Sustainability Resources
This resource was inspired by the Black Lives Matters movement resource https://blacklivesmatter.carrd.co/# and the Change Starts With You resource https://changestartswithyou.carrd.co/.
There is no environmental justice without racial justice. We can make a difference everyday to create the change we wish to see. We must do our part, and contribute in the ways we know how, and I know sustainability. Here are some sustainable resources already helping to make the world a better place.
Support them, read about them, amplify them.
"Being a planetary citizen does not need space travel. It means being conscious that we are a part of the universe and of the earth. The most fundamental law is to recognize that we share the planet with other beings, and that we have a duty to our common home" -Vandana Shiva
Environmental Justice is Racial Justice: How So?
COVID-19 & Environmental Racism
–"Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put some members of racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting COVID-19 or experiencing severe illness, regardless of age." (CDC)
–Linking Air Pollution Exposure, Race & COVID-19
Animal Agriculture & Indigenous Communities
–Native Sovereignty in the Amazon vs. Destruction for Economic Gain
Slaughterhouse Workers & COVID19
–Meat Processing Companies, like Tyson, employ mostly immigrant workers (many of whom are undocumented), who are afraid to speak out due to fear of deportation
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs aka where most of America's meat comes from) & Environmental Racism
–Many CAFOS are located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, yet owned by large white organizations
–In North Carolina, CAFOS are 7x more common in low-income & high poverty areas, and 5x more likely to be located in majority nonwhite communities
–In America, generally, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities are significantly more likely to live within three miles of a CAFO
–The presence of CAFOs negatively affects surrounding property values, because the environmental effects of CAFOs remain long after a CAFO is shut down. This further contributes to the generational wealth gap, caused by disparities in land ownership
Fast Food, Food Deserts, Food Injustice
–Government policies have enforced urban revitalization projects and minority entrepreneurship initiatives which favor fast-food establishments
–Local grocery stores that remain in these communities (mostly BIPOC communities) have a harder time buying food in bulk or stocking fresh produce, so most of their food is processed and pre-packaged
–Lack of access to affordable healthy food, paired with the unmatched prices of fast food is a leading cause of the disproportionate increase in BIPOC communities' vulnerability to food-related death and disease
Pollution
Toxic Waste and Race
–"It’s that race is still the biggest indicator of whether or not you are going to live near a toxic site, breathe dirty air, drink dirty water. Racism is the most profound indicator of what kind of education you get, about how economically fragile your family might be, about whether you’re food insecure. These are issues that are combined to create this distraught present." -Cory Booker
–Trump's EPA Concludes Environmental Racism is Real
–The Toxic Effects of Imported Plastic Waste in Malaysia
Plastic Pollution
–Van Jones on Plastic Pollution
Vulnerability to Disease (Especially Relevant during COVID19)
–The US government and corporations perpetuate environmental racism through the placement of harmful facilities in already vulnerable neighborhood, which are known to give off asthma inducing pollutants and contaminate water
–Chicago
–48217: The Most Polluted Zip Code in Michigan
–Dakota Access Pipeline, rejected by white community, placed through Standing Rock Sioux Reservation
–Flint Still Doesn't Have Clean Water
Fashion
–Of the 74 million textile workers in the world, 80% are women of color.
–Raza Plaza Collapse Documentary
–Footwear’s (carbon) footprint, most of the world's shoes produced in China or Developing Countries; they face the consequences
Immigration
–Climate Change Will Create 1.5 Billion Migrants by 2050 and We Have No Idea Where They'll Go
Redlining & Environmental Justice
Prison Labor, Racism & Sustainability
–How Slavery Shaped the Criminal Justice System
–Racism, Police Violence, and the Climate Are Not Separate Issues
–Prison Labor Exploitation Rooted in Slavery
–One out of every three Black boys born today can expect to be sentenced to prison, compared 1 out 6 Latino boys; one out of 17 white boys.
