Minimalism and the environment

Minimalism and eco-minimalism

The “traditional” definition of minimalist living focuses on the happiness items give you, and the number of items you own, as well as making your living space clear of clutter and unnecessary distractions. 

Eco-minimalism works on a similar principle while considering the impact on the Earth’s health and wellbeing. This applies to the process of minimalising your lifestyle, as well as the ongoing choices you make.

How can minimalism and the environment go hand in hand?

If you’re at the beginning of your minimalism journey, you’re probably going to want to get rid of a lot of excess stuff. Decluttering is often one of the first stages towards minimalism, so making sure you’re doing this consciously and responsibly is important.

The easiest route and therefore often the most tempting is to just dispose of everything you no longer want or need. But if you want your minimalism to help the environment, throwing stuff away should be your last option, not the default.

Before throwing something away, consider:

• Repurposing or upcycling items you no longer use into something you need or will get use out of.
• Selling unwanted items. If you can, selling locally at a car boot sale or on local selling sites is generally more eco-friendly than shipping to someone further away. But selling something on is always better than throwing it away.
• Offering for free. Some people will see value in a free item, for example, a collection of used and washed glass jars, but won’t want to pay for them.
• Donating to a local charity shop, hospital, friend in need or shelter.
• Recycling anything that can be recycled, but can’t be donated, sold, or repurposed.

Minimalism: your ongoing journey and the environment

When continuing your minimalist journey, make purchases consciously, considering the need of the item as well as its source. A lot of traditional minimalism is rooted in design, so it can be tempting to dispose of old things to replace them with items that help you get “the look”. 

If you’re practicing eco-minimalism, it’s important to consider if what you’re buying is really needed. If you do really need to purchase something, doing some research into the sustainability and sourcing of each item is good practice, and remember that buying second-hand is almost always more gentle on the environment than buying something new, no matter how sustainably sourced that new item is. 

Ideas for environmentally-friendly minimalism

Here are some of our tips for embracing minimalism whilst also considering the environment.

Physical minimalism – your wardrobe

When it comes to the things you own and use, there are some ways to lighten your impact:

• Focus on items that bring you personal happiness and don’t own too many of the same item.
• Keep a capsule wardrobe
• Buy clothes that fit your current lifestyle. 
• Buy clothes that fit your body right now (not what you want it to be). 
• Recycle old clothes that don’t fit your capsule or lifestyle and consider alternative ways to recycle or repurpose clothes if they can’t be sold on or donated.
• Repair (as a project) and sell damaged items, or sell them on (or give them away for free) to support someone else’s hobby. 
• Read our post on making your clothes last longer!
• Before buying something, ask yourself if the purchase is necessary and what you’ll use it for. Then consider its sustainability credentials. 
• Buy second-hand where possible. 

Digital minimalism 

We’ve heard about the carbon footprint of sending just 1 email and then storing that email in the cloud. Cloud storage isn’t really a cloud, it’s a series of buildings with servers running 24/7 to keep your files and data safe and ready for when you need it. To reduce your digital footprint:

• Clear out your inbox and saved files on a regular basis. Keep only what is necessary. 
• Go paperless in your home and work office 
• Be more purposeful with your digital use – cutting down on your device use will mean less charging, and the bonus of more intentional time spent with friends and family. 

Creative consumption

You might live the most minimal life known to humankind, but you’ll still need some things. Being creative and intentional with your consumption is a must when it comes to eco-minimalism. You could try:

• Borrowing from friends and family (especially those bigger ‘ticket’ items such as kitchen appliances and electronics). 
• Rent items on a short-term basis as needed instead of buying.
• Consider the “end of life” options for the items you buy. Purchase with the intent to eventually repurpose, sell, donate or recycle, and ask manufacturers and retailers whether they have any options to return, repair or recycle items they sell.

One woman’s journey to minimalism

We spoke to yoga teacher and minimalist living enthusiast Lisa Askem, who embarked on her own minimalism journey 8 years ago. She shared some thoughts about how it all began for her and how it’s going.

Lisa’s story

Was there a particular event that prompted you to overhaul your life and live more minimally?

How did you do it, and how did it feel?

Do you feel like the life you live now is kinder to the environment than it was before your overhaul?