Make your New Year’s Resolutions count
It’s thought the first New Years’ resolutions originated around 4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians making promises to repay their debts and return borrowed items to their rightful owners. And while many of us now opt for 12-month gym memberships or commit to a sober lifestyle, the psychology behind such pledges remains largely the same.
As humans, we still crave that sense of agency, the prospect of a fresh start and the belief we can shape our own destinies. And we can. As a species, we’re vastly capable. From creating beautiful music to space exploration to building global communications networks.
However, we are also prone to greed, selfishness and often, unfathomable stupidity.
For instance, scientists, environmentalists, and indigenous communities have raised red flags about climate-change and biodiversity loss for generations. But their expertise was repeatedly dismissed and belittled as ‘woke’ baloney by those profiteering from the exploitation of people and planet. The climate has always been changeable, right?
I mean, sure, there’s been fluctuations, but since the industrial revolution (when we began our love affair with fossil fuels) global warming has increased more quickly and on a much larger scale than we’ve ever seen before, disrupting our ecosystems in countless ways.
The irony is, that according to the World Bank, more than half the world’s economy is highly dependent on nature.
As individuals it can feel as though this is all largely out of our hands and we’re incapable of making a difference – but nothing could be further from the truth.
Which is why we’ve put together some New Years’ Resolutions that might just help save the planet.
1. Stop buying unnecessary “stuff”
Before you buy something, ask yourself if you really need it? Over-consumption is how we got ourselves into this mess.
Cheap deals on sites like Temu and Shein are tempting, but the items rarely last and often have questionable supply-chains.
A much better option is to consider purchasing things second-hand or make like the Babylonians and borrow it from a friend or neighbour (just make sure you return it). Alternatively, you can hire anything from designer clothing to power tools these days.
2. Make an effort to do your research
I know this can be a time suck, so start with products and services you buy and use on a regular basis. Can you switch to environmentally-preferable cleaning products or toilet paper? Our collective buying power is considerable and can make a difference.
To avoid falling victim to greenwashing, look out for independent ecolabels like Eco Choice Aotearoa, which are designed to take the hard-work out of responsible purchasing.
3. Accept trade-offs
Have you ever wondered why environmentally-preferable products are sometimes slightly less effective when compared to stock-standard items? In the case of cleaning and laundry products, it’s likely because they’re not packed with harsh chemicals designed to annihilate everything in their path. Consequently, I will happily forgo laundry powders and detergents containing optical brighteners (to make my whites, brighter) because they’ll likely shorten the lifespan of my clothing, don’t biodegrade and are toxic to aquatic life.
4. Find yourself some Kiwi no.8 wire
Kiwis are among the worst in the world when it comes to the amount of waste we produce; with a lot of what is sent to landfill able to repaired or repurposed.
We can turn this around by supporting businesses that offer repair services like Blunt umbrellas, taking broken items to Repair Cafes or learning how to fix things yourself through organisations like The Re-Creators. You can also sign Consumer NZ’s petition calling for a mandatory product repairability label.
5. Take your palate on an adventure
Give a vegetarian meal or restaurant a try. I promise the establishment won’t be full of unwashed hippies and you will find a dish you enjoy. I recently introduced my husband to Korean Fried Cauliflower (KFC) at one of my favourite eating spots. We almost came to fisticuffs over the last delicious morsel. I suggest a restaurant rather than DIY because our hospitality scene needs the support, and there’s nothing like tasting something from a chef who knows what they’re doing.
Meat, particularly beef, is resource and emissions intensive. I’m not telling you to ditch it completely, just give something new a try – you might find yourself all over Meat-Free Monday before you know it.
6. Stop wasting food
Did you know food waste makes up 4% of our total carbon emissions in Aotearoa? And costs the average Kiwi household around $650 per year?
For tips on reducing food waste, budget friendly recipes and meal planning, check-out Love Food Hate Waste.
7. Take notice
Are our elected officials doing right by people and planet? This is not about picking a side, it’s about holding decision-makers to account, and making our preferences as constituents clear. You can do that in a number of ways; by joining a community protest against plans for a waste to energy plant in Te Awamutu, writing to your local MP, signing a petition against a resumption of offshore oil and gas exploration and voting for representatives who value the same things you do.
