Rob Greenfield is an American former marketing manager who now lives an eco zero waste lifestyle, and encourages others to do the same. He’s just written a fantastic book for children. He gives away most of his income (so he pays no tax to fund wars) and can fit everything he owns into one walking cart! Most of us are not going to be that extreme. But what he did was a really good idea, when he was living a busy, stressful and materialistic lifestyle.
He simply wrote 100 changes he would like to make, to take him to the lifestyle he yearned for. Then put the list on his kitchen wall, and ticked off one change every week, so in 2 years he had achieved his goals. You may not wish to live in a van, but it’s a great idea. You can just pick and choose items from his to-do list to suit your own dream lifestyle.
For instance:
If you live in a busy London flat doing an office job you hate but have no qualifications to become a landscape ecological gardener in a seaside village. This dream may take you two years, but you can do it.
From simplifying your life, training in the profession of your choice, taking short breaks to find the perfect seaside village, going to class to learn how to decorate your old home once bought, and learning to swim, so you can enjoy the sea!
All of us have different dream lifestyles. Whatever yours is, focus on simple sustainable living. Often most people who end up buying junk food and getting stuck in traffic jams or working in jobs they hate, never planned for life to be that way. So by breaking your big dream into tiny bite-size achievements each week, you’ll likely get there. Think of you had started this habit 2 years ago – where would you be now?
A Few of Rob’s 100 Ideas to Inspire
For cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets.
Use no-dig gardening and fruit protection bags (over netting, which can trap birds and wildlife). Learn how to create gardens safe for pets (use humane slug/snail deterrents). Avoid facing indoor foliage to outdoor gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
- Eat local food from farmers’ markets and independent shops.
- Eat whole foods (learn to cook!)
- Shop at zero waste stores, to save on plastic packaging.
- Carry a reusable shopping bag.
- Eat more plant foods.
- Grow some of your own food, or join a community garden.
- Drink filtered tap water, over bottled.
- Switch to green energy.
- Switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs.
- Unplug things you don’t need to use.
- If you don’t need it, don’t buy it!
- Choose reusable hankies, paper towels etc.
- Switch to zero waste menstrual care (if female)
- Choose recycled toilet paper brands.
- Walk or cycle, when possible.
- Get a public transport pass
- Join a car-share, if you drive.
- Design your life to avoid long commutes.
- Switch to a green bank
- Get rid of your credit card.
- Donate a portion of income to tiny charities.
- Train to do a job you love (earth-friendly)
- Switch to eco-friendly cleaning and laundry brands.
- Switch to eco-friendly beauty brands.
- Switch to eco-friendly dental products.
- Reduce use of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs.
- Wear natural fibres for slow fashion.
- Buy quality items that last, and repair them yourself.
- Try not to take the aeroplane!
- Stay at small local hotels (not big chains).
- Adopt or foster pets (don’t buy from pet shops).
- Exercise naturally (walking, swimming, yoga)
- Spend time outside in nature
- Change your media (books, radio, TV)
- Don’t have children just because (Rob’s had a vasectomy!)
- Take time off the Internet and mobile phone
- Volunteer with local non-profits
- Pick up trash where you find it.
- Never drop litter!
- Host skill-sharing and clothes-swap events
