The green movement is being systematically dismantled.
EPA regulations gutted.
National parks opened to drilling.
Minnesota's critical mineral fight pitting global copper demand against Indigenous land protection.
Renewable energy funding slashed.
Businesses and nonprofits shutting down because the money dried up.
It's March 2026, and things are bleak.
So why keep caring?
Because sustainable living isn't about being a "good" consumer. It never was—but that's what it was distilled down to.
Individual responsibility has more mass appeal and is easier for corporations to push.
Sustainable living is resistance.
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Resistance to capitalism's extraction model.
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Resistance to forced consumerism and planned obsolescence.
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Resistance to corporate control over our resources and communities.
This resistance has just been repackaged as a lifestyle trend instead of what it actually is: a threat to the status quo.
This is what ethical consumption under capitalism actually looks like. This is how one person can make a difference.
A note before we start: Take what resonates, leave what doesn't. There is no perfection in sustainable living.
Free Actions For Ethical Consumption
These aren’t just sustainability tips, they’re small acts of resistance.
The most radical actions for sustainable living cost nothing. They're free because they reject consumption entirely, which is exactly why capitalism hates them.
And here's the thing, holding onto optimism is also resistance. I'm not saying don't grieve the future you were promised — grieve it, feel it. But don't let go of hope. People are fighting for a better world. And we're not giving up.
Here are green living tips that opt you out of the system presented to you as the default.
10 Free Sustainable Living Tips You Can Start Today
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Use what you already have
- Eat your leftovers
- Go to the library instead of the bookstore
- Reuse containers you're already buying (jars) instead of buying aesthetic ones (or even plastic baggies)
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Repair instead of replace
- Keep your car regularly serviced to keep it lasting longer
- Maintain large appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators
- Learn basic sewing or find a local tailor to repair your clothes
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Refuse single-use whenever possible
- Carry a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, or tote
- Try your best to ditch plastic bags, straws & disposable packaging
- BYO containers for takeout or leftovers
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Reduce overall consumption
- Slow down, don’t make impulse purchases.
- Keep a "want list" for 10-30 days before buying anything non-essential
- Cancel subscriptions you're not using
- Shop secondhand first (thrift stores, Buy Nothing groups, hand-me-downs)
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Reduce energy consumption
- Wash laundry in cold water to save electricity/gas
- Unplug devices when not in use
- Use blinds/curtains to regulate home temperature (keeps heat in during winter, out during summer)
- Turn off lights, adjust thermostat by a few degrees
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Share resources with neighbors/community
- Borrow tools, books, or equipment instead of buying
- Participate in clothing swaps, tool libraries, or Buy Nothing groups
- We saw how communities came together when ICE was tearing apart cities—that same mutual aid applies to resources
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Repurpose & reimagine
- Use glass jars as storage instead of buying containers
- Turn old t-shirts into cleaning rags
- Repurpose cardboard boxes for organization
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Educate yourself & find people to share knowledge with
- Follow creators sharing real sustainable living tips (not just product links)
- Learn about greenwashing, supply chains, and how to spot ethical brands
- Have conversations with friends—not preachy, just honest
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Opt out of marketing
- Unsubscribe from retail emails that pressure you to buy (yes, even us if that's the case)
- I like to mute TV ads as a minor form of resistance
- Delete shopping apps that make impulse buying too easy (I took my credit card off Apple Pay and that actually changed things).
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Practice gratitude for what you have
- Psychological resistance to consumerism
- Helps to counter the ‘need more’ culture
- Even helps to slow down convenience culture.
These cost nothing but take you out of mainstream convenience culture.
Don't believe it works? Think about all those articles about millennials "ruining" industries—restaurants, fabric softener, beverages. Every article like this is proof it works. When people stop consuming, capitalism panics.
Sustainable Living Practices For Ethical Consumption
We do actually need to buy things. And sometimes, a little retail therapy actually works. So when you do spend money, spend it on something that lasts—with brands that give a shit.
Try to prioritize durability, longevity, and resistance to planned obsolescence whenever possible.
Being an ethical consumer is less about choosing "green" products and more about refusing disposability and poor quality.
