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Sustainable New Year's Resolutions Ideas

Sustainable Resolutions – 25 Ideas & Goals for the New Year 2024

Are you still looking for sustainable resolutions for the new year? Then you'll find an inspiring list of suggestions and ideas here! The turn of the year is the ideal time to break bad habits and make new, healthier and more environmentally friendly behaviors part of your routine. But the plan to simply do something live more sustainablyis still a little too abstract to lead to success with a high degree of certainty.

In this article I give you therefore now effective, promising ideas and formulations for sustainable New Year's resolutions along the way! You will also receive tips to help you put your plans into practice. Let's go!

1. Stop eating meat

Vegan burgers as a sustainable alternative
Vegan beetroot and chickpea burger with vegetables, guacamole and rye bun | Credits: © istockphoto.com Photography ID:912207866

Make a conscious resolution for the coming year not to do any or at least Eat less meat, to the brutal, resource-intensive Factory farming to counteract this. CO2 emissions, animal feed cultivation and water consumption, for example, contribute massively to the Environmental problems of our time at.

Appropriate resolution: I'm not eating an ounce of meat in the new year.

2. Kbuy one more disposable fashion

Appreciate and cherish the fashion you already have in your closet. And if you do need to buy something new, then get yourself a High-quality garment that can be combined very well with existing items - in the spirit of the environmentally conscious Slow Fashion.

Appropriate resolution: I'm not buying any cheap fashion this year, only long-lasting, Fairtrade quality goods.

3. buy organic and fair trade foods

Another great, sustainable New Year's resolution is to consciously give preference to fairly and organically produced goods when you go grocery shopping. You can recognize these mainly by environmental seals such as "Organic" and "Fairtrade. As a rule, the corresponding foods are somewhat more expensive than their conventional counterparts - nevertheless, I have found that you Saves money through a sustainable lifestylesimply because you spend less money on unnecessary things.

Appropriate resolution: Whenever possible, I buy in the new year Food of organic origin.

4. get rid of superfluous items at home

How about a sustainable New Year's resolution to clear out your home? This way, you can sell items that you no longer need and to the people who can still do something with it. They'll even save on buying a new one and you'll enjoy the newfound clarity in your home.

Appropriate resolution: I complete the Online course "Cleaning out made easy* and clear all the rooms in my home of unnecessary clutter.

5. reduce food waste

You can still have so many Organic food If they end up in the garbage can, this is anything but a sustainable use of resources. natural resources. Fortunately, your own Reduce food waste in a targeted manner. For example, write yourself a Shopping list for the following week and shop strictly according to them. And rely on your senses rather than on the best-before date.

Appropriate resolution: In the new year, I don't waste any food in my kitchen.

6. eat a vegan diet for at least one month

For the vegan lifestyle there are finally ethical, health and also countless ecological reasons. For example, you can effectively combat climate change and deforestation by replacing meat, eggs and dairy products in your meals with plant-based products. A good opportunity to start this sustainable resolution is the Veganuary.

Appropriate resolution: I'm consciously eating a plant-based diet in the new year and am doing the Online course "Going vegan made easy.*

7. cycle to work regularly

How about you make a resolution in the new year to Make commuting to work more sustainable and cycle to work more often? By avoiding car journeys and pedaling yourself instead, you can make a real difference. Impact for the environment and not least for your health generate. For the There are so many good reasons to ride a bike!

Appropriate resolution: I ride my bike to work at least 3 times a week.

8. switch to a green electricity provider

Green electricity as a sustainable New Year's resolution

We consume vast amounts of electricity every day. To ensure that this energy at least comes from renewable sources such as Wind, solar and hydropower the switch to a favorable price, which usually only takes five minutes. Green electricity-tariff is a key to more sustainable behavior in everyday life. Surely a New Year's resolution that can be implemented quickly, don't you think?

Appropriate resolution: I am doing a new year Green electricity comparison on a comparison portal* and switch to a green electricity provider.

9. watch a documentary about factory farming

Inform, inform, inform! New knowledge is the only way to create the will to change. If you don't know what goes on inside the walls of slaughterhouses and factory farms, it's easy to look the other way. Personally, the Documentation "Dominion the AHA-moment, so that I finally got an Eternal motivation for the vegan lifestyle.

Simply because I became aware, What we humans do to innocent animals for no real reason. I have given you a list of other vegan docs compiled, which are also well suited as a New Year's resolution.

Appropriate resolution: I watch at least two documentaries about factory farming.

10. only buy things that you really need

You probably also own an incredible number of things that you don't actually need. How did they even make it into your apartment? There are countless Things I no longer buy today - from ballpoint pens and ready meals to short-lived cheap fashion.

