Sustainable Living 101

Naturalist, broadcaster, and conservationist David Attenborough is definitely one of my heroes. The 96 year old has dedicated an entire lifetime to studying the planet, its history, diversity, and threats. There is a reason he is so well-known and celebrated by now. Of course, I’m inspired by anyone who has followed their passions and curiosity in such a way that it positively impacts lives beyond theirs–it’s just really special to see in a world so heavy. We’ve posted many David Attenborough quotes on @ecoclubofficial in the past, and looking through them inspired me to give a more proper tribute. Read on for our favorite environment quotes from the great Sir David Attenborough!

“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”

“Every breath of air we take, every mouthful of food that we take, comes from the natural world. And if we damage the natural world, we damage ourselves.”

“We moved from being a part of nature to being apart from nature.”

“An understanding of the natural world, and what’s in it as a source of not only great curiosity but great fulfillment.”

“The fact is that no species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on earth, living or dead, as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility. In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the earth.”

“We need to work with nature, not against it.”

“People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure.”

“We live our comfortable lives in the shadow of a disaster of our own making. That disaster is being brought about by the very things that allow us to live our comfortable lives.”

“We must rewild the world.”

“Give and take, that is the essence of what balance is all about.”

“The best motto to think about is not to waste things. Don’t waste electricity; don’t waste paper; don’t waste food. Live the way you want to live but just don’t waste. Look after the natural world and the animals in it and the plants in it too. This is their planet as well as ours. Don’t waste them.”

“Nature is our biggest ally and greatest inspiration.”

“The future of life on earth depends on our ability to take action.”

Which is your favorite David Attenborough quote?

If you didn’t know, Earth Day is on April 22nd! And if you grew up in the US, you probably have this very picturesque image of planting trees, or picking up trash on the beach together, when you think about how to celebrate. It’s a cute idea (that requires a certain degree of extroversion), but one that may not represent more current sentiments around sustainability, eco-friendly action, and attainable goals… So if you’ve been trying to come up with a new way to celebrate Earth Day, why not pull inspiration from communities around the globe? Here’s a few ways other countries celebrate Earth Day around the world!

Japan

A family-friendly celebration takes place over the span of 2 days in Yoyogi Park every year. More than 100,000 people attend annually and enjoy a variety of activities and opportunities to learn about sustainability and sustainable companies. 

Taking inspiration from Japan may mean hosting or attending a small get-together with friends to learn and share ways to be more eco-friendly in 2023 (who doesn’t love a reason for a hot girl picnic??). 

Denmark

If you happen to find yourself in Copenhagen when they’re celebrating Earth Day, you get to experience a unique performance with drummers facing each corner of the earth. Afterwards, participants continue on to the March for Science which aims to hold elected officials accountable for greener initiatives. 

Inspiration from Denmark may mean finding a local march to join or supporting a local charity event that is raising funds for eco-friendly movements in your community!

India

Earth Day in India encompasses a larger movement to raise awareness about ways environmental damage is affecting the country. And while conservation is a spectrum, they put on a host of events specifically centered around the protection of the endangered Asian elephant which is native to the country. 

Some people wear green to celebrate Earth Day in India which is an easy way for you to show solidarity. But if you want to do more without having to leave the comfort of your home, consider donating to animal conservation groups or local shelters!

South Africa

The South African government considers climate change to be one of the greatest threats to the future of humanity. They host an Earth Expo each year that presents an educational forum for discussions centered around technology, entrepreneurship, sustainable nutrition, and more.

Want to celebrate Earth Day like South Africa? Consider watching a TED Talk on our current and changing ecosystems, or on new discoveries in the green tech space! 

Spain

The Global Unity and Regeneration Gathering is a 24-hour event held in Lanjarón, Granada, Spain each year. Participants can attend workshops and presentations on environmentalism, and the spirituality of their connection to the earth. 

Past workshops have included ways to cultivate spirulina pools, or how to build a self-regeneration water system which you can emulate by putting out a rain catcher barrel to water your plants, or finding easy ways to repurpose kitchen scraps.

It’s easy to get caught up in this idea of “doing enough” as an eco-conscious person, and that can lead to executive dysfunction when it’s time to actually try and do something good for the environment. These ideas inspired by other countries aren’t meant to intimidate you; they’re meant to show that meaningful action can happen at any scale. Don’t let the fear of judgment from others keep you from celebrating this Earth Day! Enjoy yourself, and do something good for you and the planet at whatever magnitude you’re comfortable and capable of.

photo by Karolina Grabowska

Clothing holds the power of storytelling, which can be passed down from generation to generation both in its metaphorical and literal sense. Globally, 80% of abandoned textiles are either burned or end up in landfills, with only 20% recycled and reused. The garments that end up in landfills can sit there for over 200 years. During that period, it decomposes and releases methane, a greenhouse gas that is more potent than carbon.