10 Sustainability Tips For Buying Sustainable Swaps
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Invest in quality that last decades
- Think ‘buy once, use forever’ as much as possible
- Example, our recycled plastic hangers, designed for sturdiness & longevity; and our line of slightly flawed, perfectly usable hangers.
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Choose natural materials over synthetics
- Think: cotton, linen, wool, wood & metal > plastic
- They’re better for the environment and last longer
- Wooden kitchen utensils, cotton dish towels, metal water bottles—all last longer and break down better than plastic alternatives.
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Reusable over disposable
- Water bottles, coffee cups, shopping bags, food containers
- One-time investment, infinite uses
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Shop secondhand first
- Thrifting, vintage, refurbished, hand-me-downs, buy nothing groups
- Keeps things out of landfills, doesn't fund new production
- Buy new as the final option
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Look for things that are meant to be repaired & fixed
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Modular furniture, products with available replacement parts & strong warranties
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Avoid anything designed to be thrown away when one component breaks
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Read our blog on planned obsolescence
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Prioritize transparent, ethical manufacturers
- Know where it's made, who made it, what it's made from
- Support businesses that don't hide their supply chains
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Multi-use items over single-purpose gadgets
- Kitchen tools, home goods that serve multiple functions
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Reduces clutter and waste
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Package-free or minimal packaging options
- Shop at refiill stores, buy in bulk when possible
- Switch to bar soap, shampo bars, wool dryer balls
- Try to refuse excessive packaging waste
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Items that support a circular economy
- Recyclable at end of life, made from recycled materials
- Keeps resources in use
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Find your focus area and go all in
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- You can't care deeply about everything because you’ll drive yourself crazy
- Care about sustainable fashion and ethical labor? Learn everything about supply chains, worker rights, and textile waste
- Passionate about circularity? Find refill stores, zero-waste shops, and circular brands in your area
- Fired up about energy and water use? Research data centers, energy policy, and conservation practices
- Going deep on one issue, find organizations doing the work, get involved & get knowledgeable > spreading yourself thin across all of them
These are not rigid rules—they're a framework for making better choices when you can.
If you're looking for specific product recommendations and swaps, check out our 21 Easy Sustainable Swaps blog.
And remember, every durable purchase is a middle finger to planned obsolescence.
Ethical Consumption Means It Matters Where You Spend Your Money
You've heard us say it: your money is power. Every purchase is a vote. And when enough people vote the same way, companies panic.
Remember when everyone canceled their Disney+ memberships over the Jimmy Kimmel situation? Look how fast that "misunderstanding" cleared up. Or when Spotify pulled ICE recruitment ads after organized boycotts? That's collective power.
The machinery of capitalism wants to keep you distracted and spending. To resist is to do the opposite—to be conscious and intentional about where your money goes.
As a small business owner, I can tell you, every purchase matters. It may feel like nothing to you, but it's not nothing to us.
A reality check: Not all of this is possible for everyone. These are ideas if you want to (and can) do something more. Pick what's accessible to you and leave the rest.
10 Ways To Shop Ethically: Consumer Activism in Action
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Cancel Your Amazon Subscription
- Use slower shipping direct from retailers or support local stores
- Make it non-default—see how little you can use it
- Follow Nikita (YT/IG) for small business alternatives & general awesomeness
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Shop small and local
- Research local alternatives: hardware stores instead of Home Depot, local bookstores instead of chains, independent coffee shops, your neighborhood grocery store, and family-owned restaurants.
- Money spent in the community stays in the community.
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Support worker-owned cooperatives
- What they are: Businesses where profits go to workers, not executives
- How to find them: Search "worker co-ops near me" or look for co-op grocery stores, bike shops, breweries. REI is an example!
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Prioritize women-owned, BIPOC owned businesses
- Look for directories, Instagram accounts, or local chambers that highlight these businesses
- Women & BIPOC owned businesses are more focused on social impact and more likely to reinvest money into their communities
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Look for businesses that have B Corp or Fair Trade Certifications.
- These are verified social and environmental standards.
- Keep in mind certifications aren’t perfect and can be expensive for small businesses.
