5 Sustainable Lifestyle Influencers To Follow For Eco Vibes

1. Natalie Kay Costello

Creator Natalie Kay Costello aka @sustainablychic draws on her decade of experience working in the fashion industry to show you how fashion can exist responsibly, and how you can create a sustainable wardrobe. She also offers recommendations on how to recognize a fast fashion brand and suggests ones to avoid.

Natalie says; “Some of us are lucky to have great thrift and consignment stores in our backyards. If you can find what you are looking for, I highly recommend doing so! It's wonderful to keep re-loving a garment for as long as possible.”

2. Lauren Singer

Via her channel @trashisfortossers, sustainability influencer Lauren Singer is committed to living a zero-waste lifestyle, in fact, she’s so committed, that the amount of trash that she has produced over the past three years can fit inside of a 16 oz. mason jar. Follow her for tips on shopping package-free, making your own products, and refusing plastic and single-use items.

“One of my favorite DIYs is my three-ingredient cleaning spray. Combining dried herbs or citrus peels, vinegar, and water has created a multipurpose spray that works on mirrors, surfaces (avoid marble and granites!) and even porcelain. It has a 5 ⭐ rating in my book!”, says Lauren.

3. Kathryn Kellogg

Climate optimist Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) turned to a zero-waste lifestyle to reduce her cost of living and improve her health. She advocates reducing what we need, reusing as much as we can, sending very little to be recycled, and composting as much as possible.

Kathryn says; “Sustainable living doesn’t have to be expensive. One of the most eco-friendly things you can do is buy less and use what you have!” Follow Kathryn for even more zero-waste tips.

4. Chloé Lepeltier

From feminist literature to sustainable fashion to backcountry snowboarding, French-born Chloé Lepeltier’s blog and Instagram @consciousbychloe, indorse curiosity and creativity, and offer tips on slow living, zero waste, sustainable lifestyle tips, and ethical fashion. Check out her guide to zero-waste shopping.

Chloé lives by the words of Sandra Goldmark; “Have good stuff, not too much, mostly reclaimed, care for it, and pass it on.”

5. Leah Thomas

Advocate for environmental justice on Instagram @greengirlleah and through her non-profit, intersectional environmentalist Leah Thomas promotes inclusivity and accessibility within environmental education and movements. Follow her for liberal doses of thought-provoking climate optimism.

Leah says; “When scrolling through your social media feed, share and amplify the messages you believe the world needs to hear. Who knows, maybe it’ll surge like a waterfall and change the hearts and minds of enough people to positively alter the future.”

Now that you have a feed full of sustainable lifestyle content, here are a few simple ways to start shifting from fast fashion consumerism to living a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle today.

1. Swap to eco-friendly products

The lower its impact on the environment, the more eco-friendly a product will be, so switch out your everyday items for recycled and recyclable alternatives where possible. 

Take your own containers to the supermarket and go to bulk dry stores where you can stock up on dried goods—it can save you a lot of money too. Choose products that have fully recyclable or compostable packaging, buy clothing and apparel made from recycled materials, avoid single-use plastic, and look for items that are made locally.

The best way to ensure the sustainability of the products you buy is to check the packaging for third party certifications from organizations that evaluate its environmental impact.

2. Choose slow travel

This doesn’t necessarily mean walking to your destination, although that’s a very low-carbon way to travel, slow travel is a mindset. It’s a more conscious, environmentally responsible way of seeing new places and really getting to know the destinations you visit. A more immersive way of engaging with the world around you.

For a truly eco-friendly travel experience, consider filling a backpack that helps reduce textile waste with water and snacks and exploring your local state park or wandering around your hometown with a tourist map discovering new shops, museums, and cafes.

3. Limit your use of social media

Our culture of sharing daily snapshots and double tapping eye-catching content comes with a hefty carbon footprint, one that requires ginormous data centers which, globally, utilize around 205 terawatt-hours of energy each year. Not only that, but the ceaseless cycle of consumerism social media promotes leaves little space for mindful purchasing. Reducing time on social media is also shown to improve mental health.

Although sustainable living can seem like a daunting task, by making small changes that are achievable for the long term you can play your part and live everyday like it’s Earth Day.