Fighting textile waste on a global scale does require a collaborative effort. This is why online thrifting is a great opportunity to broaden the viewership for your clothing and/or make wardrobe revisions without hurting the planet. Below, find a handful of thrift apps to help you buy secondhand clothing online, and sell it again when you no longer need it:

6 thrift shop apps helping you + the planet

Poshmark

If you are looking for a true second-hand eco system, Poshmark is the destination for everything from womenswear to menswear, kids, pets, electronics, and even makeup. The best part is that you can check out various Posh Parties that include the best in outdoor gear, bags, and maternity without having to scroll for hours. Brands range from Lululemon to luxurious items like Chanel. All high-end goods run through Poshmark’s complimentary authentication system to ensure shopping is worry-free.

Additionally, Poshmark also makes it incredibly easy to market your goods. Sellers can upload their product within 60 seconds, share the post with their social network, and ship with Poshmark’s prepaid label, which allows you to have cash in your pocket when the item is delivered. You can even host or participate in live streams as if you were at an auction and build a community of like-minded style enthusiasts.

Double Take

Have you ever had a piece that made your head turn? Double Take’s selection of affordable apparel and homewares will surely do just that.

Since 1999, Double Take has been a Yonge-Street Mission employment initiative based in Toronto. Their cause is intertwined in a variety of ways, such as offering work placements for the YSM’s Employment Services programme, sending packages of winter clothes to their food bank, or providing gift cards.

Double Take has incredible donors who specifically come to them, knowing their items are in good hands. All clothing is steam-pressed, and linens are laundered.

On top of that, Double Take has an Artist in Residence opportunity where you can exclusively browse sustainable, ethical, and upcycled goods from Toronto artists. It is a true must-see.

Depop

As you may already know, curated festival edits to cozy movie marathon fits, Depop is home to over 30 million stylists, designers, artists, sneakerheads, and much more. You can easily be inspired by your favorite creatives and up-and-coming influencers in design, fashion, art, and music all in one place.

In June 2023, Depop announced an invitation to all members of their community to partake in Depop Amplified, a unique mission to create engaging content across all social media platforms to amplify the message of sustainable fashion to a wider audience. When participating, creators will be given the opportunity to waive selling fees, unlock shopping vouchers, and even collaborate with Depop on partnerships.

Now that’s what we like to call working in harmony with Mother Earth.

Thred Up

Education and transparency are two qualities that are difficult to come by in any sector, let alone a sustainable one.

One of the original online thrift apps, Thred Up allows consumers to browse and purchase mindfully by providing fruitful and environmentally sound resources throughout their platform. This includes impact reports, a fashion footprint calculator, and annual resale reports. They also commissioned Green Story, an independent research firm that analyzes the environmental impact of buying garments that are used instead of new. Thredup takes pride in adopting a 12-point inspection system to achieve their high quality standards and an evaluation sliding scale for their consumers that ranges from excellent, very good, good, and even flawed gems for a possible DIY.

Outside of that, ThredUp allows customers to shop their favorite influencers or celebrities’ closets. Previous collaborations have included The Real Housewives of New York cast members and 90210 actress Shenae Grimes-Beech.

Goodwill Finds

With brand items like Levis, Patagonia, and Free People that can be found for under $10, it makes sense why influencers on YouTube gush about their Goodwill finds. You can now score such pieces without heading to your local store via Goodwill’s online thrift store. This also includes discovering rare gems like Stella McCartney, The Row, and Acne Studios.

As a non-profit, Goodwill is not only making a difference in your closet, but they are also a network of 155 local organizations across North America that sell used goods to generate job opportunities and guidance. For instance, donating living room furniture provides 3 hours of training services to someone in your community while potentially providing you with $200 in tax deductions.

Additionally, Goodwill organizations are aiming to be LEED certified by using renewable solar energy.

Thrift Plus

Finding a good deal is a plus, but finding a marketplace with over 500K of affordable high street and designer brands is a plus plus.

Thrift Plus is an online thrift store dedicated to providing well-kept and stylish clothing for its consumers. Their crew handles all the photography, listing, packaging, and shipping of every item. This means there are no unexpected stains!

Sellers have the option to earn credit that can be used right at Thrift Plus, donate to charity, or redeem vouchers with their partners like ASOS, Farfetch, GymShark, Browns, and many more.

What other thrift apps would you add to this list? Click here to see 5 more sustainable shopping apps you should know about, helping with everything from secondhand clothing to food waste to creating a green skincare routine.