9 Instagram accounts that’ll inspire you to live your most eco-friendly life

Let’s fill our feeds with inspiration to live a more eco-conscious 2020!

These ethical fashionistas, zero-wasters, and vegan mommas are using their voices to make Instagram less of a “highlight” reel and more of a stage for sustainability.  

Because the people we follow should make us feel even MORE excited to live our everyday with Mother Earth in mind.

9 Eco-friendly Instagram accounts inspiring more green living 

@PlasticFreeMermaid

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This climate crisis, this social collapse, THIS FUTURE is what many of us spiritual teachers, environmental warriors, scientists—have been training for. . As we near the closing on this and welcome the dawn of the coming decade, there is much work to be done, much love to be shared, much to redesign, shift, and reconnect to. . . It was just prior to 2010 that I learned about plastics never biodegrading and polluting the oceans. It shocked me into a decade of activism. An urgent need to preserve our oceans took precedence over most “normal” living as I prioritised community action, policy change, educational campaigns, social media experiments to influence environmental and social change. . It is with immense relief and joy that I feel the world is finally aware of the threats of plastic pollution. Now begins the interesting new chapter. Designing our way out of this mess. . I don’t just have hope for the future. I understand exactly where we are at. I face the science. I have done the spiritual and self work to trust I am grounded, resilient, unwavering, and courageous. I have done the work to trust that I am compassionate, in clarity, in my femininine—not forcing, but allowing organic flow, and have abundant infinite love for all that I meet. . I walk into this new decade whole. I meet all that comes for us. I bring fierce playful passion in full force. Just as the natural disasters rage as our Earth suffers in her fever. So will we rage. MEETING the old paradigm. MEETING the rigid politicians addicted to their comforts, consumed with greed, so deeply bound to their corporate daddies. . We come into this new decade with science, resourceful, creative, empowered because we are in this TOGETHER. and that is one thing the 1%, the leaders at the top who have forsaken us do not have. We the people are rising up. We are showing up. And we are dreaming up our way back to the beautiful world our heart’s know is possible. . . 2020. You are ours. Mama Earth. We are yours. . . Photo taken by soul sis @lalune.ph

A post shared by Kate Nelson / mermaid (@plasticfreemermaid) on Dec 13, 2019 at 6:48pm PST

More mermaids, less plastic = our kind of mantra. Kate Nelson uses her voice to fight against single-use plastic and make mindful living look as majestic as possible.

We also can’t get enough of her blog. It’s full of vegan recipes, thoughtful “mermaid musings,” and DIY body scrub tutorials (yes, please). 

@Going.Zero.Waste

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Please enjoy pumpkins responsibly! ⁠ ⁠ Have you hit up your local pumpkin patch this year? I love pumpkins. I mean who doesn't? ⁠ ⁠ I love carving pumpkins, decorating the house with pumpkins, and I played Cinderalla so it was reliable transport for at least one enchanted evening. ⁠ ⁠ And, of course eating pumpkins! Every year during the fall my mom would make THE BEST pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. 🥧⁠ ⁠ More than 2 billion pounds of pumpkins are grown every year for all our pumpkin needs. ⁠ ⁠ And, according to the US Department of Energy, 1.3 billion pounds are uneaten and sent to the landfill. ⁠ ⁠ Food waste in landfills can't break down so it's stuck in limbo releasing methane a greenhouse gas 30x more powerful than carbon. ⁠ ⁠ So, if you're going to get down on some pumpkins this fall 🙋please eat them and then compost them! ⁠ ⁠ Let me know if you're interested in some pumpkin recipes to prevent food waste? I'll write you a blog post! ⁠ #GoingZeroWaste #PleaseEnjoyPumpkinsResponsibly #HalloWaste⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #pumpkinpatch #simplicity #ecofriendly #gogreen #sustainability #sustainableliving #gogreen #imsomartha #gzwholidays #spookyseason #sustainable #gogreen #zerowaste #bemorewithless #reducereuserecycle #eco #zerowastelifestyle #bethechange #zerowasteliving #consciousconsumer #compost #pumpkinspice #pumpkin #pumpkins⁠

A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Oct 29, 2019 at 8:44am PDT

One look at Kathryn Kellog’s page and you’ll feel even more inspired to ditch single-use plastic, eat lots of veggies, and share love for Mother Earth. Her posts are super informative in a positive, yet non-judgmental way. And if you’re as obsessed with her content as we are, check out her book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste. 