–Many products made through prison labor are inherently unsustainable (packaged in plastic, made with toxic resources, etc.)(SEE LIST)
–Oil Giants Fund Police Groups in Major US Cities
Sustainable Alternatives to Products Made w/ Prison Labor
Google Sheet of Alternative Product Choices and Price Breakdown
Ethical Alternative Marketplaces to Amazon
Why Amazon is Actually Terrible for the Environment
Etsy
Thrive Market
Grove Collaborative
Earth Hero
eBay
Natural Collection
Package Free
Serenade The Company
Mighty Nest
Hippie Haven
BLK+GRN
Credo
The Detox Market
Follain
Lush
Find a Local Farmer's Market
TO THE MARKET
Azure Standard
DoneGood
GalerieLA
Loop
The Wally Shop
Bookshop
Thirty percent of the food produced globally is wasted every year; In the U.S., it’s more – 40 percent. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases behind China and the U.S., according to the World Resources Institute. A study by Project Drawdown, a coalition of experts focused on climate change solutions, ranks reducing food waste as the No. 3 action item out of 80 – to the tune of more than 70 gigatons of carbon reduction. And that’s not including any number of other food-related solutions on the list.
Companies combating food waste through groceries (Alternatives to AmazonFresh, Whole Foods and FreshDirect):
Misfits Market
Imperfect Foods
Bad Apple Produce
Environmental Organizations to Support/Volunteer With
This list is nowhere near exhaustive. DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT WITH YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL, NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
CLIMATE ACTION & INFORMATION
Slow Factory
Center for the Humanities: Climate Action Lab
Greenpeace
Environmental Working Group
Union of Concerned Scientists
Friends of the Earth
UN Environment Programme
Sunrise Movement
Plastic Hunt
Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development
Foundation For Climate Restoration
FOOD
Food Justice
Trap Garden
Soul Fire Farm
North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems
Seed Savers
Agricultural Justice Project
Farmworker Justice
Food and Water Watch
Sprout Up
17 Organizations promoting Regenerative Agriculture
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Climate Justice Alliance
Got Green
WE ACT
Green Action
Environmental Integrity Project
Little Miss Flint
Intersectional Environmentalist
A Growing Culture
The Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment
Greening Youth Foundation
The Dream Corps
Cultural Survival
Earth Justice
Sustainable South Bronx
Bronx Works
The Point
The Youth NYC
CONSERVATION/PRESERVATION
Parks Project
Earth Guardians
Amazon Watch
Amazon Aid
Rainforest Action Network
Rainforest Trust
Rainforest Alliance
World Wildlife Fund
New York Botanical Garden
Ocean Conservancy
Earth Island Institute
OneTree Planted
SeaTrees: Restore Kelp
GreenWave
Nature Needs Half
Nature Conservancy
Oceana
Conservation.org
National Audubon Society
International Union For Conservation
Conservation NorthWest
Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Cleanup Project
Adopt a Coral
Coral Reef Alliance
Restore America's Estuaries
Ocean Alliance, Adopt a Whale
Donate Hair (human or pet) to Help clean up Oil Spills
Bangladesh Flooding Relief
Society of Native Nations
The CCF Wildfire Fund
CA Immigrant Resilience Fund
Cal Fire Foundation
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
DONATE CLOTHES
Buy Nothing Groups on Facebook
Green Drop
Goodwill
Local Foster Homes
Salvation Army
More Places to donate clothes
National & Local Charities
FreeCycle
Accounts to Follow on Instagram
This list is nowhere near exhaustive.
DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT WITH YOUR FAVORITE ACCOUNTS.