8. Create a ripple effect
Finally, each of these suggestions will have infinitely more impact if you tell someone else about them. Share the changes you’re trying to make to reduce your environmental footprint and why it matters with your family, friends and workmates. Not in a preachy way, but casually over a coffee, beer or kombucha. Because a word from a trusted friend, is still one of the most powerful behavior change tools we have at our disposal (and if you happen to be mates with some of the decision-makers at our biggest fossil fuel companies, all the better).
**Please note, this is not an exhaustive list, merely a starting point for those unsure where to begin.
***This article was originally published in the NZ Herald in January 2024.
Clare Hobby – Global Director of External Engagement at TCO Certified, Board Member at the Sustainable Leadership Purchasing Council
Clare has been working in sustainability for over 20 years — before it was cool, and before most companies knew what scope 3 emissions were. Her main challenge today is getting companies to look beyond emissions data to other factors like biodiversity, human rights, etc. This includes encouraging organisations to focus on actions that actually move the needle – sustainable purchasing, product longevity, and greater access to renewable energy.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I like to say I “slid on a banana peel” into sustainability before it became mainstream. Back in the late ‘90s I worked in the foreign service and was on a trade mission with a number of sustainability-focused organizations. I was so inspired by their commitment to the issues, and something clicked – sustainability was where I belonged.
Can you tell us about the sustainability challenge you’re most focused on right now?
Right now we’re focused on circularity as a way of reducing the climate impact of electronics. Upwards of 80% of the lifetime emissions in the average computer happen in the manufacturing phase, so this means we have to make sure that electronics are designed and made to last. That way we can reduce the need for excess manufacturing. But good design and manufacturing are only part of the story. The important challenge for all of us is to use our IT products longer. Take care of them, share and repair. It makes a big difference to the climate impact and slows the flow of e-waste – and we’re also working on a sustainable cloud initiative, so stay tuned.
What helps you stay effective in this field without burning out or compromising your values?
Two things keep me going – the mission and the people! The mission is clear and there’s still work to do. The people are the glue! I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside the most dedicated and interesting people I could hope for. From interviewing factory workers in China, to working on complex sustainability challenges with our team, or representing TCO Certified in UN meetings, there’s a deep appreciation that comes from this shared commitment to a more sustainable world. I’m also really grateful to work for an organisation where sustainability impact is the number one goal. It’s in our DNA. This clarity is so important so we can lead with purpose and integrity.
Moumita Das Roy – Commercial Communications Manager, Dulux NZ
Moumita’s path to sustainability wasn’t a straight line, it evolved from her lived experiences. At Dulux NZ, Moumita’s work sits at the intersection of marketing, communication, and sustainability, helping to translate complex environmental commitments into stories that customers, partners, and communities can understand and trust.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
My sustainability journey wasn’t planned. It evolved from my lived experiences. Migrating to Aotearoa meant rebuilding both life and career, and that process made me deeply conscious of resources, resilience, and community. I learned quickly that nothing should be taken for granted. Not opportunities, not materials, not the environment that sustains us. As a communicator, I became increasingly aware that sustainability succeeds or fails based on how well we tell its story. Data alone rarely changes behaviour; connection does. That realisation drew me toward my sustainability work.
What’s surprised you most about the barriers that still exist in the sustainability space?
The biggest barriers aren’t technological, they’re human. Real progress happens when sustainability becomes a shared responsibility rather than a specialist function. When people understand that small, consistent decisions matter, momentum builds naturally.
How can women building a career in sustainability be better supported?
We need to broaden our understanding of what sustainability leadership looks like. Many women arrive in this field through non-traditional pathways. Communications, community engagement, design, or business strategy. Support means reducing the invisible burden of constantly proving credibility, particularly for migrant and culturally diverse women navigating new professional environments. Sustainability requires collaboration, empathy, and long-term thinking, qualities often undervalued in traditional leadership models but critical for systemic change. Creating spaces where those strengths are recognised will help more women thrive in this sector.
Elisha Willeam Peter – Sustainability Consultant, Tonkin + Taylor
Elisha works in climate change, helping businesses with their emissions reduction plans, carbon inventories, ecolabel verifications, and climate risk assessments. She represents what it feels like to be a young person navigating climate anxiety while continuing to show up with passion and persistence to create a sustainable future.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I’ve always wanted to work in the environmental space but I never realised there was such a defined field as sustainability when I was at university. After graduating, I looked for roles that would allow me to contribute to environmental issues, and that’s how I found my first sustainability role. You could say I stumbled into it, but I’m so glad I did. Working in sustainability has opened my eyes to the human side of things. I’ve learned that actions, policies, and decisions all have very tangible impacts on both the environment and communities. We can’t make decisions that protect the planet at the expense of people, there has to be a balance. That’s what keeps me motivated.
