Over the past seven years, we have created a stream of content to help explain some of the issues surrounding sustainable food and fuel use. We’ve also developed tools to help you take action in your own lives: I Turn It Off is our campaign to reduce vehicle idling. I Value Food has all the tools you need to shrink the amount of food you waste. The Food Rescue Locator is a robust directory of food rescue groups, and Shared Earth is helping get new shared gardens started around the country.
Last month, we surveyed Sustainable America followers to find out what you think about these tools and how you’ve used them to take action in your homes and communities.
What you told us is exciting and inspiring! Sixty percent of respondents said our content inspired them to take action in their daily lives, doing things core to our mission, like reducing food waste and limiting vehicle idling. Fifty-five percent said they have discussed topics they’ve learned about with others, and 54% reported sharing our content with others online. Thirteen percent told us that they went on to take action within their communities.
We were especially inspired to hear about the specific actions respondents told us they’ve taken. People reported spearheading composting or recycling programs at their workplaces, taking on sustainability leadership positions, starting gardens, driving less, sharing food, carpooling, buying “ugly” produce, and volunteering at food banks.
We compiled a taste of the answers on Instagram:
We also asked about what issues you want to learn more about. Food waste — an issue that has great potential to solve multiple environmental and social problems — topped the list. Other food and fuel issues followed close behind. We also learned that our newsletter is our followers’ favorite way to stay up to date on sustainability issues. If you’re not on the list, you can subscribe here.
We will continue to cover these issues, and we also want to shine more light on the ways communities are working together to shift norms and make change happen. We invite you to tell us what’s happening in your world, who is creating change, what local programs are working, and what inspires you. Use the form on our Contact page to send us stories of what’s happening in your community.
We’d like to thank everyone who responded to the survey and congratulate Melynda, who won our $50 Whole Foods giveaway. Keep up the great work. Together, we can build a Sustainable America.