CREDIBLE SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION
@intersectionalenvironmentalist
@UNEP
@ayanaeliza
@greengirlleah
@lucybiggers
@venetialamanna
@diandramarizet
@queerbrownvegan
@greenphillyblog
@wastefreemarie
@kimmietorgerson
@agrowingculture
@sustainthemag
@fuclimatechange
@teresabaker11
@xiyebeara
@pattiegonia
@greenmatters
@nrdc_org
@chicksforclimate
@climatediva
@hellosway
@faithfully.sustainable
@korialexis
@climatenexus
@toritsui
@futureearth
@kameachayne
@ours.tosave
@polly.barks
@browngirl_green
@greenyc
@nyclimate
@celinecelines
@theslowfactory
@ajabarber
@fordhamsustainability
@etal.mag
@WWF
@rainforestalliance
@greenpeaceusa
@earthrise.studio
@fridaysforfuture
@soyouwanttotalkabout
@adapt___
@nati.earth
@heyashleyrenee
@consciouschatter
SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
@thatcurlytop
@maxlamanna
@sophfei
@tiffanyalex_
@mikaelaloach
@aditimayer
@ecoinprogress
@modelactivist
@jennyong
@trashisfortossers
@stevieyaaaay
@adriangrenier
@cerowastecindy
@sustainablesabs
@saraweinreb
@kennaaloha
@lacontemporaine
@wildginaa
@ssustainably_
@wastenotbristol
@poppyokotcha
@thegoodtrade
@danniwashington
@ecoshaker
@hersustainablelife
@coconut_cracked
@cnscs_
@bipocswho_zerowaste
@itsecogal
@rethinkcampaign
@jhanneu
@abbythomas_
@sisoyvegan
@vbiancav
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES
@dominiquedrakeford
@whitneyrmcguire
@woc_cs
@theearthlingco
@wildminimalist
@lifewithoutplastic
@packagefreeshop
@backbeat.co
@blueland
@our_echo_system_
@sustainablebk
@blkandgrn
@thesustainablefashionforum
MEMES
@zerowastememes
@gogreensavegreen
@climemechange
@organicallspicedmemes
Credible Sources on Climate Impact
National Geographic
NYTimes Climate
Grist
Environmental News Network
The Environmentalist
CNN Climate
Reuters
GreenBiz
Sustainable Brands
Intersectional Environmentalist
EPA
Vice
National Academy of Sciences
Natural Resources Defense Council
NRDC: What You Need To Know About Climate Change
Green Matters
Food and Water Watch
CDC
UN Sustainable Development Goals
PICAN (Pacific Islanders Climate Action Network) Policy Demands
Refugees International - Climate Replacement Program
Ocean Conservation Namibia
Rigs-to-Reefs
UC Davis Science & Climate
Harvard Blog: Science in the News
NASA Climate Research
NASA: How Do We Know Climate Change is Real?
NASA: Effects of Climate Change
NOAA Climate
European Environment Agency
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC Assessment Reports)
Conservation.org
Marine Conservation Institute: Why Protect the Ocean
Scientific American
Business Green
The Good Trade
UN Climate Change
EcoWatch
Seed
Huffington Post: Environment (for educated insights)
The Guardian
The Atlantic
NPR (for educated insights)
NAACP
Petitions to Sign/Take Action
CHANGES START WITH YOU Climate Biodiversity List of Petitions & Resources
Food and Water Watch Petitions
Change.Org Environmental Protection (DO NOT DONATE TO CHANGE.ORG)
EDF Action Items
Official White House Petitions
FORDHAM RENEWABLE ENERGY PETITION
Hold Brands Accountable #Payup petition
PICAN (Pacific Islanders Climate Action Network) Policy Demands
Call It Genocide: Act for the Rohingya Refugees
Climate Restoration Emergency Resolution Petition
Nature Conservancy Petitions
Oceana Petitions
Make Your Voice Heard: Conservation.org
National Audubon Society
Ocean Conservancy
Donate Hair (human or pet) to Help clean up Oil Spills
Instate preventative Burning & Grazing Laws to reduce Wildfires in Australia
Halt the Extinction of the Greater Glider
Save the Mt Lofty Koalas
Australia: Act NOW to Save Koalas
Stop Kangaroo Cruelty in NSW
Global Petition to Protect the Amazon
Greenpeace Protect the Oceans
#SOSGalapagos NO MORE fishing fleets near Galapagos
Demand an end to the global wildlife trade
Sick of Plastic in Your Supermarket? Send a Postcard!
Tell Delivery Services to Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Tell Gov Edwards: Protect Louisiana from Toxic Air, COVID-19 & Environmental Racism
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act
Support Garment Workers during COVID-19
Save Our Seas from Marine Debris
Sustainable Brands to $pend On
Basic Rule of Sustainable Consumerism:
We must understand that consumerism is not sustainable, and we should be aiming to buy pieces that are durable, ethical, and conscious of their own life-cycles (seed to sale & disposal).
