A guide to sustainable beginnings by Stella Sage.
Stella Sage
German-American, student, certified personal trainer, motivated by the desire to reconnect humans and nature.
https://www.thrive-bynature.com
Stories of ecopreneurs and bold ideas that drive the world towards a sustainable future.
Tell us briefly about your journey - where did you study, work and what are you doing at the moment? What is your relation to the topic of sustainability?
- Hi, my name is Stella. I was born in Germany and I am 19 years old.
- I have a passion for all kinds of sports, reading, the English language and all things regarding nature.
- I am currently a student, a model and a blogger.
How has been your journey in the sustainability space so far?
- It has been quite emotional actually. But also very educational.
- It is never ending and there are always ways to learn more, do more , be “better”.
- It can be overwhelming but I have found comfort in the fact that it is a big movement that will only continue to grow.I have found so many like minded people of all ages who inspire me in this space and who have an undying devotion to making this world a better place.
What do you want to achieve with your initiatives?
-I want people, who are not aware of the environmental destruction and human impact on the environment to wake up.
-To educate themselves and see that individual choices matter.
-That absolutely nothing has a meaning or worth if the environment we live in is destroyed.
-I want people to see that we all have the power to change things and to put pressure on “the big guys”.
-Especially when we join forces and work together to create a powerful ripple effect.
Why are you interested and drive behind topics like climate impact and sustainability?
-As I said before, it really is the most important topic in this world -in my opinion- because everything will cease to exist once our natural world is destroyed.
-I am so disappointed by the lack of education and action that is supplied by our governments and political parties.
-The movement needs to become bigger, much bigger.
-Only when living “sustainable lives” has become the norm and nature has been able to recover, can we sit back and take a break. Sustainability and care for nature has to become ingrained in society.
What do you think are the problems we need to address on a global scale? How can we achieve this and drive change?
-The problems that need to be addressed have accumulated into a huge pile of problems. In all different areas. Problems in agriculture, marine life, deforestation, extreme weather conditions, water shortages, large unsustainable industries that seem too powerful to be brought down and are too lucrative the way they are run to be forced to make changes in favor of the environment.
-It is a big matter and I think worldwide, real, raw education is what is needed at first, as a wakeup call to the people of this planet.
-And this needs to be provided by the world’s governments, along with governmental organizations that employ people for different projects like reforestation, sustainable agriculture, repopulation of insects and endangered animals, rebuilding biodiversity,...
-We have seen it with Covid. Big changes, quick responses and regulations are enforced most effectively by the law and governmental bodies.
-If it were illegal to use herbicides and pesticides in agriculture, to produce new plastic, to waste the earth’s natural resources for monetary gain, etc.and there were serious penalties imposed on companies/industries/people who disregarded these rules
-our situation would be a very different one.
How can individuals contribute to accelerate the world towards a more sustainable future?
-Avoid single use items always. Definitely do not get food from fast food restaurants.
-Use reusable produce bags for your produce.
-Eat mostly plant-based.
-Get a compost bin! It is possible to compost food waste in a garden as well as in an apartment.
-Make sure all household cleaning products, as well as laundry detergent are made from natural ingredients!
-Buy soap bars instead of bottled shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
-Buy second hand clothing, technology, electric household items, furniture.
-Buy all paper products (toilet paper, printer paper, notebooks, tissues,...) from brands that make them from 100 % recycled paper.
-These are just a few things that are accessible to many people, so they are doable.
-One of the most important factors is also: educate yourself, open up conversations with less informed family, friends, colleagues,
-Make them aware of the environmental impact of their actions and show them what they can do differently.
What is your vision of a more sustainable future? In which technologies and trends do you believe?
-A future where renewable energies like water, solar and wind power are the only ones that are used.
-Where zero waste grocery stores and packaging made from recycled plastic or biodegradable material, is the norm.
-A fashion industry that comes full circle, where not a yarn is wasted and repurposing, thrifting and recycling is the only way.
-An agriculture that is governed by the law of nature, where food is grown the way it was intended without the chemical and unnatural interference of mankind.
-Repurposing,re/upcycling what we already have in every industry.
-Green cities and towns that have communal compost bins and vegetable gardens and are reintegrated into nature by lining streets with trees, creating flower beds on sidewalks,...
-A bigger focus on local and regional products.
-The reconnection of humans with nature.
Want to connect to Stella?
Instagram: @thrive_bynature
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