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The ultimate green reading list: 10 books to help you become more sustainable
From food to fashion, this green round-up will help you live in a more responsible way
When it comes to the environment, we're all presented with a near-constant stream of depressing news, alarming statistics and bleak outlooks. Following frightening-sounding 'final' warnings from scientists and rising global temperatures – outlined in The United Nations’ latest climate report – the climate crisis can sometimes feel anxiety-spiking and too big to comprehend, let alone tackle.
"We are already experiencing human-induced global warming of 1.1C, instigating unprecedented changes to our planet’s climate," Eco-Age's communications and sustainability professional Georgia-Rae Taylor, says. "The last decade alone was warmer than any period of the last 125,000 years. To reduce fashion’s contribution to climate change, we need to re-evaluate every step."
But where to start? If each of us makes small but significant changes to our everyday lives, we'll help to undo some of the harm caused to our planet. If you're unsure where to begin but are feeling empowered to make a meaningful change, then pick up one of the books from this curated reading list for guidance. From our wardrobes to our cooking habits, beauty routines and holidays, the decisions we make have consequences. With some smart tweaks and changes, we can adapt our lifestyles to make the planet a better place.
Here are our 10 must-read books about sustainability to read this Earth Day and beyond.
Dana Thomas' Fashionopolis exposes the truth behind fast fashion's impact on our planet. The author explains the reality of buying quickly designed, mass-produced clothes, but also gives useful solutions and alternatives to shoppers who want to make a change. Thomas – who travelled the world to write her book and find valuable answers – chats with activists, designers and tech experts who are also fighting for a system overhaul.
Greta Thunberg is the voice of the activist generation; she made history in 2018 after deciding, one day, that she wouldn't go to school – and instead, made it her mission to change the world. No One is Too Small to Make a Difference reminds us of exactly that, in Thunberg's own inspiring words.
Justine Jenkins uses her expertise (she's a trained holistic and sustainable make-up artist and consultant) in this practical guide to living a more responsible lifestyle and having a low-waste beauty routine. There are endless beauty products, ingredients and brands out there, all of whom promise to be better for the environment, but it can be hard to know which to trust or where to spend your money. Jenkins takes you through, step-by-step, explaining how to make a difference – from simplifying your routine to creating recipes yourself at home.
For anyone who wants to know more about how the way we eat affects the world we live in, Dan Barber's The Third Plate is a must-read. After surveying farming communities worldwide for 10 years, Barber – a New York chef passionate about locally sourced food – offers a new perspective on eating that will help our planet, without sacrificing taste. By examining the history of cooking, he looks forward to a better, more sustainable way of eating.
If the endless worrying statistics have you feeling anxious or concerned, Not Too Late will help you to put you a little more at ease. Exactly as it promises on the cover, this book changes the narrative from despair to possibility, giving hope to anyone feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis and what our future may look like.
We've all been there: feeling guilty at the amount of leftover food being discarded, which we had every intention of eating when we first bought or ordered it. This book changes that narrative with 100 recipes, all of which show you how to make your food go further, thereby reducing your waste and making the most out of your weekly shop.
If you want to be more eco-conscious, but can't bear giving up your holidays, this is the ideal read. Lonely Planet's trusty guide to the world's most sustainable experiences and destinations (all of which protect wildlife and support local communities) will ensure that you're travelling in a way that keeps environmental impact to a minimum.
The biggest weapon against climate change is the individual choices we all make. Emma Hakansson's How Veganism Can Save Us reveals hard truths about the impact of animal agriculture, not only on our environment, but also on our own personal well-being and mental health. By adopting a plant-based diet, we can help improve our overall health, save animals and reverse environmental destruction.
It's undeniable that we are living in an economic system that, for the most part, pursues profit above all else – meaning that harmful systems which heavily contribute to the climate crisis are often overlooked. Tackling the climate crisis requires us to "visit the roots of poverty, capitalist exploitation, police brutality and legal injustice", says Mikaela Loach, and this book looks at the links between climate justice, racial equality and collective liberation.
Who actually makes our clothes? Once upon a time, we'd probably know the local seamstress, or craft our own. Today, the making of our clothes and the still-booming fast-fashion market tells a very different tale. Fashion journalist Clare Press explores the entire fashion system, from sweatshops to haute couture.