The US generates 17 million tons of textile waste PER YEAR.
This is why thrifting and secondhand fashion is such an important part of sustainability: bringing new life to old clothes. However, it is important that those who are CHOOSING to thrift are not taking advantage of organizations aiming to bring clothing to those who do not have the privilege of choosing to buy new clothes.
Thrift more responsibly with these apps and accounts (please visit my contact page for personal vintage shopping inquiries):
ThredUp
Depop
TheRealReal
Vestiaire
Poshmark
Ebay
OfferUp
Facebook Marketplace
Rebag
Mercari
VINTAGE ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM
@shopthestream
@shoprevivalvintage
@smallneeds
@barnabyjackvintage
@bumcakev
@madlyvintage
@saltandbloom_vtg
@aaricanichole
@the_honeyhouse
@jamil.thrift
@almu.store
@athenian.thrifts
@threadstodisco
@threedaysaweek
@byp.vintage
@shopthrftd
@vintagethrivals
@secondhandshawty
@kurationcollective
@ephrancevintage
@mawsupply
@cyber.coco
@neglectedgoods
@hausofvain.us
@neoncactusvintage
@vintageandsoul
@jaysellsvintage
@onthehvnt
@therichera
@devotionvtg
BIPOC Owned Brands
Arrow+Phoenix Swimwear
Backbeat Co.
Verdura
Darzah
Parade
Brother Vellies
ZOU XOU
Swahili Coast
Omi Woods
Remake List of Sustainable Brands
Womxn's & Men's Clothing (or Gender Neutral)
Pact
Made Trade
Able
Kotn
Ecovibe
Socks by Conscious Step
Threads 4 Thought
TJ Maxx (because they sell clothes that do not sell in regular retail stores)
Kool & Konscious
For Days
Tentree
Only Womxn's Clothing
Able
Amour Vert
Tamga Designs
Encircled
Tonle
Sustain by Kat
Eating the Goober
Asha: Eleven
Christy Dawn
wearwell: clothing curation
Athleisure
Products made with plastic bottles should be bought with a microplastic catcher like guppyfriend or coraball
Pact
Summer Salt
Alternative Apparel
Outdoor Voices
Groceries Apparel
Patagonia
Threads 4 Thought
Satva
Outerknown
Girlfriend Collective
Wolven
Athleta
Adidas (Parley or Stella McCartney Collections
Organic Basics
Reprise
Vyayama
Kathmandu
Skatie
Shoes
BC Footwear
Indosole
Teva
Birkenstock
Coclico
antidote
Good Guys Don't Wear Leather
Rothy's
Eating the Goober
Handmade Love
Nae
Nisolo
Salt + Umber
Christy Dawn
Able
laiik
the root collective
Pons Avarcas
Kyma
Fortress of Inca
Adelante Shoe Co.
RAFA
St. Agni
veja
tretorn
allbirds
JEWELRY
Hello Balleen
Mejuri
Ana Luis NY
idyl
Aurate
Smiling rocks
Washed ashore
Luna and rose
Gjenmi
ABLE
Arlokea
Made trade
Odette
Article 22
Nashelle
Pamela love
Zoe Chicco
Linjer
Child of wild
BACKPACKS
Patagonia
Sanqvist
State
Alternative Apparel
Paravel
Parker Clay
Fjallraven
Timbuk2
Bellroy
Tale of the Future
United By Blue
Est Wst
Kathmandu
Terra Thread
Wayks
Baggu
Utility Canvas
Freitag
Millican
Tentree
Clean Beauty
–TIP: use organic, unrefined coconut oil & a warm washcloth to remove makeup
[Check FVCK AMAZON PAGE FOR WHERE TO BUY]
BIPOC OWNED CLEAN BEAUTY
Alternative to NARS Bronzer (HAN)
Unsun
Naked Flamingo Skin Co
Golde
Nola Skin Essentials
BrioGeo
The Honey Pot Co
jentl co
Oui The People
Anita Grant
Klur Co
Mented Cosmetics
Aya Paper Co
lit soul candles
Huma Blanco
Bask & Bloom Shampoo Bar
blk+grn soap bars
OTHER CLEAN BEAUTY BRAND OPTIONS
RMS
Dime
W3ll People
AlimaPure
Drunk Elephant
Thayers
Pai
Necessaire
Acure Beauty
Summer Fridays
Bravo Sierra
Saie
PLASTIC FREE TOILETRIES
leaf razors
bite toothpaste
Goodwell co.
