Good News: You Already Have Everything You Need to Live a Sustainable Life

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Okay, here’s the thing about sustainability: it’s SO easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to buy more stuff. That sleek, minimalist bento box for your meal-prep era, the compost bin that looks pretty on your countertop, and the tote bagdujourfor grocery runs—I see you. But honestly? You already have everything you need to make your life more eco-friendly. You don’t have to buy a single thing.

EnterDominique Drakeford, founder of the blogMelaninASS(aka Melanin and Sustainable Style) and cofounder ofSustainableBK, a newly launched org bringing sustainability to targeted communities in Brooklyn. For her, living an eco-friendly life is all about getting conscious about what you already own and working with that. I’m obsessed with this mindset.

Here’s the tea: one of the issues with sustainability is that when there’s a cost barrier for entry, way too many people get left out—and too many people don’t get credit for the earth-friendly practices they’ve been doing forever. For Drakeford, pushing for more representation and access in sustainability is everything. “I wanted to bring people of color into the conversations since sustainability has been such a major avenue for indigenous communities and people of color globally for a very long time,” she says.

With degrees in both business environmental management and sustainable entrepreneurship under her belt, Drakeford knows how to spark change on a big industry scale—but let me tell you, conservationism also starts right at home. Ahead, she’s sharing her go-to tips for being kinder to the planet without spending a single extra dollar. Run, don’t walk.

“For many of your basic cleaning needs, you don’t have to go out and buy new ‘green’ cleaning supplies—many of which are green-washed (meaning, they’re made tolooklike they’re eco-friendly even if their ingredient list suggests otherwise),” Drakeford says. “Make your own cleaning productswith orange peels, lemon peels, vinegar, and tea tree oil or baking soda.”

“There are so many types of totes out there varying in size, color, design, material, and purpose,” Drakeford notes. “Many of us already have at least one tote—if not many—and buying new shiny totes when you have viable ones aids in what I call ‘eco-capitalism.’” Translation: when you keep buying more stuff in the name of being sustainable, you can actually end up deepening your carbon footprint. The aesthetic isn’t worth it, honestly.

“Air-dry your clothes often as possible. When you hang-dry your clothes (either outside or on a rack), you save your household’s carbon footprintandyour electricity bill,” Drakeford advises. “Also, only wash what needs to be washed—denim, for example, doesn’t need to be frequently washed. Minimize the purchase of manmade fibers (polyester, nylon, acrylic) because when you wash them, their plastic microfibers get into the ocean and, subsequently, into the aquatic life we consume for food.”

“You don’t have to go out to buy new cups for your home or buy a new to-go mug for juice, coffee, or tea. You can simply rinse out and reuse your old pasta sauce or salsa jars, which can be your at-home or on-the-go cups,” Drakeford says. “A cool trick I learned from@sustainablesabsis to put rubber bands around a mason jar when you plan on using it for warm liquids [to protect your hands from the hot glass]. Repurposed jars are also great storage container for dry cabinet food, refrigerator storage, and miscellaneous home supplies.”

“We often hoard things that don’t bring us joy, solitude, or clarity. Decluttering is a continuous process of getting rid of items in your home that don’t aid in your practical or spiritual well-being,” Drakeford says. “Find a sustainable way to get rid of unfilled items throughout your home, as this is sustaining your happiness and wholeness. Be conscious of the items you bring into your home—don’t declutter just to reclutter. This effort is not about minimalism per se but rather about conscious curation, aligning your space with things that complement your values so that you can be the best version of yourself.”

See more sustainability advice:The Most Eco-Friendly Place to Find Furniture Isn’t a StoreWant to Cut Down Your Plastic Use? These 3 Startups Can HelpHow One Person Finds Home Decor Treasures in Other People’s Trash

Rebecca is most often found digging through troves of vintage treasures, both in-person and online. Ask her to recommend a good book to read or an obscure Instagram account to follow, and you won’t be disappointed.

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