Through more conscious and reduced consumption, you give more meaning to the things that remain and create Space for peace and serenity. Therefore, make a clear resolution for the new year and let the Minimalism to conserve the planet's resources and your wallet.

Appropriate resolution: In the new year, I only buy things that are absolutely essential for me.

Book Tip: Highly recommended for this project is the Book "The Minimalism Project by Christof Herrmann. You get it here*.

11. switch to an ethical bank

Banks invest the money you invest - which bank you invest it with lays the foundation for what exactly it is invested in. So that companies that work with Arms trade, coal and nuclear power and any human rights violations are not supported by your money, switching to a green bank is a suitable, sustainable New Year's resolution.

Appropriate resolution: I'm opening an account with an ethical bank in the new year.

12. reduce your own plastic waste

Plastic waste in the environment is a massive problem, to which from private households mainly Disposable products contribute. So why don't you resolve to do your garbage in the spirit of the plastic-free lifestyle steadily, by replacing the products with Replaces reusable alternatives and buys food in bulk.

Appropriate resolution: I only produce a maximum of one yellow bag full of garbage in the whole of January.

13. buy food regionally and seasonally

Sustainable resolutions: consume regionally and seasonally

Many vegetables and fruits have flown countless kilometers before they finally make it to our supermarkets (preferably at any time of year). To ensure they survive the journey, they are injected, packed in plastic or cooled. It would therefore be a nice project to consciously regional and buy seasonallyin order to create natural Conserve resources and to obtain healthy food that is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Appropriate resolution: I deliberately buy only regional and seasonal produce in January.

14. minimize power consumption

Every day we charge our cell phone or even our car, turn on the TV and laptop - and constantly surf and stream the Internet. Especially in times when we inevitably find ourselves in the Organize home office must, we consume more electricity in our own four walls than ever before. It often even comes from fossil fuels.

A sensible New Year's resolution for environmental protection is therefore to consciously Save electricity. For example, by using timers, cooking with lids or streaming less on TV.

Appropriate resolution: I'm reducing my electricity consumption by half in the new year.

15. Do not get on the plane

You're probably one of the small ones, privileged part of the world's populationwho can afford to fly in an airplane. But that doesn't mean you have to take this option all the time. Just try to consciously avoid flights in the new year and take the train more often to save your Climate Budget and not to live at the expense of nature.

Appropriate resolution: I'm not getting on a plane in the coming year.

16. Start some DIY projects

In order to avoid a new purchase and thus also the achievement of the planetary boundaries stay awayyou can plan DIY projects for the future. For example, build a Dining table from old oak planks or make your Your own free washing-up liquid made from ivy leaves. You can find more inspiration for such sustainable resolutions in the DIY Blog.

Appropriate resolution: I pull off at least three DIY projects after the start of the year.

17. Take on a sponsorship

We're doing pretty well, aren't we? Countless children and animals rather less so. It is therefore a sustainable resolution, Taking on responsibility in the form of child or animal sponsorship and make someone else happy. Also the Admission of a dog from animal protection would be an idea. Such deeds bring joy to someone else - and put a smile on your own face too.

Appropriate resolution: I am taking on a sponsorship for the new year.

18. vacation in Germany

Germany has so much to offer! A sustainable resolution for next year is to consciously experience the country, avoid flight costs and CO2 emissions and travel here. equally relaxing or exciting vacation alternatives to discover. Short travel distances are an important key to sustainable travel.

Appropriate resolution: I am spending my vacation in Germany in the New Year.

19. grow your own food

Sustainable New Year's resolution: Grow your own vegetables

Home-grown food is not only inexpensive, but also extremely sustainable. After all, there is no need for long transportation, high water consumption and cultivation in energy-intensive greenhouses. An environmentally conscious New Year's resolution is therefore to grow your own vegetables, herbs and fruit in the garden or on the balcony.

Geeign intent: I'm growing my own tomatoes and lettuce this year.

20. drink tap water instead of mineral water

The profit from mineral water can dry out entire regions. Finally, it is packaged in plastic bottles and sold at a high price. Tap water can be flavored with mint and lemonit's so much cheaper and readily available in the home. A sensible, sustainable New Year's resolution, isn't it? 

Appropriate resolution: Next year I won't buy any packaged mineral water and will drink tap water instead.

21. use heating efficiently

Heating your own four walls costs a lot of energy and therefore money. Apart from investing in a Ecological insulation, it is also worth it, only heat the rooms that you really need.

