Easy Things You Can Do To Be More Sustainable in 2025

The 12th Day of Christmas, also known as Epiphany or Three King's Day, passed on Monday with religious celebrations and festivals around the world. Ireland marks the occasion with a unique tradition known as Nollaig na mBan, or "Women's Christmas." The holiday celebrates the people (historically moms, grandmas, aunts and sisters) who broke their backs over the festive season to make it magical for everyone else. The roles flip for the day, and the others in the household cook and care for those who spent the holidays working so they can relax. 

Meanwhile, much of the rest of the Western world is not only greeted with all those "circle backs" after the holidays in their first full weeks at work, but also challenged to take up the mantle of "new year, new me." While people have been making — and breaking — New Year's resolutions for at least 200 years, the notion that we all need a new morning routine, a 10-year plan and a gym membership on January 1 can easily become exhausting.

Still, the idea of taking some time to reflect as the new year passes can be helpful. And when TriplePundit asked more than 1,600 U.S. adults which group they think will have the greatest positive impact on environmental sustainability and social impact issues in 2025, the vast majority chose individuals over businesses and government. If you resolved to lighten your impact on the environment this year, the good news is that it doesn't have to be time consuming or expensive — and you may find these low-lift shifts are also helpful for your wallet and your mental health. 

Be more sustainable at the table 

Food makes up 10 percent to 30 percent of the average household's carbon footprint. A host of things contribute to this — including the type of food you choose, how and where it was produced, how it's transported, the way it's packaged, and the waste it produces at end of life. But reducing the impact of your plate can be a fun way to mix up your experiments in the kitchen. 

Get smart to cut food waste. Around a third of the world's edible food goes to waste instead of feeding people, and food waste accounts for around half of all emissions associated with the global food system, according to a 2023 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Food. Composting is a great option to minimize emissions from food waste, as food broken down in a properly maintained compost pile emits far less than in a landfill, but not everyone has the space, time or patience for it. 

If you're among that camp, taking steps to buy less and reduce what you throw away can make a big difference. Last year, we tried out some tips like storing produce properly to reduce spoilage, making broth from vegetable scraps, and even turning to ChatGPT to find recipes for ingredients at their peak. Each was an excuse to try out some new things in the kitchen and kept our bins empty for longer, a clear win-win in our book. 

Choose plant-based more often. Meat and dairy contribute the majority of the carbon emissions associated with our daily meals. If half of the global population ate a more "plant-rich" diet — specifically limiting red meat to a couple times a week — we'd avoid 78.3 gigatons of carbon equivalent emissions by 2050. That's nearly a fifth of the cuts necessary to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which scientists deem a crucial tipping point in the fight against climate change. 

Some may say this is a reason for everyone to go vegan immediately, but for some people, this is a non-starter that only sours the notion of exploring plant-based foods. If you can't stomach the idea of giving up meat, eggs and dairy entirely, choosing plant-based meals a bit more often — even once a week or a few times a month — is still a big help. Making the swap once a week for a year would save the same emissions as taking your car off the road for over a month, according to estimates from EarthDay.org. As 3p contributor Ruscena Wiederholt found, changing up your diet can be fun and fulfilling, and the ever-growing lineup of plant-based food choices makes it easier than ever. Start small, and as you get a sense of what you like, making plant-based a more regular part of your recipe repertoire will feel more enjoyable and not like a chore. 

Buy locally when available. As we head into the dark, dreary days of winter, many of us aren't fortunate enough to have local produce available. But if and when you do, buying food locally can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with your daily meals. Food miles — or the distance food travels to reach people's plates around the world — produce about 3 billion tons of carbon equivalent emissions each year. When you have the option, choose the farmer's market or locally-grown section of your grocery store more often for food that's often fresher and tastier while being easier on the environment. 

Be more sustainable on the road

No one's asking you to give up your summer vacations while the 1 percent fly around in private jets, but being mindful about how you get from place to place on a daily basis can add up to a meaningful positive impact for the planet. The transportation sector accounts for nearly 30 percent of emissions in the U.S. and almost 15 percent globally. Here are a few simple steps to cut your contribution down to size. 

