It is no secret to any of us that how we live is unsustainable. From rising carbon emissions to rapid deforestation, pollution, and the depletion of essential resources, humanity's footprint has transformed ecosystems and driven climate change at a dangerously fast pace. Right now, we’re consuming resources at a rate that would require three Earths to sustain life by 2050. How we live is not just affecting the planet and future generations but people, communities, and animals.

When we take a moment to consider the state of our world it’s easy to feel disheartened and really quite powerless. We know, we've been there, and that's exactly where our fascination and appreciation of Ethical Living began. More and more people are becoming aware of the ethical issues surrounding our lifestyles and, above all, the impact of our everyday decisions on society, animals and the planet. In fact, 96% of people feel their own actions, such as donating, recycling or buying ethically, can make a difference. And over half believe that they personally can make a big difference.

And they are right! From the food we eat to the clothes we wear and the companies we support, every decision plays a role in shaping the world around us. Ethical living is about using this power for good and making conscious choices that minimize harm to people, animals, and the environment as much as possible. 

We always place extra empathise on the 'as much as possible' part, as none of us will ever be perfect. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't bother and that our actions won't have an impact! If you are completely new to the idea of Ethical Living and don't really even know what it is, we've got you covered. This beginner’s guide will explore the main components of the lifestyle and suggest some of the first steps you can take towards living more ethically and sustainably. 

What is Ethical Living?

Ethical living is a way of life that prioritizes making choices that are as ethical as possible and considering their impact on people, animals, and the environment. It means being aware of how our decisions affect our planet and society, and striving to reduce the harm we cause as much as possible. 

Compassion, empathy and respect are the guiding principals of this movement, encouraging us to be kind to all forms of life. This approach can influence how we behave, what we buy, how we work, and how we interact with our communities, encouraging us to create a positive impact. Ethical choices can encompass a wide range of actions, including:

• Showing kindness and empathy towards others

• Supporting and respecting human rights

• Avoiding or reducing harm to animals 

• Reducing our environmental impact 

• Buying ethical or sustainable products 

• Adopting a minimalist lifestyle 

• Contributing positively to our local communities

No one is perfect, and Ethical Living isn’t about being flawless. This isn’t a checklist of everything we must do in order to live ethically. After all, we all have different backgrounds, lifestyles, budgets, and circumstances. Ethical living is sometimes seen as an "unattainable" or "elitist" lifestyle, and we totally understand why. Most of us can’t afford to fill our homes with brand new sustainable and ethical goods- they can be pretty pricey! However, aside from the fact that many aspects of Ethical Living can actually save money, the most important part of the lifestyle, for us at least, is about showing kindness and empathy toward others, which, of course, is absolutely free!

Key Aspects of Ethical Living: 

Environmentalism

Caring for the environment is an absolutely vital part of Ethical Living. If we have no planet to live on we can forget about ethical living or any other type of living! Environmentalism focuses on the protection and preservation of the natural world, advocating for actions that reduce harm to ecosystems and combat issues like climate change, pollution, and deforestation. Ethical living encourages us to make these actions part of our daily lives.

Key ways we can do our part for the planet could include:

1. Eating as plant-based as possible: Shifting to a plant-based diet is the most effective way to lower your environmental impact. Plant-based diets use fewer natural resources, produce less greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute less to practically all environmental issues on Earth, such as deforestation air and water pollution, and habitat destruction. 

2. Embracing Minimalism and Conscious Consumption: Reducing what we buy and choosing durable, high-quality items over disposable ones decreases waste and lessens the demand for resource-heavy production. This minimalist approach helps conserve resources, lowers pollution, and keeps waste out of landfills. Sustainably-produced products are also often cruelty-free, organic and fair trade, again, contributing to a fairer and more sustainable world. 

3. Choosing second hand: By choosing pre-owned items, we conserve the energy, resources, and materials needed for new manufacturing, helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions. From clothing and furniture to electronics, books, and home decor, there are countless high-quality items to buy second-hand that reduce waste and often save money. Each purchase helps create a more sustainable, circular economy, where items are reused rather than discarded.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a broader concept than environmentalism and refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It encompasses environmental, social and economic dimensions. While environmental sustainability is a major part of it, sustainability also involves ensuring long-term resource use, social equality and economic stability. 

While there is an extreme long list of things we can do to be more sustainable, we've chosen our three most important:

1. Taking on a Positive Role in the Community: Actively participating in your community fosters social cohesion and promotes initiatives that support all types of sustainability. By engaging in local projects, environmental projects, volunteering, and supporting businesses that prioritize ethical practices, we can help create a more sustainable world and contributes to social equality and economic resilience.

2. Living Modestly and Using Resources Wisely: Embracing a modest lifestyle means prioritizing our needs over our wants and using only the resources we need for daily life. Of course, we have to enjoy ourselves, but there´s definitely a balance to be had between living a happy life and being sustainable!

3. Consuming Consciously: Making informed and thoughtful decisions is crucial for sustainability. This may include considering our diets, and focusing on more sustainable plant-based options, the products we buy, and opting for sustainable and fair trade options as well as the homes and vehicles we buy and how we use them.

