9 Simple Goals to Go Green in 2020

Making our lives a little greener is something we all want to do. Each day we see more and more in the media about the harm we cause our environment.

The New Year is a great time to actually initiate these changes. But to “go green” is a massive and super vague task to accomplish — especially when you’re just getting started. Plus, there’s something about New Years’ Resolutions that has always seemed sort of icky.

“Resolution.” What a daunting word. It holds a yardstick up to last year, shakes its head, and reminds us that we’re not measuring up.

But to err is human — so why do we punish ourselves for being human? How epically pointless.

I prefer to set New Year’s Goals for myself. Rather than to “resolve” to never do x, y, or z again, I have something I’m aiming for. That way when a “failure” occurs, I don’t feel the need to give up. I still have an untainted goal I am working towards.

With that said, here are 9 goals you can work towards in 2020 to go green. You may also find it beneficial to pick one or two goals for now. Once you have those ingrained in your daily life (be that 1 month or 9), then you can work on adding in one or two others.

1) Ditch the Plastic.

So this is a big goal. Remember in middle school health class, we learned to break down big goals into smaller ones? And it seemed so obvious. What a waste of time to sit in school and learn about such a common-sense topic?

Well, I’m glad we learned about it because I forgot to do this for years. And then one day I remembered. Frankly, my life has gotten a lot easier ever since.

So, a few baby goals for ditching plastic include, but are not limited to:

• Say goodbye to single-use plastic baggies. Sandwich bags, grocery bags, produce bags. All of these are easily replaceable with items that can be used over and over again.
• Replace soap dispensers. Bar soap would be the most eco-friendly option (particularly locally made, package-free soaps). But you can also use refillable glass containers so you are at least buying in bulk. Just make sure you wash and dry your containers between use so you don’t get bacteria built up.
• Subscribe to some Green Websites. Subscriptions like the Grove are great. They remind you each month (with no obligation to buy) that you’re making an effort to go green. And that you may be running low on a green product you can’t find in your local grocery store.
• If you live in a major city, find out if there are brick and mortar establishments where you can buy green products. Any opportunity to cut out unnecessary shipping is a great opportunity to go green.

The more single-use plastics you replace, the more unnecessary waste you’ll notice. But the good thing is, once you notice it, you can change it.

2) Buy Second-Hand.

You’ve probably heard that the fashion industry produces 10% of carbon emissions. Thrift stores are a great option (especially if you’re taking price into account). But they are not the only option.

Some second-hand stores are more selective with what they take in from the public. They usually offer money or store credit rather than taking donations. These stores are a great alternative if you don’t want to sort through piles of Tweety-Bird shirts from 1993. (But then again, the ’90s are back! You may want to snag those Tweety shirts while you still can.)

Don’t forget about your local seamstresses either. If you find an awesome piece that’s not the right size, your local seamstress may be able to give you a hand.

3) Start a Garden.

You may have noticed a lot of these green goals will also save you cash. (It’s nice, right?) Gardening is a good goal to add come springtime. I recommend starting your planning around March when the ground softens up a bit.

Whether your garden is big or small, indoor or outdoor, dead or alive… growing a bit of food or some herbs keeps you connected with your food and your environment. And the fewer pesticides altering soil composition the better.

4) Compost your waste.

If you want to get started on your garden in January, but don’t have the resources for an indoor garden, you can always compost.

• Mix ⅓ green stuff (tomatoes, lettuce, fruits)
• ⅔ brown stuff (newspaper, leaves, paper towels, small sticks or straw)
• Avoid any animal products like eggs, meat or cheese. Animal products will eventually go rancid and attract wild animals.

Keep adding to your pile, mix it up once a week or so. By the time you’re ready to start planting, you’ll have a nice pile of nutrient-rich soil. Add a layer to the top of your dirt and your new garden will be booming in no time!

5) Swap Out Paper Products for Bamboo.

Bamboo is an awesome alternative to traditional paper products. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing materials on Earth — as in much much faster than trees. Bamboo products such as toilet paper, paper towels, and paper straws allow you to combat deforestation from your own home.

You can find bamboo paper alternatives like these from Caboo, the Grove, and Who Gives a Crap Toilet Paper. The more we support these companies, the sooner we’ll see their products in local stores. We have to do our best to keep buying based on what’s right, not just what’s available.

6) Buy Bulk.

This is another one that is easier if you live in a bigger city. If you can, look for eco-friendly stores where you bring in your own containers and buy food based on weight.

If you live in a more rural area, there’s still usually a Costco or Sam’s Club within driving distance. The more you can buy in one large container rather than a bunch of individual containers, the better.

7) Listen to Green Podcasts.

Yay! This is an easy one.

One reason so many of us don’t accomplish our New Year’s Goals is that we give up. Another reason is that we get busy and completely forget we made them in the first place. Make a habit of listening to a green podcast while you commute to work, cook dinner, or take your shower. You will be reminded on a regular basis what you’re working towards and why. And you’ll get more and even better ideas of small improvements you can make to go green in your daily life.

Some of my favorites are:

• The Green Dreamer Podcast,
• The Slow Home Podcast, and
• Green Divas.

But there are tons of them out there. Try out a few and find your favorites.

8) Look into Alternate Power sources.

This could be as s small as buying LED light bulbs next time you’re out of bulbs. They last 25x as long as other light bulbs and use 75% less energy (again, going green saves those dollars in the long run).

It could also be as big as switching to solar power. While it’s true that not everyone can use solar power, for example, if you have a ton of tree coverage over your home. But, it’s a lot more accessible than people think. Solar panels can still create a lot of energy even if you live in an area that gets very little sunshine. And, many cities are starting solar power programs to help you make the switch, so it may be worth looking into.

9) Talk to Your Friends and Family.

This is good advice in general, but I am specifically referring to the green changes you make.

What changes were easy, what was hard? They may have their own suggestions that can help you go green. Or you could end up influencing them to make some changes themselves.

After all, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly,” -zero-waste chef Anne-Marie Bonneau.