6 eco voices you don't want to miss in 2019

We interviewed six amazing and inspiring ladies who are shaking things up in the eco world. Here they share their favourite eco tips, inspirations and even a few personal fun facts.  

Kira | The Green Hub

Where do you live?
I live on the Gold Coast. I’ve lived all over Australia, and this is my favourite place. It’s like a small tropical, country town with stunning beaches on one side and incredible national parks on the other. It’s the perfect place to live if you love the outdoors.

Was there a particular moment that made you take an interest in sustainability and environmental issues?
I studied biology and environmental science at university. It opened my eyes to some of the major issues facing our planet, but my lifestyle changes didn’t start until a few years later. Using natural cleaning products was the first change I made, followed by investing in a reusable water bottle and coffee cup. The rest just grew from there.

Who do you admire/ who inspires you?
Scientists Jane Goodall and Sylvia Earle. They’re true pioneers and fought to change the world during a time when a woman’s ‘place’ was at home. Now they’re both in their 80’s and showing no signs of slowing down!

What is your favourite eco tip?
Living more sustainably is not about sacrifice or giving up the things you love. You can find ‘greener’ alternatives to just about everything in your life from plastic-free food to ethically made fashion and sustainable hair salons.

What’s an interesting fact about yourself that the online world wouldn’t know:
I swear a lot!

Where can our readers find out more about you and your magazine?
The Green Hub Online where we publish new content daily, and the first issue of The Green Hub Magazine launched last November.

Natalie | Sustainably Chic

Where do you live?
I live in Florida, United States.

Was there a particular moment that made you take an interest in sustainability and environmental issues?
During my studies in college (almost a decade ago, now), I would come across articles on waste and unethical treatment within the fashion industry. It kind of planted a seed in my brain, but it took a couple more years for me to really concentrate on sustainability and apply it to my major. Sustainable fashion was not trending at the time, there wasn’t a lot of information readily available and social media had not tapped into that ‘conscious’ market yet. I felt lost, and as if I didn’t have a community to fall back on. That’s why I turned to the internet, and started talking about the issues within the industry to see if anyone else felt similarly... and here we are, fives years later, and the #sustainablefashion has over a million posts.

Who do you admire/ who inspires you?
Honestly, it’s all the women who are in the conscious community - through their blogs, photography, videos, chat groups, etc. We are all a bit different, which makes everything so colorful and interesting. The passion is contagious and positive, something this movement needs to have in order to make a true difference.

What is your favourite eco tip?
Don’t make changes all at once. It’ll be overwhelming, and you most likely will revert back because of this. Take one thing in your life each month, and see if you can make it more eco-friendly. For example, you use paper towels. Try going paperless and using kitchen towels. You’ll find they work a lot better, and you won’t be reaching for that single sheet anymore.

What’s an interesting fact about yourself that the online world wouldn’t know:
I studied classical music for many years before going to college. I wanted to be an Opera singer, but I get sick too often with my autoimmune disease. I was so tired of dealing with the many colds right before my performances. Too much anxiety! I’m glad I went a different route, after all these years!

Where can our readers find out more about you and your blog?
You can find me at sustainably-chic.com, and my Instagram handle is @sustainablychic. My stories are mostly of my son, so sorry for the baby spam in advance!

Kate | Ethically Kate

Where do you live?
On The Hibiscus Coast, in Red Beach, New Zealand! It's just north of Auckland: the beach is 3mns walk from my house and I can sometimes hear the waves when I'm lying in bed.

Was there a particular moment that made you take an interest in sustainability and environmental issues?
Yes. Watching The True Cost in August 2015 was a huge moment for me. My mindset almost did literally change overnight. I know I grow up in an eco-minded family too, so it was like the True Cost and my love of fashion was the tipping point.

Who do you admire/ who inspires you?
Honestly? I admire my parents. I see how they impact the world, and the people around them. Even if it’s not on a huge global scale, they are massive movers in our immediate society. They have (positive of course) impact on people daily, and I don't think they know it. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have been raised by them; silent do-gooders.

What is your favourite eco tip?
Use a menstrual cup. I switched to a cup to save the planet, but it actually saved my life. I can't imagine my cycle without it now. Being a sporty and active person, it's opened my life up in a drastic way. I feel more confident being out, less pain, less hassle, more calm and life that just continues on! (I use the MyCup, but there's several out there to choose from that suit you).