Minimalism

Minimalism encourages us to focus on what truly adds value to our lives, helping to avoid overconsumption, which is a key contributor to environmental degradation and exploitation in the global supply chain. By buying less and choosing quality, ethically-made products, minimalists naturally reduce waste, conserve resources, and support fair labor practices, creating a more meaningful, socially responsible society. Minimalism is about living with less—focusing on what truly matters and letting go of excess. This approach is not only good for the planet, but also good for us, with minimalists reporting higher levels of contentment and happiness and less feelings of stress.

Three key ways we can get started with Minimalism;

1. Decluttering our lives: Embracing a decluttered lifestyle involves evaluating the items in your possession and letting go of those that no longer add value to our lives. This process not only creates a more organized and peaceful living environment but also fosters a sense of clarity and purpose. We can donate, recycle, or sell items that we no longer need or use, allowing them to find new life with someone else.

2. Buying Only What we Need: Mindful consumption is key to living sustainably and avoiding clutter. By prioritizing quality over quantity, we can make thoughtful purchasing decisions that contribute to our overall well-being and environmental sustainability. This means taking the time to consider whether an item is truly necessary before making a purchase and resisting those impulse buys!

3. Embracing Digital Minimalism: In our increasingly digital world, simplifying our digital lives is essential for mental clarity and well-being. Deleting what we don´t use, minimizing the time spent on social media. and focusing on meaningful online interactions can bring us peace and enrich our lives. Digital minimalism fosters mindful consumption, promotes mental well-being, reduces environmental impact, prioritizes meaningful connections, and aligns online activities with personal values.

Social Justice

Social justice is a fundamental aspect of ethical living, emphasizing the importance of fairness and equality for all individuals. It involves recognizing and addressing systemic inequalities related to race, gender, class, and more. A commitment to social justice encourages us to consider the broader impact of our choices, including the products we buy to the companies we support. Prioritizing social justice helps ensure human rights are upheld and creates a fairer world for all!

Actions we can take to support social justice may include:

1. Educating ourselves and others: The first step toward fostering social justice is to educate ourselves about the various issues that affect marginalized communities. This includes understanding systemic inequalities related to race, gender, class, sexuality and other factors that contribute to social disparities. Being aware of these issues can help us be sensitive to inequality and foster a more empathic and ethical outlook in our lives.
   

2. Supporting Ethical Businesses: Researching brands that are transparent about their sourcing, production methods, and labor conditions can be a great way to promote social justice. Supporting brands with certifications that indicate ethical practices, such as Fair Trade or B Corporation status can help create a market demand for more responsible business practices which support not only social justice but environmental responsibility.

   
   

3. Getting Involved Locally: One of the most impactful ways to promote social justice is by getting involved in our local communities. Engaging with our communities not only amplifies your impact but also helps build relationships with like-minded individuals who share your commitment to social change. Together, collective efforts can lead to meaningful improvements in our communities and beyond.

Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is a crucial component of Ethical Living, reflecting our responsibility to treat all sentient beings with compassion and respect. This perspective advocates for the humane treatment of animals in various contexts, and against the exploitation of animals for any purpose including farming, research, and companionship.

Here are a few simple ways we can start helping our fury friends:

1. Eating plant-based: Transitioning to a plant-based diet is an important way to reduce animal suffering. By choosing plant-based foods, we help decrease the demand for animal products, leading to fewer animals being raised and slaughtered for food. Animals in the animal agriculture industry often suffer greatly during their lifetimes, making abstaining from eating animal products the best way to reduce animal suffering.

2. Choosing Cruelty-Free Products: Opting for cruelty-free products is essential for minimizing animal suffering in consumer goods. When we choose cosmetics, cleaning supplies, or clothing labelled as cruelty-free, we ensure that no animals were harmed or subjected to testing in the development of these items. Many traditional products involve painful testing methods that inflict suffering on animals.

3. Avoid Animal Materials: Choosing alternatives to animal-derived materials like leather, wool, and fur is crucial for reducing animal suffering in the fashion industry. The production of these materials often involves exploitation, confinement, and suffering for animals. By opting for vegan or sustainable fabrics, such as organic cotton, recycled materials, we actively contribute to decreasing demand for industries that exploit animals.

Kindness and Empathy for Others

Ethical living extends beyond environmental and consumer choices; how we interact with other is also really important! We believe that treating others how we would like to be treated can change the world and will help create a more compassionate and empathic society. Human qualities such as empathy, compassion and respect are the foundation of a happy person, relationship, and society!

We believe we can all be better humans by thinking about the following:

1. Cultivating Empathy: Empathy starts with a conscious effort to understand the experiences, feelings, and challenges of others. It requires placing ourselves in the shoes of other people and imagining how we would feel in the situations they face.  This practice makes us kinder human beings and allows us to connect with each other, with animals and can helps us avoid violence, suffering and environmental destruction.

2. Being Consciously Kind: Kindness is free and goes a long way. Taking the time to be purposely kind to those around us, creates positivity and promotes understanding and empathy. Kindness can not only make a difference to the lives of others but can also play an important part in our own happiness and fulfilment. Small, free acts of kindness such as giving compliments, helping people who are struggling or who are lonely have, and continue, to improve and save lives. 

3. Practice Gratitude and Positivity: Cultivating a mindset of gratitude can significantly enhance your relationships and overall outlook on life. Focusing on the good in people and situations helps shift your perspective, making it easier to approach challenges with optimism and resilience.