, biking, or rolling to school, some families have a sort of "carpool" system. One parent each day of the week will accompany the kids on the way to school. This allows the kids to still get the benefits of walking to school and gives you some reassurance. Eventually, you might feel comfortable enough to give them the independence to go by themselves with a buddy. The Anxious Generation by Jonathon Haidt discusses the great benefits from giving them this freedom. Here's a one-pager on it.

Learn More

Go Thrifting

Buying secondhand reduces demand for new goods, saving resources and energy used in manufacturing. Thrift stores oftentimes have more donations than people purchase, so your purchases not only support them but also helps them put out new items.

Benefits of Thrifting:

Keeps items like clothing, furniture, and electronics out of landfills.
Conserves water and energy (e.g., producing one new pair of jeans requires around 1,800 gallons of water).
Encourages a circular economy where products are reused rather than discarded.

Tips for Thrifting:

Explore thrift stores, consignment shops, and online platforms like Poshmark or ThredUp.
Consider upcycling thrifted items to give them a new life.

Buy Quality Over Quantity

Investing in durable, well-made items reduces waste by avoiding the need for frequent replacements.

How to Choose Quality:

Look for products with repair options.
Prioritize sustainable brands that produce ethical, high-quality goods.
Avoid fast fashion or cheaply made items that wear out quickly.

Impact:

Durable goods last longer, minimizing waste and reducing the environmental costs of production and disposal. Over time, this approach can also save money despite the higher upfront cost.

Bring Reusables

Switching to reusable items significantly reduces reliance on single-use products and minimizes waste sent to landfills.

Think about other ways that you can bring reusables on top of the reusable water bottle and bag including:

reusable take-out containers for leftovers (bring a container to the restaurant in case you have leftovers)
reusable cup when buying a drink (e.g. like this boba cup in the picture—might have to kindly ask them if they can put it into a reusable to save plastic)
reusable utensils

Tip: Keep these reusables in your car or a go-bag so that you always have them wherever you go.

Sell Old Items

Selling old or unwanted items extends their lifecycle and prevents them from becoming waste. Selling them ensures that it goes to someone who needs them. Oftentimes, the thrift store can't take all of the items because of the condition or lack of space.

Ways to Sell Items:

Use online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Depop for clothing, electronics, and more.
Host a garage sale to find new homes for unused goods.
Partner with local consignment stores to sell higher-quality items.

Impact:

Selling old items reduces waste while giving others access to affordable, secondhand goods. It also discourages the production of new items, reducing resource depletion.

Plant Native Plants

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Planting native species supports local ecosystems and requires fewer resources to maintain.

Why It Matters:

Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil, reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and excessive watering.
They provide essential food and habitat for local wildlife, including pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Prevents the spread of invasive species that can harm biodiversity.

Tips:

Research plants native to your area using resources like local extension services or native plant societies.
Incorporate a mix of native flowers, shrubs, and trees to support diverse wildlife.

CA Native Plants

Start a Garden

Why It Matters:

Lowers the carbon footprint associated with transporting and packaging food.
Allows you to grow food without harmful chemicals, supporting soil and water health.
Encourages composting, which enriches the soil and reduces organic waste.

Tips:

Start small with herbs or a container garden if space is limited.
Use organic practices and save seeds to make your garden more sustainable.

Learn: Epic Gardening

Enjoy Nature

Spending time in nature fosters a connection to the environment, inspiring care and stewardship.

Why It Matters:

Increases awareness of local ecosystems and their importance to the planet.
Helps build habits that prioritize sustainability, like reducing litter or conserving natural spaces.
Improves mental and physical health, reinforcing the value of protecting green spaces.

Tips:

Visit parks, hiking trails, or wildlife sanctuaries to explore natural habitats.
Volunteer for cleanups or conservation projects in your community.

Volunteer Opportunities

Plant a Tree

Planting trees helps combat climate change and supports ecosystems.

Why It Matters:

Trees absorb carbon dioxide, helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions.
They provide shade, improve air quality, and prevent soil erosion.
Trees create habitats for countless species, enhancing biodiversity.

Tips:

Choose tree species suited to your local environment and space availability.
Join community tree-planting initiatives to scale your impact.

Volunteer Opportunities

Individual Actions

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