What is our impact?
What can we do about it?
How can we scale positive outcomes and solutions?
These are the questions I’ve been working to better understand.
I’m not an expert, but I’ve been at this for a while working to learn from experts and organizations doing strong work. Here are a few things I wish I knew sooner and resources to explore if you’re keen.
1. Nobody is perfect, Progress > Perfection
There is no perfectly sustainable life or business, we all have impacts. The important thing is working to understand what those impacts are and begin working to address them and make progress. I learned this from Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard in his book ‘The Responsible Company’.
2. Understand and Learn
Knowing where to begin can be the hardest part. Global Footprint Network’s Footprint Calculator only takes 2 minutes and is a great jumping-off point to explore our daily impacts. I used it a few years ago, and I was blown away by my actual footprint. Since then I’ve been working to reduce my emissions and offset the rest of my footprint. Project Drawdown is the world’s leading resource for climate solutions and another incredible resource if you’re keen to learn more.
3. Act
Start small wherever you are with what makes sense for you. You can support impactful brands by looking for B Corp, Climate Neutral, and 1% for the Planet Certifications on products. You can cut down on food waste or eat more plants, or opt for human-powered transportation. You can reach out to your politicians and favorite brands and see if they have a climate plan. You can find an organization doing work that’s meaningful to you and donate your time, unique expertise, or support their mission financially.
If you’re interested in joining me on my journey to better understand our impact, I’ll be sharing more resources on my Instagram page at @shakesbeer_
