Sustainable Resolutions
sheika looking towards the year ahead
The start of a new year is the perfect time to make resolutions that align with your values and contribute to a healthier planet. Living sustainably doesn’t always require dramatic changes, but small, thoughtful shifts in daily habits can make a big difference. Here are four simple, impactful resolutions to help you live more sustainably in 2025:
1. Reduce Your Single-Use Plastics
Plastic pollution is one of the most pervasive environmental issues of our time. Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans, where it can take hundreds of years to break down. One simple resolution for 2025 is to cut back on single-use plastics like bags, bottles, straws, and food packaging.
Why it matters:
Plastic takes centuries to decompose and can leach harmful chemicals into the environment.
It poses a major threat to marine life, with animals mistaking plastic for food or getting entangled in it.
Reducing plastic use minimizes the demand for petroleum-based products and lowers your carbon footprint.
Action steps:
Carry reusable shopping bags, a stainless steel water bottle, and a metal or bamboo straw in your car or bag. Ditch the plastic produce bag!
Avoid products with excessive plastic packaging, and choose glass or paper alternatives when possible.
Support businesses that offer sustainable packaging options or encourage refill stations for everyday items like shampoo and soap.
2. Adopt Energy-Saving Habits at Home
Reducing energy consumption is a straightforward and impactful way to live more sustainably. From using less electricity to choosing renewable energy sources, small changes in how you use power can lower your carbon emissions and save you money over time.
Why it matters:
The energy we consume, especially from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas (which fuel most power plants), is a leading contributor to climate change.
Saving energy reduces the demand for non-renewable resources and helps combat environmental degradation.
Lowering your energy bill is a win for both your finances and the planet.
Action steps:
Switch to energy-efficient LED bulbs, and unplug electronics when not in use.
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and higher in the summer to reduce heating and cooling costs.
If possible, explore options for solar panels or green energy plans with your utility provider.
3. Support Local, Sustainable Businesses
Supporting local businesses and sustainably-minded brands is a powerful way to reduce your environmental impact. By choosing locally made products, you’re cutting down on transportation emissions and supporting ethical, community-driven economies. Whether it’s food, clothing, or home goods, buying from sustainable sources promotes responsible consumption.
Why it matters:
Local businesses often have smaller carbon footprints due to reduced shipping distances and production on a smaller scale.
Sustainable brands prioritize eco-friendly materials, fair labor practices, and waste reduction, contributing to a circular economy.
Supporting these businesses creates positive feedback loops that incentivize more companies to adopt sustainable practices.
Action steps:
Shop at farmers’ markets or join a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to buy fresh, seasonal produce.
Choose products made from recycled, organic, or upcycled materials.
Look for certifications like Fair Trade, B Corp, or Certified Organic to guide your purchases.
4. Eating Sustainably – Try Plant-Based for January (or beyond!)
One of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental footprint is to change what you eat. The animal agriculture industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. By going plant-based for the month of January (or longer), you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and support more sustainable farming practices.
Why it matters:
A plant-based diet requires far fewer resources like water, land, and energy compared to animal products.
It helps mitigate climate change by reducing the greenhouse gases emitted from livestock production.
The global push for more plant-based eating has a powerful ripple effect on both industries and government policies, and the lives of animals!
Action steps:
Try swapping singular animal products for plant-based alternatives like plant milks and butters, or veggie burgers and nuggets.
Challenge yourself to learn new plant-based recipes.
Sign up for Veganuary to get access to recipes, tips, and a supportive community.
Even if you don't commit to a fully plant-based diet, starting with Veganuary is a great way to build a sustainable habit and potentially make lasting dietary changes.
You don't have to do everything. But you can do something. Just one change is a start, and it's more than doing nothing!
New Year, New Goals: Sweet Farm's 2025 Sustainability Initiatives
This year, we are setting ambitious goals to continue reducing our environmental footprint and building a more sustainable future. Here’s a glimpse at some of the exciting projects we’re focusing on in 2025:
Deepening Our Regenerative Practices: We’re adding more diversified crop rotations, more cover crops, and expanding our agroforestry efforts in our woods and silvopastures. These initiatives will increase biodiversity, improve soil health, and capture more carbon.
Zero-Waste Goals: Each year we get closer to becoming a zero-waste farm, aiming to minimize waste, increase composting, and utilize every resource efficiently. We have new recycling partners so that unavoidable waste items like feed bags are being redirected away from the landfill. We have switched our paper products to bamboo and are composting as much of our rubbish as we can.
Community Engagement: We’ll host more workshops and educational events online, broadening our reach to teach even more individuals about sustainability, animal welfare, and the importance of biodiversity.
We are excited about these initiatives and look forward to sharing updates with you as the year progresses!
A Sustainable 2024: Your Year of Change
By making just a few of these sustainable resolutions in 2024, you’re not only improving your own lifestyle but also contributing to a broader movement toward a healthier, more resilient planet. Whether you choose to try Veganuary, reduce plastic waste, conserve energy, or support local businesses, each step counts. Let this be the year you create habits that not only benefit you but also help safeguard the Earth for future generations.