Rethink shorter trips. If every American drove just 10 percent less, it would avoid 110 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually — equivalent to shutting down 28 coal-fired power plants. A 10 percent cut may sound tricky, but being a bit more conscious of the shorter daily trips you take can really add up. 

Most car trips in the U.S. are less than 2 miles. If you live in a city or suburban area, opting for walking, biking or public transportation where available can get some more exercise into your routine while minimizing excessive driving. Though public transport (and bike lanes) may be harder to come by if you live rurally, doing things like combining errands into a single trip and using an app like Google Maps to optimize miles traveled can still cut down your car footprint without a lot of extra work. 

Keep your car maintained. If you have a car, the way you maintain it matters. It may sound minor, but having your car serviced regularly, filling it with the right fluids, and keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure all improve fuel economy — which means you use less gas, saving money and emissions. Observing the speed limit and avoiding heavy braking or acceleration also cuts down on fuel consumption while staving off premature brake jobs and extending the life of your car in the long run. 

When to choose trains over air travel. Trains aren't always a workable alternative to air travel, and for longer trips, they're not always the most sustainable option either. But replacing shorter flights with train rides vastly reduces their carbon footprint. If you're planning a few stops on your next vacation, consider traveling some legs of the journey by train — which is likely also cheaper and, when factoring in airport security, often takes around the same amount of time. If you take interstate trips often for work, talk to your employer about shifting to train travel where it's available. 

Be more sustainable in your home

The average American household uses around 30 kilowatt-hours of energy and around 300 gallons of water every day. While of course these utilities are essential for modern life, it's easy to use more than we need — and being a bit more conscious can help a lot. 

Slow down and practice mindfulness. Many of us (myself included) hope to rush around a bit less in 2025 and take more time away from to-do lists to de-stress. This common New Year's resolution overlaps nicely with reducing your impact at home, because most water and energy waste simply comes down to absentmindedness: leaving the TV on mute when no one's watching, forgetting to switch off lights when you leave a room, or leaving the tap running while you brush your teeth and wash your dishes. Simply being more present in the moment and observing what's around you can do a lot minimize all that, which benefits your mental health, your wallet and the planet all in one. 

Put larger appliances on a power strip. "Vampire power" refers to the energy devices like televisions, computers and kitchen appliances use when they are powered off but still in standby mode while plugged into an outlet. This idle power can make up 10 percent to 25 percent of household energy use, depending on the estimate. Plugging these devices into a power strip and flipping it off when not in use saves both money and energy.

Consider strategic swaps to minimize waste. The majority of people around the world want to see less waste — particularly single-use plastic — heading to landfills. While we shouldn't beat ourselves up about every piece of packaging we toss in the trash, we can often keep our bins lighter with minimal effort and expense. 

Last year, TriplePundit's editors did a week-long audit of our home trash cans to track what we throw away most often and consider swaps to minimize waste. Keeping a notepad by the garbage bin may be a step too far for some, but what you toss frequently can guide you toward low-hanging fruit. Start by replacing one or two items with an alternative that's easier to reuse or recycle, and you'll likely notice the difference in fewer trips to the curb with a full bin. 

Don't fall for overconsumption. Overconsumption is rampant in modern society, and economies around the world are almost entirely dependent on it. About 70 percent of U.S. GDP, for example, is tied to consumer spending. Marketing and influencer videos convince people a new gadget, product or outfit will make them happier, and often when it doesn't, it's simply headed to the trash. At the same time, many people around the world are seeing their spending power decline amidst inflation, meaning the incessant societal and social media pressure to consume can leave people feeling frustrated and constantly inadequate.

A good way to save your mental health, your wallet and the environment is to challenge yourself to observe when you're drawn to purchase something you didn't know you needed or wanted before. Ask yourself a few qualifying questions: How often will I use this? Do I really need it? How long will it last? And what happens to it when it's no longer useful? Or give yourself a 24-hour window before pressing the "buy" button. This isn't to say you shouldn't buy anything — again, no shame here. But it can be helpful to remind yourself that you don't have to, and you may later be glad you didn't.

Are you aiming to be more sustainable this year? What do you plan to try out? Tell us about it here!