FRESH START: 5 SUSTAINABLE RESOLUTIONS FOR 2025 YOU CAN ACTUALLY KEEP
Deepen your connection with nature for a greener 2025. Explore eco-friendly possibilities, from farmer markets to meal plans. Cheers to contributing to a better environment!
Deepen your connection with nature for a greener 2025. Explore eco-friendly possibilities, from farmer markets to meal plans. Cheers to contributing to a better environment!
Here we are, stepping into 2025, fashionably late to the party, at least in my case. Still a bit behind schedule on the 2024 to-dos, but hey, let's set the stage for some positive changes this year, shall we?
In the field of serious matters, we find ourselves in a crossroad where the health of our planet is more critical than ever.
The scientific community agrees: This decade is the last window to turn things around. Our generation plays a fundamental role in determining the extent of consequences future generations will face from human activities that negatively impact ecosystems and contribute to anthropogenic global warming. While we can still train for that marathon we are definitely going to run this year, why don't we also choose some resolutions with sustainability in mind?
Trying to live more sustainably can be overwhelming, but taking a few simple steps can make a significant impact. As we are still waiting to see large corporations to be held accountable, let's focus on what we can control ourselves.
This list isn't about setting unrealistic goals, it's about easy, everyday actions that can be integrated into our busy lives. Whether you're testing the waters with a small commitment or ready for a big change, here are five ways to do your green bit for 2025.
Let's begin our resolutions with what's on our plate, because sustainability starts right at the dinner table. Unless you are a farmer, in which case, it starts on your field or greenhouse.
Now, let's shift from the simplicity of our daily meals to the complexity of global agriculture: vast fields of monocultures, machinery working tirelessly to meet the demands of an ever-growing population - all while considering that food isn't always produced where we live.
Despite being crucial for our sustenance, large-scale conventional agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, deforestation, soil degradation and biodiversity loss.
It stands out as the single largest emitter of greenhouse gasses globally, accounting for 30% of all emissions. Farming on half of the world's habitable land and consuming 70% of global water resources, it pushes us towards critical resource limitations.
Adopting small changes to your eating habits in support of more regenerative and sustainable agriculture, can not only have a significant impact on the environment, but also our health.
A visit at the farmers' market is an excellent way to access local, fresh, and nutritious produce harvested at its peak. Regional markets entail a range of benefits by minimizing waste, water usage and food miles, while maximizing food quality and nutrition, contributing to sustainable practices and reducing your foodprint. Choosing a local market over large grocery stores supports the regional economy and can help to break unhealthy eating habits and simplify to integrate locally sourced, organic and plant-based options into your diet.
But I get it, the idea of going to the market might sound fantastic until Sunday morning arrives and the prospect of waking up early, having enough change and carrying kilos of vegetables on your shoulders sounds less appealing than staying in bed.
If you're keen on making a local commitment but consistently find yourself missing market weekends, consider an alternative solution: explore a vegetable box subscription from your local farmer, conveniently delivered to your doorstep.
Let's look at our plates a little closer: Elevate your health and environmental impact by adding more plant-based options to your daily meals. This isn't a call to instantly transform into a strict vegan overnight, but the excessive consumption of mass-produced meat and dairy products requires us to take a closer look at our eating habits.
We all know it, the highly industrialized way in which we raise most livestock is inhumane, unhealthy and extremely unsustainable. Raising animals for food requires a lot of land, leading to deforestation, habitat loss, and increased carbon emissions.The water-intensive nature of livestock farming, along with antibiotics and hormones, poses risks to water sources affecting ecosystems and human health contributing to concerns about water scarcity.
Besides, there is evidence to suggest that overconsumption of meat may be linked to various health issues. It's important to note that individual responses to dietary patterns can vary, and many factors contribute to health outcomes. Nevertheless, a vegetarian diet is a meaningful step towards reducing environmental pollution.
However, it's essential to recognize that the production and consumption of dairy and eggs are associated with ecological issues, but also with considerable ethical questions. Crowded and cramped conditions in factory farms not only endanger animal welfare but also contribute to the spread of diseases. Animals kept in confined spaces often suffer from stress, illness and poor health. Supporting such practices unintentionally adds to the cycle of inhumane treatment and unhealthy conditions for the animals involved and raises ethical concerns about the overall sustainability and morality of conventional livestock farming.