@RobJGreenfield

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A new chapter has begun. The Earth is my home. I have donated my tiny house and many of my useful possessions to grassroots organizations. I gifted meaningful possessions to many of my friends and I sold a few things. My two years in Florida has come to an end. I accomplished there what I desired. I will miss my friends, patterns and foundation there. But my life knows no borders and I am being called. Everything I own is in a bag, which currently sits beside me in Atlanta, Georgia. I have no possessions elsewhere. Today Atlanta is my home. In a few days it will be Virginia, next week New York City, and so on. The earth is my home. Humanity and all species are my family and friends. Everywhere I go I will be at home and amongst family and friends. I will be surrounded by love, for I love all beings. I have no address. I have no bank account, credit card, retirement fund or single financial account. I have $6,564 and I have committed to not earn any money until 2021. I am in service. I am present in this world, but I will become more present in the days, weeks and months to come. I am undergoing some necessary and important transformations. I feel that I am on the horizon. The horizon is never ending but I am stepping onto this infinite plane with comfort and completeness. – Photo by @pedrojea

A post shared by Rob Greenfield (@robjgreenfield) on Nov 27, 2019 at 8:11am PST

Watching Rob Greenfield grow and forage 100% of his food for an entire year is just one of the many reasons to follow his ultra environmental account. Even more than we love his videos that feature fellow sustainable advocates, we love reading about his philosophy on minimal living. 

@MikaelaLoach

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Only 2% of people making clothing all over the world earn a living wage. 75% of these people are women.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Let it sink in that 98% of the people who make our clothes are not paid enough to meet their own basic needs. Sit with that fact: don’t scroll past it or gloss over it. The reason for this: a demand for cheap clothing and valuing this desire over these people’s lives. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ The fashion industry has historically exploited and abused it’s workforce. A workforce mainly made up of women. Cases of sexual violence in the workplace are common, unionising is often prohibited or met with violence and workplaces are unsafe. These are the experiences faced by the same women making clothing for @topshop, @boohoo, @prettylittlething, @zara, @hm, @missguided, & all other highstreet chains, who claim to be selling female empowerment through making you look good in their clothes. These companies have the cheek to have women who aren’t paid a living wage to make T-shirts with slogans like “GRL PWR” or “feminist” or other “empowering” phrases on them. Who’s empowerment is this? Is it even true empowerment if the women making the garments are not given workplace rights or fair wages and treatment? Or do we only care about the empowerment of women in the Global North?⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: our desire for expression should not cause someone else’s oppression.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Fast fashion is a feminist issue. It’s a climate issue. It’s a health issue. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ We’ve got to come together and put pressure on these companies to do better. Watch @truecostmovie. Join @fash_rev in asking brands to publish their lowest wage. Not the average wage, not the price per garment, but the LOWEST wage of anyone in their supply chain. When brands have to do this, those most vulnerable in their supply chains are protected, as well as everyone else. They can’t wiggle out of this one with vague ethics reports & claims of “adhering to country regulations”. So keep asking them, join in the #LowestWageChallenge. Respecting workers and giving them rights shouldn’t be something we celebrate: it should be normal. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⚡👜: @revival.collective (gifted)

A post shared by M I K A E L A ~ ethical bean (@mikaelaloach) on Nov 18, 2019 at 3:55am PST

Looking for ethical fashion inspiration? Mikaela Loach shows just how cute rewearing second-hand clothing can look. And, unlike many lifestyle bloggers, she uses her voice to spread more love rather than materialism. ❤️

@ZeroWasteHome

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If you are travelling for the holidays, pack your cloth bag and use our worldwide bulk finder (tab on the blog, link in the bio) to find bulk during your travels. Thousands of locations have been shared, including @bulkbarnfoods 270 locations throughout Canada! Happy Zero Waste Holidays everyone! #zerowaste #zerodechet #zerowastehome #unpackaged #ad #bulk #trashfree #nowaste #notrash #ZWH #bulkbarn

A post shared by Bea Johnson (@zerowastehome) on Dec 14, 2017 at 1:00pm PST

From how to store food to how to be more waste-free in school, Bea Johnson’s account is packed with handy tips and tricks to go zero waste. She also posts informative graphics and inspirational quotes that give a little pep to the sometimes mundane aspects of mindful living (like getting bathroom supplies and meal prepping). 

@FortNegrita

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trust that you too make daily contributions to minimize global waste. 🌍 no you don't have to fit a year of trash in a mason jar, but you can bet a melting iceberg, that there are ways you can START zero wasting TODAY! (and yes, the urgency is necessary) TODAY, EXAMINE YOUR TRASH. Identify waste that: takes up the most space, starts to smell quickly, what can be recycled. It is a privilege to be wasteful. Determine what you can SAY 'NO' TO TODAY. A plastic grocery bag, an extra napkin. a work freebie. IMPLEMENT GUIDELINES TODAY to decrease the volume of trash you consume.will you never leave the house without a reusable cup or pledge to never use a ketchup packet ever again?!? TODAY, DESIGNATE REUSABLE DISHES AND CUTLERY FOR WORK; a plate, bowl, cup and silverware set. VISIT THE BULK AISLE on your next grocery store visit. see if you can find items you would typically buy in packaging and compare prices. If you really want to show off; buy something! lastly, THINK LIKE YOUR GRANDMA TODAY. often having to respond to scarce times, grandmas are known for keeping things out of the trashcan. (( this is a throwback photo from when i kept 13 months of trash in a mason jar, circa 2015 (ish) ))

A post shared by Fort Negrita the Co-op (@fortnegrita) on Sep 16, 2019 at 7:55am PDT

The Fort Negrita account is full of zero-waste tips, resources on how to be a more conscious consumer, and DIY tutorials on how to make reusable menstrual pads.

