15 Sustainable Living Leaders to Inspire Your Eco-Living Journey

Having role models to look up to and learn from when working on your eco-living lifestyle helps you stay on track. Take a look at your playlists, feeds, and bookshelves. Are there sustainable living leaders here that are inspiring you?

If the answer is no, or if there could be more of those green living voices, then this round-up is for you. Just in time for spring cleaning month in March, this list will bring green living inspiration to spruce up your regular content intake.

Here are some sustainability champions to add to your read, listen, and watch lists:

Authors/Books

1. Varshini Prakash, Guido Girgenti: Winning the Green New Deal: Why We Must, How We Can

Warnings from scientists about the world’s climate emergency have been growing for a long time. In response, the Green New Deal started picking up steam, backed by leaders calling on the federal government to reduce waste and reverse climate change. This book includes essays and opinions from youth activists, journalists, and policymakers on what needs to happen to avoid climate disasters.

2. Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass

A professor, plant scientist, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass inspires readers to reflect on their relationships with nature through an Indigenous lens. Plants and animals are great teachers, Kimmerer shows, taking us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert). Kimmerer is one of those sustainable living leaders who will inspire you to see the natural world in a whole new way.

3. Jennie Romer: Can I Recycle This?

Written for anyone who has ever stood by their blue bin and wondered what to toss in, this book is a straightforward how-to guide. As a lawyer, sustainability expert, and founder of PlasticBagLaws.org, Romer is an expert on the topic.

4. Harriet A. Washington: A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind

This book is a must-read for understanding how climate change harms vulnerable communities the most. Written by award-winning science writer Harriet A. Washington, you’ll learn about how devastating environmental injustices affect people of color in America.

Videos creators

4. JHÁNNEU

Austin-based sustainability expert Jhánneu creates how-to video tutorials and guides on sustainable living, from zero-waste skincare routines to reducing waste in the kitchen.

5. Trash Is for Tossers

Founding the personal blog in 2014, Lauren Singer’s Trash Is For Tossers quickly grew into one of the most viral resources for zero-waste living. She’s been featured on TED Talks, and her YouTube channel features content ranging from zero waste DIY tutorials to tips for wasteless swaps.

6. Living Unjaded

Finding her niche in video tutorials for upcycling, Jade is a zero-waste living inspiration for homeowners everywhere. If you’re looking for tips on DIY furniture flips and home renovations, Jade is your leader.

7. Naturally Mermaid

Produced by Ariel Green, Naturally Mermaid is a video resource that educates viewers on gardening at home, creating a sustainable make-up routine, and more. Green is also the host of the Sustainable Brown Girl podcast.

Podcasts

8. How to Save a Planet

More often than not, talking about climate change feels a bit defeating. Bringing together uplifting, inspiring stories on the topic, How to Save a Planet is a podcast for listeners who want to see the possibilities and feel energized about taking action and turning things around for our earth. As far as sustainable living leaders to look up to go, this one is bound to leave you feeling energized.

9. A Sustainable Mind

Featuring interviews with environmentalists, green policy change-makers, and more, Marjorie Alexander’s podcast A Sustainable Mind is the kind of content those who aspire to work in green careers need to hear.

10. Brown Girl Green

Featuring interviews from BIPOC sustainability leaders, Kristy Drutman’s podcast Brown Girl Green is bringing diversity into the sustainable living conversation. The episodes cover everything from the connection between the environmental justice movement and the Civil Rights movement, and more.

11. The Minimalists

“Love people, use things because the opposite never works.” That’s the philosophy off of which The Minimalists have built their podcast, and it’s one that’s inspired and supported the growing minimalism movement. They also have a popular documentary on Netflix.

Influencers & Micro-Influencers

12. The Sorry Girls

These go-getting DIY-ers take eco-friendly upcycling, renovating, and fixing-up to the next level. From a tutorial showing how to turn a hole in your wall into a tiny home and making simple upgrades to office spaces, The Sorry Girls are a resource for eco-living enthusiasts everywhere.

13. Meg Lazaro

As a creative director and designer, Meg works with brands that are doing their part to build a sustainable future.

14. Auxvoir Style Collective

Biggie (aka Abigail) is a fashion stylist who puts together sustainable outfits for her clients, whether that’s finding thrifted pieces or sustainably-made items.

15. Zero Waste Cutie

Elizabeth (aka Zero Waste Cutie) is a sustainable-living influencer who has worked with many eco-friendly brands including Bulkbarn and Elate Cosmetics. Follow her on Instagram or support her Patreon.

Protecting the earth and building a sustainable future is not a job for one person to take on. Rather, it takes all of us working together. Let these sustainability leaders inspire you to build on your already eco-friendly lifestyle, start going zero waste, or launch an eco-content publication of your own. Whatever you do, keep going and keep growing.