Choosing plant-based alternatives is increasingly recognized as a more environmentally friendly option, with vegetarian diets generally having a lower environmental footprint, requiring less land, water, and energy, and contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting to a vegan diet, which excludes all animal products, becomes a more comprehensive way to address these issues. It not only eliminates the ethical dilemmas associated with dairy and eggs but also minimizes the environmental footprint associated with all animal agriculture.
Whether you choose veggie days, adopt a flexi approach, or go full-blown vegan, opting for plant-based alternatives is a powerful move toward a more sustainable and compassionate food system.
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, lettuce, rocket, basil, chard and many more are not only characterized by their bright green color and leafy texture, but also contain many important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fiber, making them a healthy addition to your diet. Whether raw in a salad or cooked as a side dish or main course, leafy greens are a delicious and nutritious choice. Why not get them from your local vertical farm? ;) It's a fresh, healthy and sustainable choice for your plate!
One more thing: Most resolutions aren't kept because they require too much change or commitment. So when it comes to changing your diet, take it one bite at a time!
In a world drowning in plastic, here's a simple but effective resolution: stop buying bottled water.
Disposable plastic bottles may be convenient, but the cost to the environment is enormous. From production to disposal, the life cycle of a single-use water bottle is a short one. However, when these bottles finally end up in landfill, they take centuries to decompose.
As if that wasn't enough pollution, they release harmful toxins into the groundwater as they decompose. Reaching for a reusable water bottle can be an important step in reducing your environmental footprint, reducing waste and saving money in the long run.
Choose a reliable, safe reusable bottle and make a simple but effective change - drink water from the tap.
Let's tackle waste, from plastic to food. While Europe is already making strides in recycling and plastic reduction, our journey isn't over. Food waste is now the new challenge on our radar, and it's a massive one.
Food waste is the new plastic: According to the World Food Programme a third of the world's food is wasted. Unfortunately, most of it gets lost in our kitchen bin after the weekly trip to the grocery store. Considering the significant number of people worldwide facing hunger, wasting food isn't just a matter of inefficiency, it also raises concerns about social justice.
One of the ways to reduce food waste can be by meal planning. People in wealthier regions of the world often prepare larger amounts of food than needed. Planning smaller, well-portioned meals and buying only necessary ingredients can substantially reduce waste and save money.
You can also organize meals that are suitable for the fridge or freezer for a couple of days. Having a homemade meal ready in the fridge becomes priceless on those times when you're too tired, busy or hungover to cook.
Fridge empty? Give the 2 Good to Go app a try and save perfectly good meals from restaurants, pastries from bakeries, and surprise food bags from grocery stores that would otherwise go to waste after closing.
By the way: producing food waste during cooking is completely normal. If you're looking to step it up a notch, reduce waste by composting kitchen scraps and for example enriching your home garden soil, completing the sustainability loop.
Bring nature home by growing indoor plants or cultivating a small green space. Not only does this make your home look cozy and green but it also connects you with the cycle of growth and renewal.
There are plenty of edible plants which you can grow at home. You don't need to be an experienced gardener, beginner-friendly options like potatoes or cucumbers are a great start. Even with limited space, you can grow herbs in a window box or try hanging baskets for blackberries. From herbs to tomatoes, there is a surprising variety of produce that will thrive in a small space. Even if you think you lack a green thumb, the act of trying can bring joy, proven by the happiness your hands in the soil can provide.
Instead of planting vegetables, you can transform your balcony or outdoor windowsill into a haven for insects. Simply grab a packet of wildflower mix and you can listen to bees and butterflies buzzing in summer. If gardening isn't your thing, you can still help nature by putting out water with stones and seeds for birds and insects. Creating a friendly spot for wildlife is an easy way to support the environment.
Discovering more eco-friendly habits is an ongoing journey with countless possibilities. Stay curious, expand your knowledge, and explore new subjects - whether it's understanding the vital role of bees or to discover what foxes eat. Increasing your awareness of the nature we encounter allows us to better appreciate and protect it.
By adopting some of these resolutions, you're not just making promises for self-improvement, you're actively contributing to the environment. Cheers to a green and fulfilling 2025!
Written by: Viktoria Waldvogel
"Viktoria Waldvogel is an eco-enthusiastic writer with a background in Environmental Sciences, Geography and Economics. With a passion for food and urban agriculture, she dreams of a future with sustainably guilt-free avocados and believes that hope is the seed of change."
