Already thinking about your New Year’s resolutions? Maybe you’re committed to walking 10,000 steps a day or eating more vegetables. But you know what else should be on your list? Eco and sustainability goals for 2024! Why? Because conservation and sustainability matter. Help keep the outdoor places we inhabit enjoyable, healthy, and fun for generations to come.
Let’s jump right in! Here are a few ideas to get you started for 2024 and beyond.
Eco Tips for Responsible Consumers
Your wallet and the ways you spend money matters. How you spend your money can affect the planet in little and big ways, from what you buy to when you buy it. Here are a handful of examples.
Limit Buying: There’s a reason why the first word in “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is “reduce.” Don’t buy new gear unless you absolutely need it.
Sure—everything experiences wear and tear. But in a lot of cases, you can repair it first rather than toss it in the dumpster. Take it to the next level and make repair fun by making it your own. Patching your gear makes it as good as new—not to mention it’s a big savings for you too!
Shop Locally: If you do shop, do so locally. Shopping locally shrinks your carbon footprint. Why? Shopping local takes less materials like cardboard boxes and plastic bags used to protect items from shipping. It also means less transportation, cutting down on the amount of gas used to get products to your front door. Not to mention that shopping in your area boosts your local economy and labor force. Pretty cool, right?
Buy used: Want to save money while shopping eco-friendly? Go thrifting or check out used gear sites. The things you need have already been created, so buy those instead of new gear. Even if it isn’t new, it’s new for you—and that can be just as good. Plus you can brag to your friends about your thrift-store value-finding abilities.
Bring your own bags and containers: Did you know a popular coffee chain uses 8,000 paper cups a minute? That’s just wild. Thermoses and containers for leftovers can save so much waste. Similarly, bringing your own bags to the store can cut back on litter, trash, and microplastics.
Eco Tips for the Outdoorsy Crowd
When it comes to guidelines for keeping the great outdoors, well, great… There’s really nothing better than the seven Leave No Trace (LNT) principles :
- Plan Ahead and Prepare: Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts tend to fare a lot better when they plan and prepare for the adventures ahead. Examples include researching regulations for your destination, checking the weather and climate, packing essential gear and supplies ( like a patch ), and aiming for self-sufficiency. If you’re unprepared, it’s all too easy to make mistakes that inconvenience you and negatively impact the environment.
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Sometimes just leaving footprints is too much. Stick to designated trails to avoid trampling vegetation and fragile landscapes. It’s also a good idea to camp on solid ground.
- Dispose of Waste Properly: Trash happens. Just make sure to pack out what you pack in. And throw all waste in its proper receptacles.
- Leave What You Find: Nature is full of cool rocks, leaves , and more. It’s tempting to pocket things. But it’s best to leave them where they are.
- Minimize Campfire Impacts: Campfires are cozy and a lot of fun. But only when they are under control. Use established fire rings whenever possible, keep fires small, and always extinguish your fire completely before leaving the area or going to sleep. Did you know? Embers from campfires are one of the most common ways to damage puffy jackets .
- Respect Wildlife: The great outdoors is home to all sorts of wildlife . Too much interference can disrupt their natural environment and behaviors. Some tips include keeping your distance, never feeding wildlife, securely storing food from critters, and keeping pets under control or at home.
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Last but not least, make room for everyone to enjoy the outdoors . And help others who might be struggling with the above tips. We can all help each other out when it comes to packing out trash, keeping fires controlled, or staying on trails.
NoSo Patches: Our Own Sustainable Resolutions
Our gear repair patches are all about fixing wear and tear with plenty of flair. But NoSo Patches is not just a patch company. We are also dedicated to promoting sustainability , fostering a community of outdoor enthusiasts, and extending the life of your clothing and gear.
Our dedication to eco-friendly practices and conservation shines through their products and practices. For example:
- We actively research and develop new, even more sustainable solutions for our patches and packaging.
- We prioritize transparency and ethical sourcing of materials, ensuring responsible practices throughout our supply chain.
- We use high-quality, durable materials for our patches, ensuring they last long and minimize the need for frequent replacements.
- And we use our manufacturing processes to focus on minimizing waste and using environmentally friendly materials.
There’s always more to be done—and that’s what we are committed to. Doing better each day, each year, and with each patch.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