Myro
georganics floss/toothpaste
Lush
Joyja
Thinx
Unwrapped Life Shampoo & Conditioner
ACCESSORIES/GIFTS
Able
Ten Thousand Villages
TJ Maxx (because they sell clothes that do not sell in regular retail stores)
Madewell Do Well Shop
Parker Clay
Phone Cases: Pela Case
Beer Pong Cup Alternative
Blue Planet
SUSTAINABLE PETS
Earth Hero
Planet Dog
Beco Pets
Cycle Dog
The Green Pet Shop
P.L.A.Y
West Paw
Pet Food
Halo Pets
Tender & True
Paul's Custom Pet Food
Open Farm
Answers Pet Food
Toys, Treats & Accessories
Buck Bone Organics
Honest Pet Products
Purrfect Play
WigglyWoos
Dog Patch SF
Wagging Green
Teller Hill
WilderDog
Mountain Dog Leashes
Care
Wondercide All-Natural Cleaning Products
Green Pet Compost Company
Earth Rated Poop Bags and Stain Remover
King Canine CBD & Grooming
Bamboo Groom
Peaceful Pets Aquamation
Home
The Foggy Dog Dog Beds
Freedom Pet Pass: Energy Efficient Doggy Doors
Tell Your Mom to Ditch Plastic Wrap & Ziplocs
Stasher
AIRTIGHT STAINLESS STEEL CONTAINERS
Reusable Food Wraps
Food Huggers
Reusable Food & Container Lids
Beeswrap
Books to Read: DO NOT PURCHASE FROM AMAZON (links with Bookshop, check your local libraries too)
Podcasts to Listen to
Yikes Podcast
Green Dreamer Podcast
A Sustainable Mind
Amplify
The Slow Home
Wear Your Values
The Minimalists
Overheard at National Geographic
For The Movement
NPR: Living Downstream
Talk Climate Change to Me
Conscious Chatter (Especially Special Edition Series The Root–Decolonizing The Sustainable Fashion Agenda)
Movies/Documentaries to Watch
DO NOT WATCH ON AMAZON
CLOTHING
The True Cost
RiverBlue
The Machinists
Unravel
The Next Black
Alex James: Slowing Down Fast Fashion
FOOD/WATER
Tapped
Food Inc.
What the Health
Cowspiracy
POLLUTION
Sludge
Poisoned Water
A Plastic Ocean
Chasing Coral
Mission Blue
Trashed
The Story of Plastic
Company Town
Dark Waters
Plastic Paradise
SUSTAINABILITY
Islands of the Future
Sustainable
Tomorrow (2015)
Minimalism
2040
No Impact Man
Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization
An Inconvenient Truth
ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
RISE: Standing Rock (Parts 1 & 2)
There's something in the Water
Gasland
Waterfront
This Changes Everything
CLIMATE CHANGE
Chasing Ice
Ice on Fire
Before the Flood
After the Fire
Blowout: Inside America's Energy Gamble
Lowland Kids
Climate Change- The Facts
Planet of the Humans
ACTIVISM
The Island President
The Voice of the Amazon
The Condor and the Eagle
Earth Days
A Fierce Green Battle: The Battle For a Living Planet
Disobedience
Kifaru
The River and the Wall
An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power
Blue Gold: World Water Wars]
Coal Country
Sisters on the Planet
Erin Brockovich
Better Ways To Use Your Screen Time (Apps You Can Download)
Contact Me
If you would like to see something added to this list, please email with the button above.
For personal research in sustainable brand alternatives, I will charge a small fee per hour of research. Email for inquiries.
Additionally, I do 15-minute phone calls on a donation basis to discuss how to implement sustainability into your personal life (inspired by @vbiancav nutrition hotline). Email for more info.
**if you found this resource useful, feel free to buy me a coffee ($4)! I'm a cold brew gal (in my own container of course)!