Short bursts of ventilation instead of a constantly open tilt window and wearing a sweater instead of a T-shirt are other simple keys to a sustainable heating behavior as a New Year's resolution.

Appropriate resolution: I will reduce my heating costs by half in the coming year.

22. make garden a mecca of biodiversity

Nothing is sadder than a low-maintenance but lifeless, gray gravel garden. Give birds, insects, hedgehogs and countless other animals a home and provide shelter and food in your own greenery. With a sustainable garden you can add to the global species extinction counteract this to some extent.

Appropriate resolution: I'm turning my garden into a lively, green paradise in the new year.

23rd second-hand shopping

Buying second-hand has long since shed its dusty image - especially because it is usually Cheaper and more resource-efficient than a new purchase. The Second hand advantages are definitely in the majority. For example, consider buying a well-maintained sweater or a smartphone in good condition second-hand. 

Appropriate resolution: I'm replacing at least ten new purchases with second-hand purchases in the new year.

24. save water at home

The Water shortage is already a massive environmental problem today. In our everyday lives, we consume water directly and indirectly. Directly, through the Use of the toilet flush or the Shower - and indirectly, for example, through the consumption of food from water-intensive cultivation. A sustainable resolution for the new year is therefore to consciously Save water, to the Counteract water scarcity.

Geeign intent: I'm reducing my water consumption by half in the new year.

25. support or organize a CleanUp

New Year's resolution: support beach cleanup campaign

Surely you are also tired of seeing waste in the environment - the behavior that causes it is called Littering! In addition to the conscious avoidance of waste, the Participation in a clean-up campaign certainly an exciting, sustainable New Year's resolution. Alternatively, you can simply make your own Organize CleanUps or instead of jogging simply "plogging go

Geeign intent: I will be supporting at least one CleanUp campaign in the new year.

Tips to help you stick to your sustainable New Year's resolutions!

Quit smokingeating less sweets and doing more sport - these are classic New Year's resolutions. However, we also know from experience that it's easy to fall short of your own resolutions for the new year. Essential Change is often difficult for us!

Here are some valuable tips to help you stay on the ball with your plans and not pull the ripcord again in mid-January:

  • Formulate your goal in a meaningful way: Use the SMART formula and formulate your goals for the new year in a specific, measurable, attractive, realistic and time-bound way. The wording should also have a positive tone. "I'll start with...", for example, is more effective than "I'll stop with...".
  • Set intermediate goals: Achieve your goal in small stages and increase steadily! The bigger the goal, the more intermediate steps you should plan to master.
  • Make your goal visible: Hang a picture of your sustainable New Year's resolution on the fridge so that you can always keep an eye on it.
  • Share your goal with others: On the one hand, to give yourself a little fire under your butt through the commitment, on the other hand, to achieve the goal ideally together with like-minded people.
  • Know the reasons for your New Year's resolution: Take a relaxed approach, but always keep your intrinsic motives for change in mind so that you are always motivated.

Formulate and follow through on sustainable resolutions!

It's powerful that you're making a conscious effort to change your reduce our ecological footprint - but it's really admirable when you can achieve a goal that has been formulated as specifically as possible.

But don't put too much pressure on yourself to achieve your goals: resolutions often fail because you lose the fun. Contributing to the protection of the planet you live on should be motivation enough, right? 😉

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi (more at Environmental protection quotes)

I hope that some of the ideas for sustainable New Year's resolutions appeal to you and that you formulate personal goals from them. Do you have any questions, suggestions or other sustainable resolutions for the new year? Then I look forward to your comments!

Happy New Year and a happy, healthy and successful New Year,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS: You could fulfill another good and environmentally friendly resolution on New Year's Eve: you can find out more about this at Celebrate New Year's Eve sustainably without fireworks. Have fun!

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* Links with asterisks are so-called Affiliate linksIf you click on it and buy something, you automatically and actively support my work with CareElite.de, as I receive a small share of the proceeds - and of course nothing changes in the product price. Many thanks for your support and best regards, Christoph!

Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I'm Christoph, an environmental scientist and author - and here at CareElite I'm campaigning against plastic waste in the environment, climate change and all the other major environmental problems of our time. Together with other environmentally conscious bloggers, I want to give you tips & tricks for a naturally healthy, sustainable life as well as your personal development.

1 thought on “Nachhaltige Vorsätze für das neue Jahr – 25 Ideen, Ziele und Neujahrsvorsätze für 2024”

  1. Hello Christoph,
    I'm new to your blog and find your list contains many good resolutions for the year 2022. I live vegetarian for a long time, but vegan is currently still really hard for me. I'll read through a bit more. Thank you for your valuable content.

    All love
    Darinka 😉

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