The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast is live: Listen here.
How to Stand Up and Speak Out for Eco-Friendly Policies

How to Stand Up and Speak Out for Eco-Friendly Policies

When it comes to eco-conscious living, reusable bags at the supermarket, shampoo bars, and other zero-waste swaps can only go so far. The reality is that changes at the household level are fruitless unless they are complemented by loud, persistent voices advocating for policy change. Inside: 3 ways to stand up and speak out for eco-friendly innovation with a letter template included. 

 


Stand Up for Eco-Friendly Policies

 

I’ve come to a sad-but-true realization recently and it’s this: I can use as many rags in place of paper towels —I can tote my reusable bags to the store and use a shampoo bar, even!—but all these changes on the household level are fruitless unless they’re backed by my loud voice advocating for policy change. 

That’s why I am resolving to Stand Up and Speak Out by contacting companies and businesses every single time something doesn’t seem quite right from an eco-conscious standpoint. 

 

What does it mean to Stand Up and Speak out, exactly?

Here are 3 specific examples from my real-life:

 


Example 1: Stand Up and Speak Out when Something Could Be Done Better.

_____

My absolute favorite spin studio in the world gives out not 1 but 2 plastic water bottles to EVERY rider during every ride. (Sad Face.)

There are so many things wrong with this. The room holds 50 bikes. That’s 100 plastic water bottles heading straight to our oceans per class, and what’s worse, there’s an easy remedy  – everyone brings their own bottle and the studio offers filtered water.

Simple + easy, right? I’ve asked them to update their policy + here’s the kicker – I’ve told them I can’t continue paying a monthly membership fee for a brand so out of line with my values. 

 


_____

Take the stress out of Standing Up.

_____ 

If Standing Up + Speaking Out sounds like a great resolution but you absolutely hate writing letters, I’ve got you covered.

I’ve created a customizable template to make joining me as easy as pie: Keep this template on your desktop, hit the Contact Us button on a perpetrator’s website + customize the template to suit your purposes. 

Grab it here: 

_____


Example 2: Stand Up and Speak Out When You See Something Ridiculous.

_____

A few years back, when Kleenex came up with their newest (wasteful) product—disposable hand towels, to be exact—I wrote a strongly worded letter to the company voicing my concerns and making it clear that I will not give Kleenex my business as long as it totes purely disposable products across its product line.

 


Example 3: Stand Up and Speak Out When your Beloved Products Don’t Meet the Mark.

_____

I vow to regularly contact brands I use + love to ask them to reflect eco-conscious packing practices.

I enjoy Nivea body lotion, for example, but it only comes in a plastic bottle. I’ve contacted them to make clear my plastic-free lifestyle + inquire whether they have plans to update their eco-harmful packaging practices. 

 


One final word …

_____

I’m under no misguided assumptions that I have the power to change eco-harmful companies all by myself.

It’s my hope that if we all make if a habit of getting vocal AS WELL AS putting our money where our mouths are – that is by choosing not to support eco-harmful businesses we can start to move the needle toward eco-conscious product development + design.

 


Join me + let’s write some letters together!

Grab your Template here: 

Comments are closed.

Listen to the Podcast

The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast
Latest podcast:

Lights Out

Fossil fuels power our modern lives, and yet fossil fuels are also powering global warming. Because many of us lack the self-sufficient skills necessary to survive an extended power outage event, we are one thing and one thing only: vulnerable.

We have become over-reliant on the very thing that's destroying our planet. On today's show: Imagining the ways in which modern life, interpersonal connections, well-being and more would change in a hypothetical, fossil fuel-free world.

 

Here's a preview:

[6:00] We are so reliant on electricity that we are incapacitated without it. This is a problem!

[11:00] In the event of a 2-weeks plus outage, modernity would look a lot different

[24:00] Is minimalism late stage capitalism personified?

[28:00] Without fossil fuels, we'd be circular

[30:00] What research says with regard to the wellness benefits of working with our hands

 

Resources mentioned:

 

--



Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to HomeThreads! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off. www.homethreads.com
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
* Thank you to Puro Air https://getpuroair.com/


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe

My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

Want to know more? Read my story.

Sustainable minimalism for home, head + heart.

Join our community of eco-conscious women on a collective journey towards sustainable simplicity.

Join us!