4 Ways The Wellness and Sustainability Worlds Are Merging

Julie Starr • Mar 18, 2021



Wellness and sustainability are most probably the top trends of the past few years, especially during the pandemic. Dee Agarwal discusses the surge in wellness apps, as more and more people are looking for ways to improve their mental wellbeing during the crisis. Of those people, many are looking for ways to improve their quality of life through sustainable living and health. The wellness and sustainability industries have been slowly merging for some time. Yet now more than ever, they are almost simultaneous.

Mobile Apps

The best way to educate yourself nowadays, especially during the lockdown, is through the internet. Most people use their phones more than a computer or laptop due to ease of access and instant loading. Thus, more people than ever are turning to mobile apps to educate and better themselves within the wellness and sustainable world. There is a multitude of apps out there that promote mindfulness, offer you sustainable recipes, teach you how to improve your health and sustainability routine, and more. Apps make it easy for people to access the latest trends and tips to help them become more centered and focused on how to improve their wellbeing and be more sustainable in everyday life.

Minimal Design

Advocates of the new minimalism movement are consuming less. When they do choose to make purchases they choose goods that are sustainably made and long-lasting, thus keeping more items out of the waste stream. This act is also turning people towards minimal design, which is a beneficial way to improve wellbeing and enhance sustainability. Having less “stuff” helps relax the mind and also reduces a person’s carbon footprint.

A Basic Diet

By caring more about food labeling and additives, consumers are valuing whole food diets. This can have a positive sustainability impact when it is paired with eating with the seasons and minimizing food waste. People are choosing foods that are minimally processed and natural with the belief that eating whole foods in moderation is better than over-processed diet foods to improve their health too.

Holistic Consumerism

Consumers want products that make them feel good mind, body, and soul. A number of brands are offering transparency around sourcing, wages, and supply chain costs in order to help consumers understand their business model. Buying products with a positive message and social justice mission can contribute to higher wages for producers, lower environmental impact, and community development. However, this should be part of the “buy less but buy better” movement so that people do not overconsume. It seems that businesses that do not harm the environment are more popular than ever, as they promote wellness and sustainability. 

These merging methods are helping the world be more aware of what and how they consume in everyday life, which is having a beneficial impact on people’s mental health as well as the planet.

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • 07 Oct, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • 04 Oct, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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