When you embark on a journey toward sustainability, you're bound to encounter obstacles - stepping stones, rubble, or even mountains that feel impossible to climb. Often, we face tough choices: Do we take the easier but much longer path, or opt for the steeper, more challenging one? Or, perhaps we’re caught in dilemmas like: "I love space rockets, but they’re terrible for the environment!" Or an even trickier one: "I’m vegan, but I have two carnivorous cats. What now?"
Being human is challenging enough, and adding the responsibility of living sustainably can feel overwhelming. Whether it's changing your diet to benefit the environment or adopting a minimalist lifestyle, the journey can be daunting.
I’m not here to scare you off. This post is meant to offer some perspective on how to navigate those tough situations you'll encounter in your journey toward sustainability.
How Do You Navigate This?
It starts with awareness, acceptance, and then taking responsibility. I try to live as a vegan-tarian because I don’t want any living being to suffer. But that statement itself is broad, and honestly, it’s not the whole truth. Every action we take has an impact. For example, while being vegan reduces harm to animals, it doesn’t completely eliminate environmental damage. Every product I consume has a production chain that affects the planet and therefore animals still, whether through the resources it uses or the waste it leaves behind.
Here’s the thing: You can’t entirely eliminate your impact on the environment, no matter how hard you try. The goal is to minimize it.
The real question is: What can you live with? What compromises can you make?
Let’s go back to the vegan + cats dilemma.
When I became vegan, I already had a cat. One day, it hit me that by feeding him, I was still harming animals - an uncomfortable realization for a vegan. I had to figure out a solution that I could live with.
Some people feed their pets a vegan diet. Please don’t do that! While dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet for a while (though not long-term), cats cannot. Cats are obligate carnivores - 97% of their diet must come from meat. The other 3%? Maybe the grain in a mouse’s stomach, or their bones. If you’re feeding your cat a plant-based diet, I need to be blunt: You’re actively harming them.
So, how can you strike a balance between your values and caring for your pet?
Start by looking for pet food that contains:
- At least 70% real meat
- No sugars
- No grains
This way, you’re ensuring your pets are getting what they need while staying true to your beliefs. It’s a compromise, but one you can feel good about.
The next step? Look for brands that source their meat responsibly or even use organic ingredients. You’ll also want to avoid those cheap pet foods that contain attractants - ingredients meant to get pets addicted to them, much like humans and sugar. This transition will likely lead to some pushback from your pets (cue the whining and refusal to eat), but just like weaning yourself off sugar, your pets will adjust.
Compromising in Other Areas of Life
The same mindset can apply to other areas.
Love driving your car? Start by walking short distances. Instead of driving to the store for a loaf of bread, walk there. You still get to enjoy your car, but you’re cutting back on your carbon emissions and maybe getting a bit fitter too.
Love traveling? Acknowledge that flying has a huge environmental cost. Just recognizing this and taking responsibility for it shifts your mindset. If you can afford it, maybe explore alternative travel options like trains or ships. Though I won’t pretend any of today’s transportation options are fully eco-friendly, being mindful matters.
Obsessed with tech? You don’t have to ditch your phone or gadgets, but consider upgrading less often. Instead of buying a new phone every two years, care for the one you have, and extend its life. When it’s time to replace it, look for companies that offer responsible recycling or refurbishing programs.
Want to buy a car? Look for a hybrid or fully electric model right away.
In Conclusion
We’re lucky to live in an age where every one of us can make a difference. It’s just about stepping away from the familiar, questioning the habits we’ve grown up with, and thinking outside our personal bubble.
You don’t have to be perfect; no one can be. But by taking small steps and being aware of your choices, you’re already making a positive impact. Remember: One step at a time. You've got this!
With love, compassion, and courage,
Heike
The Sustainalist
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