Can you believe it’s January already? It feels like Christmas was only yesterday. Now that the leftovers have been eaten and guests have gone home, it’s time to set our goals for the new year.
As an eco-friendly activewear brand, we want to make sure 2022 is your healthiest and greenest year yet. Fitness goals are popular new year’s resolutions, and we’re all about inspiring people to get active, but there’s more to our #bebetter philosophy than just renewing your gym membership. Our vision is to make fitness a driver for positive change, so why not make 2022 the year you put caring for the planet at the top of your priority list?
To help you start the year on the right foot, we’ve created this short and simple guide to setting (and sticking to!) eco-friendly goals for a greener 2022.
Why does sustainability matter in 2022?
According to multiple studies conducted by the United Nations, this decade is our last chance to reduce the damage we’ve done to the earth.
During the United Nations Change Conference (known as COP26) last October, many countries made bold statements such as curbing methane emissions, ending financial financing of fossil fuels, and halting forest loss. Whilst the achievements of the conference are debatable, it did succeed in waking up the world to environmental issues.
Two concerns creeping up people’s consciousness are the fashion industry and plastic pollution. Fast fashion is only getting faster. Clothing production has doubled since 2000 and the number of new styles released by fast fashion brands is up 19% from 2020. And our oceans are looking more and more like a rubbish heap. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation revealed that if we don’t act now, there may be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.
We’re doing our part to clean up the fashion industry and tackle plastic pollution, but to change current trends everyone needs to take action. To help you do your bit, we’ve come up with four eco-friendly goal ideas and tips for sticking to them.
Set your goals: 4 eco-friendly New Year’s resolutions
1. Cut down on plastic
Plastic is a curse word in sustainability. It’s to be avoided at all costs. Make it your aim to carry around a reusable water bottle and a tote bag, so that you’re not picking up single-use plastic bottles and bags where you don’t need to.
2. Eat more plants
Being more mindful about the food we consume and how it impacts the planet can make a massive difference. Why not try and introduce more plant-based substitutes into your diet? After all, eating plant-based more often is ‘the single biggest way to reduce your impact on earth’ (1).
If you're looking to dive into the world of plant-based food, the Veganuary trend encourages people give a month of vegan food a go. Similarly, meat-free Mondays inspire people to try plant-based recipes one day a week. But it doesn’t have to be a massive change, collective efforts add up and so any small swap you make counts for a lot.
3. Get Plogging
One of our favorites. Combine your morning jog with some litter-picking and you’ve got ‘plogging’: a fun and a planet-friendly way to get fit. The trend started in Sweden and has spread across social media, with plogging groups cropping up across the world. It not only helps reduce plastic pollution by keeping it off the paths and away from wildlife, but the additional squats and stretches have added benefits for your health too (2). Just grab a bag, get your friends involved, and see what you can collect!
4. Slow down fast fashion habits
The winter sales can be tempting, but make sure you ask yourself ‘why’ before you buy. Do you really need new shoes? And will you ever wear that dress? According to Greenpeace, people buy 80 billion garments around the world each year, and every single second 2,625kg of clothing becomes waste (3). You don’t want to add to the pile.
When clothes start to look past their best, finding a local tailor or repairing them at home can give them a new lease of life. To freshen up your wardrobe, you can also upcycle the clothes you already own, hold a clothes swap with friends, or search second-hand shops.
And if you need new gear to smash your January fitness goals, keep the ‘vote with your wallet’ mantra in mind. When your part with your pennies, you play a part in the future of our planet. Make sure your money goes to support small and local businesses that are truly making the effort to create sustainable clothing from start to finish.
You can trust our eco-friendly activewear is made with sustainability at the heart of every decision.
Sticking to your goals
You’ve got your eco-friendly goals, you’ve done your ‘new year, new me’ post, but now it’s the real challenge. Keeping them.
We’ve all been there. Making big plans and public promises on January 1st, only to give up by the 20th. In fact, research shows that two thirds of people abandon their new year’s resolutions within a month (4).
So how do you stick to your eco-friendly goals?
The key is to make your goals attainable and actionable. Realistically, most people don’t wake up one morning and suddenly switch to completely zero-waste and entirely plant-based. We get it. Life happens. Instead of an all-or-nothing mentally, focus on the changes you can commit to.
Try and work backwards. If you aim to go vegan by the end of the year, start by adding more and more plant-based meals each week. If you’re trying to stop your shopping habits, set yourself a spending limit and keep reduce it over time. Taking small steps and acknowledging your steps at each stage will build your confidence and help you see your goal as achievable.
When you’re struggling to stay motivated, remind yourself why you are setting these goals. We’ve curated a colourful mix of resources on our Tripulse Inspiration Hub to give you a kick-up the butt to #bebetter and a make positive change.
Are you ready to commit to your eco-friendly goals? Join our community to keep yourself accountable.
By signing up to our mailing list, you’ll not only discover more about our eco-friendly activewear, but have inspiration delivered straight to your inbox all year round. It’s easier to stick with it when you have a team cheering you on.
Now let’s make 2022 greener and healthier than ever!
Sources:
(1) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/31/avoiding-meat-and-dairy-is-single-biggest-way-to-reduce-your-impact-on-earth
(2) https://mashable.com/article/plogging-fitness-trend
(3) https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/9-reasons-to-quit-fast-fashion-this-black-friday/
(4) https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3084