- Use them as a signal or a starting point when researching.
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Shop at thrift stores, consignment, vintage shops
- And bonus! Many of these will likely be locally owned!
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Support local agriculture
- Check out your local farmers markets, co-ops, CSA programs
- It’s not all-or-nothing — even getting some food locally makes a difference
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Avoid fast fashion and disposable culture brands
- Choose brands that design for longevity/thrift first
- Refuse to fund exploitative labor and environmental destruction
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Use credit unions or ethical banks
- Where you keep your money determines what gets funded
- Big banks invest in fossil fuels, predatory lending, private prisons
- Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit that prioritize members over board member.
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Swap big tech for small tech
- Instead of: Buying a brand new iPhone every year → Try: Refurbished phones from Back Market or Swappa
- Instead of: Spotify (which ran ICE ads) → Try: Smaller alternatives like Bandcamp (directly supports artists)
Your spending is political.
Small actions, multiplied by thousands of people, become movements. And movements change systems.
Can One Person Make a Difference? Holding Onto Optimism Is A Skill
Here's the honest answer — no one person alone cannot dismantle capitalism or reverse climate change.
But one person + one person + one person = movements. And movements change systems.
Resistance is an ecosystem. You don't have to do everything. You just have to find your place in it.
Something nobody talks about enough — holding onto optimism in the face of all this is a skill. It's not naive, it's strategic. Because hopelessness serves those in power. Hope, stubborn and defiant, is what keeps movements alive.
Here's how to plug into the work beyond shopping. Pick what fits your capacity.
10 Ways to Get Involved: Consumer Activism Beyond Shopping
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Join environmental and climate justice organizations
- Local chapters, national groups, or grassroots movements
- Volunteer your time or donate to the movement
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Support labor unions and worker organizing
- If you’re in a union, get involved
- If you’re not, support organizing efforts in your community
- This can be as small as supporting unionized businesses
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Volunteer for local environmental initiatives
- I would bet there’s a lot going on around you that you don’t even know about
- Think community gardens, river cleanups, tree planting, and education programs
- Get involved in something that lights you up
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Show up to city council and planning meetings
- Local policy matters
- Look for zoning, public transit, green infrastructure, development projects → all the boring stuff that no one wants to attend.
- Your voice in these spaces influences real decisions
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Support organizations doing frontline work
- Something I see over and over again is people trying to reinvent the wheel.
- There is likely already an organization that exists for what you want to do.
- Try to find the ones who have been doing the work and support them however you can.
- Especially for people on the front line.
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Participate in boycotts and organized actions
- Boycotts work, and they’re easy to do from home with your money.
- Follow organizers on social media to know when collective action is happening.
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Advocate for systemic policy change
- Call your reps
- Sign petitions
- Vote in EVERY election you can
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Educate and organize in your community
- Start conversations
- Host clothing swaps, tool libraries, repair cafes
- Find like minded people
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Support indigenous land and water protectors
- Follow and amplify indigenous-led movements fighting extraction, pipelines, mining, water shortages.
- Respect their voice by amplifying them, not speaking over them (which seems like it shouldn't need to be said but it does).
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Use your professional skills for climate work
- You have expertise movements need: legal, design, writing, organizing
- If you don’t want to be on the front line, help in the back
- Plug your skills in
And most importantly, show up imperfectly.
If you can only be a part-time activist, do that. If you can only show up once a month — do that.
Can one person make a difference?
Absolutely. You never know the ripple effect that will happen from your one action.
One person + one person + one person = movements that have toppled empires, ended wars, and changed laws. The civil rights movement. The labor movement. Indigenous land protection. Climate strikes. Every single one started with people who felt powerless deciding to act anyway.
Your role might not be protesting in the streets.
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It might be donating $5/month.
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It might be showing up to city council meetings.
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It might be organizing a clothing swap or using your professional skills to help a nonprofit. All of it matters.
And here's the thing about optimism — it's not about pretending everything is fine. It's about believing that collective action can create change even when the odds feel impossible. Optimism is a skill you practice. You choose it, over and over, in the face of despair.
Find your place in the ecosystem. Show up. Keep going.