What’s an interesting fact about yourself that the online world wouldn’t know:
I'm a bit of a psycho organiser. I have many, many lists and my favourite feeling is ticking things off. I clean when I'm stressed to keep control of things, and have to know what I'm doing every second of the day. I plan everything, I'm not very good at being spontaneous: I literally have to plan to be spontaneous.

Where can our readers find out more about you and your blog?
I'm most active on Instagram via @ethicallykate or you can fin me at my blog: Ethically Kate.

Natalie | Tommie Magazine

Where do you live?
I live in Sydney's Inner West! A wonderful community of conscious, progressive individuals who are fighting for change in so many different ways; whether that be through composting, refusing single use plastic, wearing second hand clothes or reducing their footprint by cycling, walking and catching public transport to get around.

Was there a particular moment that made you take an interest in sustainability and environmental issues?
I wouldn't say *one* particular moment, more like cumulative moments. I grew up in a house hold with very little money and financial security, so my parents were very frugal and taught me to preserve all resources - to never not finish a meal, to squeeze out alll the toothpaste from the tube until it was completely empty. Everything we owned was second hand from our furniture, cars, clothes, appliances, school uniforms and so forth. We frequented flea markets, auctions, opshops, bought things from the The Trading Post (not sure people still even use that any more haha) - so sustainability was presented to me from a young age from the perspective of using up all we had because resources were scarce. This is how my personal interest in pre-loved fashion came to be, as I've been op-shopping and wearing second hand all of my life. Fast forward to my career in fashion -  as a stylist I felt conflicted working in the commercial fashion space and seeing how unethical and wasteful the industry was behind the scenes. As someone whose livelihood was to promote, advertise and make mainstream fashion look good - I was in a constant tug of war with my personal values because the way I shopped and the clothes that I wore, didn't align with the clothes that I was using as a stylist. There weren't any publications that focussed primarily on second hand clothes, so that's when I decided I'd create a platform for it! And Tommie was born.

Who do you admire/ who inspires you?
I've never had an idol or one individual person to inspire me - I look inward to gain inspiration. I think too often we look to the external world for acceptance, for validation or for understanding. But I think we have everything we need to make the best choices within us. In saying that, some female activists that do phenomenal work in the intersections of sustainability, fashion, activism and inclusivity are; Dominique Drakeford, Elaine Welterworth and Celine Semaan. And of course then there's Women like Oprah and Michelle Obama who just do incredible things for the world at large and for young girls and women, in particular.

What is your favourite eco tip?
Start small with what you know and try not to tackle every environmental, social, political issue all at once. As a person who wants to be of service and contribute good to the world, it's sometimes personally challenging to not want to do the best in every arena of life. This outlook can be overwhelming and lead to eco fatigue - choose an area you are passionate about and can be an advocate for; consume and shop with this in mind. Then slowly introduce other elements in; you'll soon find yourself practising your values in many areas of your life. Be kind to yourself and to others. We all come at this conversation from different parts of the world, from different backgrounds and resource levels, so it's important to acknowledge that small steps are what lead to collective change.

What’s an interesting fact about yourself that the online world wouldn’t know:
Hhhmm, that's a tricky one! I hated the colour pink when I was young because I didn't want to be like everyone else - my favourite colour was purple. But now as a grown adult, I have so much pink in my wardrobe!! And I just adore it!

Where can our readers find out more about you and your blog?
You can head on over to: www.tommiemagazine.com - the destination for creative women with a conscience to learn all about the work we do in our digital space, but also at our community gatherings, too. 

Anita | A Zero Waste Life

Where do you live?
I was born in Guangzhou China, raised in Australia and currently split my time between studying Medicine in Sydney, and living with my husband in San Francisco.

Was there a particular moment that made you take an interest in sustainability and environmental issues?
My zero waste lifestyle started in July 2015 when I was going through a 'quarter-life' crisis, I had climbed up the corporate ladder and was a successful Engineering Manager, however despite the monetary success I was not truly happy. I was stagnating in my personal growth and I realised I needed to align to my core values. I turned towards minimalism and zero waste living from people such as The Minimalists and Bea Johnson from Zero Waste Home.

