Dear 2025…

Happy New Year everyone! (No it’s not too late, it’s still January!)

Well let’s just hope that 2025 is throwing us all the curveballs now so we can enjoy the other 11 months of the year 🤦‍♀️I won’t beat around the bush, it hasn’t been the best start to the year. With 5 years to go to achieve the targets we all agreed to in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, our system is looking worse than Ethelred the Unready and at least his title gave us some clues. So far we’ve had a change in leadership that has thrown a good proportion of humanity back into the dark ages (only worse, because it’s intentional), in the UK our own political system blocking an actually progressive attempt at having some climate and environmental legislation (because obviously that would be too much to ask) and the general doom that reading the news brings. But we won’t let this be the end of our story because you and I are incredibly strong and want a better world and we will not stop until rights, equality and sustainability are achieved for all 🕊️

OK, stepping down off the soapbox now because that was a heavy (but necessary) start. Today I want to build on our annual tradition of sustainability goal setting for the year ahead. I’ll be sharing some of my own goals, and hopefully it will inspire you reading this to grab a pen and a notebook and set your own sustainability goals for 2025. Let’s get to it!

My main sustainability focus for 2025 is to have a No Buy Year. I’ve heard of others taking on this challenge and this year it resonated with me for a few reasons. Firstly, appreciating that I have so much, and of my possessions I don’t get to fully enjoy everything I have. Secondly, we know that consumerism and waste have got completely out of control and we have more things on the planet than we all need now or even for the next generations. And finally, it will help to reduce my financial expenditure.

So what will this entail? Practically, I will obviously still be buying living essentials, like food, hygiene products and anything necessary to function in my life. For example, if during the next year my pair of trainers become completely worn out and beyond being able to be repaired, I will find a place to recycle them and will look into getting a new pair that will last me a long time. Where the no buying comes in is for anything unnecessary. For instance, clothes and impulse buys. If I see something I’d really like, have considered the purchase and know I will get lots of use out of it, then I will add it to my Wishlist to share with family and friends when it is my birthday or Christmas.

In recent years I have definitely changed my shopping habits a lot. Shopping used to be a fun hobby, and to be honest is something I still enjoy now. I am someone who enjoys browsing the shops, and more often than not I used to always come away with something. And I set this intention as someone who’d love to own their own shop one day! But the shift that has been happening is moving away from ‘hollow’ purchases. The ones that are so exciting at the time but then don’t get the use or love you expected. Away from fast fashion, cheap retail and unethical companies. I no longer want my money to fuel certain individuals or destructive ways of using the planet.

So my main goal is to use the No Buy Year to motivate me to love the things I already have, eliminate purchases that promote consumerism and don’t add anything to my life and keep that money instead for things that matter. It is going to be hard, as soon as I see a cute gift shop I am going to be severely tested! But if its just for the thrill of the buying, then its not coming home with me – only items that will enhance my life whilst having a minimal impact on the planet will be up for consideration.

In other goals, I want to continue to increase my plant-based recipe repertoire so I can confidently cook more tasty and vegetarian dishes🍴 I’d like to travel to new places by train and have more adventures🎒 And I want to be more of a voice in activism, especially in a year when these voices will be the ones that are trying to be silenced❤️

What are your sustainability goals for 2025? Maybe you want to be able to generate the electricity for your home by renewables, or start growing your own vegetables, or volunteer in nature conservation… Let us know your goals for the year in the comments so we can support each other and use this as a safe space to check-in throughout the year. It may have been a bumpy start, but we can make it a much better finish. To 2025!