Check out this other blog post for more ways to have a more eco-friendly period. 

@TheFairlyLocalVegan

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Healing is not linear. It's a spiky graph with valleys, hills and mountains 📈 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I refuse to allow this disease to take over my life. I spend so much time researching and trying new things… And I just want to live. I want to have the energy I need to have fun, work, and be with my family. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sometimes the best thing you can do for your healing is to step back. I've decided to step back and instead just live for the moment. Even if I can't eat everything. Even if I have pain, I'm still me. But I refuse to see it as suffering any longer… It's just my life. I am exactly where I need to be. I don't have to do more. I don't have to be anywhere but here. It's all enough for me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now I'm off to meditate… 🧘 I am not my body. I'm not even my mind. I'm just borrowing all of this for the experience 😉 PS. This is a photo of the celery I grew from the bottom stub a bunch of celery I bought from the grocery store!!! 🙌 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #zerowaste #zerowastevegan #zerowastelife #zerowastelifestyle #medicalmedium #gogreen #bulkisbeautiful #lifewithoutplastic #gogreenorgohome #savetheplanet #nomoreplastic #shoplocal #sustainable #holistichealing #holistichealth #healthy #crohns #crohnsdisease #healing #nowaste #vegan #lowwaste  #zerowastehome #slowlife #slowliving

A post shared by A M B E R A L L E N (@thefairlylocalvegan) on Oct 23, 2019 at 9:05am PDT

If you’re looking for an approachable voice to guide you through your eco-conscious journey,  Amber Allen’s account is for you. Her vegan and minimalistic family of five makes the zero-waste movement seem accessible and fun!

@JillEMatthews

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All about that biker chic style 😎 ✌🏼. This entire outfit is also one of a kind too. The jacket is no longer made, the dress was a one off purchase from Winners about 7-8 years ago, the top was an H&M clearance item I bought 10 years ago and the boots were from Steve Madden purchased 11 years ago. All items I wear several times over and will continue to for years to come. Needless to say, I like to keep my favourites for a long time ! What’a the oldest piece in your closet?? #minimalcloset #takecareofyostuff ___________________________________ * * * * * #minimalootd#consciousfashion #minimalstreetstyle #curatecloset #sustainablefashion #minimalwardrobe #womenstreetwear #urbanchic #passionforfashion #mindfullymade #secondhandfirst #whomadeyourclothes #sustainablefashionblogger #slowdesign #fashrev #slowfashion #timelessfashion #oufitoftheday #todayiwore #fashionblogging #outfitshare #simplicity #minimalootd #ethicalootd

A post shared by Jill ᯽ Matthews (@jillematthews) on Oct 22, 2019 at 8:43am PDT

It’s hard not to fall in love with the gorgeous, eco-chic images that Jill Mathews posts. While we adore her cute outfits and accessories, we really love her eco-conscious tips, like DIY Christmas decorations and body butter. 

@ZeroWaste.Japan

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Easy Zero Waste Swap no.69 I used to throw the orange peels in the trash can🍊 Now, I boil them with water for a few minutes and set it in the kitchen to clean up🍊 I tried it on my kitchen counter and I had a stain on there that I could not get off. This orange water got it right off🍊 It smells good,too🍊 . . . #zerowaste #zerowastehome #zerowastelife #zerowastelifestyle #zerowasteliving #zerowastetips #zerowastegoals #plasticfreeliving #nosingleuseplastic #greentips #ecotips #zerowastejourney #ecofriendlyliving #secondhandfirst #sustainableliving #lowwaste #減廢 #lowwastelifestyle #lowwasteliving #제로웨이스트 #zerodechet #ゼロウェイスト #fridayforfuture #プラスチックフリー #savemoneylivebetter #thereisnoplanetb #greencleaning #ecocleaning

A post shared by Zerowaste.Japan (@zerowaste.japan) on Dec 9, 2019 at 12:49am PST

Discover smart and simple tips on how to live more plastic-free. This account shows all the many eco-friendly swaps in a super visual way — with “before” and “now” pictures. 

Now that you’ve got some social media inspiration, here are more tutorials on how to live greener!

• 6 Planet-friendly ways to make your home smell amazing
• Want an eco-friendly diet makeover? Here’s how to make it happen
• Here are 31 ways to be plastic-free for every day of the month