Quit smoking, be more active, finally shed those extra pounds – all good New Year’s resolutions that we’ve tried time and again.
We’re not here to suggest the classic New Year’s resolution ideas that everyone seems to set for themselves but no one really keeps. Instead, we’ll give you some simple, easily achievable changes you can make in the new year to help reduce your consumption and live more responsibly.
New Year’s Resolution Idea: Drink Tap Water
This New Year’s resolution idea will benefit you AND the planet! Buying bottled water means dragging a lot of weight from the supermarket to your home and accumulating unnecessary amounts of plastic waste. In the USA, tap water is safe to drink in most places, and in some cases is of even better quality than bottled water. This year, make it your New Year’s resolution to drink more tap water.
Do you prefer sparkling water? Buying a water carbonator** for your home will save you both money and tons of plastic in the long run!
Ways to start: Use reusable water bottles made from stainless steel or glass (you can find a wide selection on Amazon**)
Use Less Plastic – A Good New Year’s Resolution for Everyone
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues of our time, especially when it comes to polluting the ocean. The good news is that there are plenty of easy ways you can reduce plastic. For example, take a tote bag with you when you go shopping instead of using disposable plastic bags, buy unpackaged vegetables at the farmers’ market, or try using reusable coffee cups on the go rather than disposable ones.
Here’s another New Year’s resolution idea that will benefit both you and the planet: Eat less meat. You don’t have to give up animal products completely in order to have a positive impact on the environment. Focusing on quality over quantity when you go food shopping can make a big difference. Consuming less milk, cheese, eggs, and (most importantly) meat reduces animal suffering, helps protect the environment, and could lead to a healthier diet.
Instead of making it part of your New Year’s resolution list to lose weight, you can live healthier by simply adding more plant-based options into your diet. Check out our tips on going vegan or going vegetarian.
Drink Fair Trade Coffee
There is really no excuse anymore for drinking cheap mass produced coffee. By purchasing coffee from big corporations or discount brands, you may indirectly support the exploitation of coffee farmers and workers. Check out Why Drink Fair Trade Coffee? Facts, Myths, and Brands.
A commitment to buying more fair trade coffee is a perfect and easily achievable addition to your New Year’s resolution list. It is available almost everywhere, and it doesn’t cost a lot more than conventional coffee. We always recommend buying local in order to support your community, so check out the coffee roasters in your area.
Looking for a way to switch up the way you drink your coffee? Why not try making your own cold brew at home?
A Simple New Year’s Resolution Idea: Waste Less Food
It’s an all too familiar problem: you bought more than you needed at the grocery store, no one ate the leftovers in the fridge, and now you’re left with a guilty conscience as you throw the remains in the trash. Food waste is a major global problem, and Americans are some of the worst for it – we throw away an estimated 150,000 tons of food each day.
Committing to wasting less food is one of the most meaningful New Year’s resolution ideas you could have on your list. Check out our 10 Pro Tips for Reducing Food Waste. Or start off small with these tips on storing food correctly.
Stop Buying Disposable Fashion
We’re all guilty of being seduced by the dirt cheap prices of fast fashion, despite knowing very well that the workers who make them pay the true price, and that the clothes never last long.
This year, make it your New Year’s resolution to educate yourself about where your clothing comes from, buy more responsibly and consider making it the year of thrifting. You never know what kind of second-hand gems you’ll find!
Switching your bank and moving your money to one that is more ecologically and ethically inclined than the average bank is another great New Year’s resolution. This way you’ll ensure your money is not being used to support destructive or irresponsible investments in weaponry, food speculation, or environmentally harmful energy sources. It will instead be invested in socially and environmentally responsible projects that you can feel good about. Why not make the switch?
Check out Business Insider’s list of the world’s most environmentally friendly banks to learn about your options.
Seasonal food – and why it should be on every New Year’s resolution list
Committing to eating only regionally and seasonally produced food is definitely on the list of New Year’s resolution ideas that are often made but seldom kept.
But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Deciding to pay just a bit more attention to where your food comes from in the new year would already make a meaningful difference. By shopping locally more often, you help reduce the negative environmental consequences of absurdly long transportation routes, eat fresher and healthier food— and you support your region.
Stop Wasting Energy
The amount of energy that is wasted by electronics on standby mode is almost universally underestimated. Calculating exact numbers is complicated, but turning off (and unplugging) typical household devices like televisions, stereos, or coffee machines completely when not in use can definitely save you quite a bit of money each year— and it helps our planet.
To help you keep this good New Year’s resolution you could also consider purchasing a power-saving box**.
Go Paperless
We live in a digital world, which definitely has its pros and cons, but one pro is that we can cut back on paper usage. A study by the University of Southern Indiana shows that Americans use nearly 85,000,000 tons of paper annually. That’s nearly 2 billion trees cut down every year.
Say no to unnecessary flyers and catalogs, go paperless with your bills and receipts, read your news online and choose to receive e-newsletters as opposed to their physical counterparts. The environment will thank you!
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