New Year, New Choices

Every January 1st, Canadians take one more giant step toward 2030 and our commitment to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include global challenges such as hunger, clean water, climate change, and environmental degradation. 

To get you started off on the right foot, here are 15 simple ways to “go green” in 2025:

1. Embrace minimalism (even just a bit): Declutter, donate and “give” experiences instead of buying presents.
2. Start composting kitchen scraps and, for those who have the program, commit to using your Green Bins.
3. Try to only buy home products from companies who have strong eco-friendly policies,  or at the very least, choose products with minimal plastic packaging. (You can also look for used items.)
4. Grow a Garden: Even those in smaller spaces can grow herbs. 
5. Calculate (and then work to decrease) your carbon footprint. We’ll admit it: this one takes a little effort, and some math…but just think of how you’ll dazzle your friends with your knowledge! (The Nature Conservancy has a tool you can use.)
6. Consider a plant-based diet, which is better for the environment in so many ways. 
7. Choose locally sourced and/or organic foods whenever possible.
8. Make a commitment to get informed about environmental issues.
9. Have age-appropriate conversations with friends and family to raise awareness and teach others. 
10. Go Paperless: Opt for digital bills and receipts and switch to electronic devices for note-taking and calendar planning.
11. Be a good neighbour: Participate in local clean-up events and volunteer for environmental organisations or community gardens.
12. Be fashionably eco-conscious by becoming a savvy thrift shopper. 
13. Make note of when and where your local farmers’ markets are happening and make a point of supporting them.
14. Be mindful of how much water you use (ie. showers, baths, laundry and dishwasher). 
15. When you need to replace light bulbs, appliances, switch to energy-efficient ones.
16. Spend more time outside and appreciate the beauty of nature, even if that means a walk around the block, a stroll in the park, or a vigorous hike. 
17. Simply be mindful of what you are consuming. (Ask yourself: Is it really necessary? Where is it going to end up when you don’t want or need it anymore?)
18. Become more of a DIY’er and upcycle something to make it new and useful, rather than a waste of space and materials. 
19. Eliminate single-use plastics like bags, straws, and utensils from your “to go” meals.
20. Make your own eco-friendly cleaning products, or choose those with the least amount of harmful chemicals.
21. Install a programmable thermostat (and actually program it).
22. Think about leaving the car at home and walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation if possible.
23. Make your next vacation an eco-friendly one, ie. make a conscious and educated effort to embrace your destination’s people, environment, culture, food, music, etc. (Go to page TK to learn more about Harrowsmith contributor Andrea Mandel-Campbell’s karibu adventures.
24. Teach everyone in the house to get in the habit of turning off the lights when they leave a room, unplug chargers when not in use, and use the sleep mode on computers and electronics.
25. When making charitable donations, consider those who support environmental and/or wildlife conservation.

To learn more about Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals, click here. 

According to a survey done in October 2023 by Forbes Health/OnePoll, the average person’s New Year’s resolution lasts only 3.74 months.

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