Who do you admire/who inspires you?
One word – authenticity. I appreciate people who are true to themselves. My favourite quote is by the eternally wise Maya Angelou “When you know better, you do better”. Let’s all do better.

What is your favourite eco tip?
I have three tips:

1. Replace your disposables with reusables - items such as paper napkins, plastic grocery bags, disposable coffee cups can be replaced with cloth napkins, reusable cloth grocery bags and Keep Cups (reusable coffee cups).

2. Make second-hand your first choice - whenever you need to buy something, try to see if you can buy it second-hand first. Look at local thrift stores, ask neighbours and friends, try eBay - make a good effort to try to buy second-hand before buying new.

3. Head outside! - head outdoors and enjoy doing activities such as hiking, swimming or simply just sitting still and being with nature. By enjoying the the outdoors and seeing how amazing Mother Nature is, I have come to appreciate that every step (no matter how small) is important in helping our planet.

What’s an interesting fact about yourself that the online world wouldn’t know:
The True Cost about the ecological and social impact of the fast fashion industry, I vowed never to buy anything new again. That was over three years ago and since then, I haven’t bought any new clothing except for underwear, socks and swimwear. It has not only saved me a tonne of money, but I feel good knowing that I am part of the circular economy.

Where can our readers find out more about you and your blog?
You can check out my Instagram account via @rocket_science about zero waste living. I also regularly blog about her passions of zero waste switches, minimalism, travel and all things green living at Anita Vandyke. My first book A Zero Waste Life: a thirty day guide published by Penguin Random House, Australia is available in all good book stores now. 
 

Leah | Unmaterial Girl

Where do you live?
Brisbane, Sunny Queensland!

Was there a particular moment that made you take an interest in sustainability and environmental issues?
Watching the documentary The True Cost literally changed my life. It was such a lightbulb moment for me, and I realised I needed to drastically change the way I was consuming fashion. Seriously - watch it!

Who do you admire/ who inspires you?
I admire Safia Minney (Founder of People Tree) and Livia Firth (Founder of Ecoage) for all the work they have done in the sustainable fashion space. They have pushed the message from the outskirts into the mainstream, and I really look up to both of them.

What is your favourite eco tip?
Second hand first. If you really want it, try and make it yourself! And educate yourself, the more you know, the easier it is to avoid fast fashion and get creative with how you shop.

What’s an interesting fact about yourself that the online world wouldn’t know:
I used to work as a Floor Manager for H&M! How the tables have turned...

Where can our readers find out more about you and your blog?
Head to Unmaterial Girl - but all the real action is over on Instagram via @unmaterialgirl

 And finally, a little bit from me.....

Anna | One Happy Leaf

Where do you live?
I live in Perth, Australia.

Was there a particular moment that made you take an interest in sustainability and environmental issues?
I think I have always had an interest in preserving and rehabilitating the environment. I guess my childhood of living in Australia leant itself to having a lifestyle that is connected to the bush. I started becoming more intrinsically aware of environmental issues when I started hearing about eco-lifestyles online. The concept resonated with me and made sense. I think the documentary A Plastic Ocean and Albatross cemented in my mind that reducing my plastic consumables was a must.

Who do you admire/ who inspires you?/strong>
I always admire the ‘everyday’ person; the person that perhaps isn’t a blogger or working in the field of sustainability or environmental issues, but still makes an effort to be environmentally aware and courteous. The simple act of recycling (properly!) or taking your reusable cup not only makes an impact, but sends a message to everyone around you to say, “we can do better”.   I am inspired by zero-waste bloggers and authors such as the Rogue Ginger.

What is your favourite eco tip?
My favourite eco tip would have to be the mere act of asking yourself when you are about to purchase something: do I really, really need this? If the answer is still yes, can you borrow it from someone? Get it second hand? Or, if you do need to purchase it – can you purchase it from an environmentally considerate business/brand?

What’s an interesting fact about yourself that the online world wouldn’t know:
I have a strange obsession with fungi. I am amazed by how It grows and I often search for wild fungi in bushland. I studied environmental biology and one of my favourite subjects was mycology (the study of mushrooms).

Where can our readers find out more about you and your blog?
Find me over to Instagram via @onehappyleaf or here, at One Happy Leaf.

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