How can women building a career in sustainability be better supported?
I genuinely believe that women supporting women goes a long way. I’ve been fortunate to have been surrounded by admirable and inspiring women, both professionally and personally. Throughout my career so far, I’ve been guided by women who have encouraged me to develop my technical skills and challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. It’s also important to create safe and inclusive spaces that amplify women’s voices. Many women, myself included, can find it difficult to assert ourselves in discussions, so building spaces where we feel comfortable speaking up and developing our public speaking and leadership skills is essential.
What helps you stay effective in this field without burning out or compromising your values?
It hasn’t always been easy. With increasing competition in the field and tight budgets often leading organisations deprioritising sustainability, it can feel like an uphill battle. But I try to remind myself that even small, consistent actions are much better than doing nothing at all. When things do get too overwhelming, I make it a point to recognize that and take time to step back — whether that means slowing down, spending time in nature, or leaning on my colleagues in the sustainability space who share the same passion and understand the challenges. Those moments of rest and connection really help me stay grounded and stay true to my values.
Gabriela Baron – Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering and Design, University of Auckland
Gabriela’s work sits at the intersection of design, conservation, and community participation. She’s particularly focused on how we reimagine conservation — not as separation from nature, but as relationship woven into culture, education, and everyday decision-making.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I was first drawn to sustainability because I felt, very deeply, that the way human systems operated were disconnected from life itself, from land, from community, from our own inner nature. Sustainability, for me, was never a technical misalignment, but about remembering that we are part of living systems.
What keeps me motivated is purpose. Purpose is not something you find once and can never look back, it is something that keeps calling you forward, especially on days when you feel lost. I find strength in helping people rediscover their relationship with the more-than-human world. I believe purpose is like a quiet compass, it picks you up when you are discouraged and it reminds you why the work matters when the world feels overwhelming.
What’s surprised you most about the barriers that still exist in the sustainability space?
What surprises me the most is how often sustainability is still framed through structures of control rather than relationship. Sometimes the conversation is purely technical, very institutional, or very male-dominated in its style of leadership, and we risk forgetting the emotional, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of how humans are interwoven with natural systems.
Another barrier is the persistence of voices telling women that they must choose between softness and strength, between care and intellectual rigor, between nurturing and leadership. I don’t believe these are opposites. I believe they are different expressions of the same creative force.
How can women building a career in sustainability be better supported?
Women in sustainability need spaces where they can grow without having to shrink parts of themselves to fit into existing systems. We need communities of women who celebrate each other’s success, who lift each other up, and who remind each other that our value is not defined by how loudly we speak or how hard we perform. I think of it as a kind of rewilding: allowing ourselves to step out of the domestication of external expectations and reconnect with our own inner rhythms, creativity, and wisdom. And let feminine energies express themselves in the ways that feel most natural and unique to each of us.
We need diversity and redundancy. I would love to see more mentorship, more cross-generational connection, more spaces where girls and women can see themselves reflected in leadership, science, design, and conservation (through a feminine, relentless lens) and where they can feel free to find their tribe of women who celebrate life, beauty, and purpose together.
Rachael Randal – Manager, Sustainable Procurement & Supply Chain Partnerships, Science and Sustainability Auckland Transport
Rachael leads a sustainability and procurement team at Auckland Transport, working across $2 billion worth of contracts to turn sustainability commitments into measurable outcomes. She’s not just a champion of sustainable procurement but takes an intersectional approach to sustainability as she works to advance economic, environmental and social rights for all.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I spent the first part of my career working in communications and engagement in the healthcare sector. My favourite part of that mahi was working closely with patient advocacy groups, hearing about their experiences navigating complex systems. The people I met and worked with taught me to look at policy and strategy through an equity lens and to always ask questions about whose voice is being heard, who is the system designed for, and why.
After having children and when my second child was a toddler, I made the decision to go back to university to do postgraduate study and master’s research focussed on the social, political and economic dimensions of global environmental change. Together, these experiences have shaped how I think about environmental, social and economic rights, climate action and sustainability, and the importance of always critically interrogating the power dynamics at play.
What’s surprised you most about the barriers that still exist in the sustainability space?
What surprises and worries me the most is how narrow the sustainability lens can become. There’s a real risk of carbon tunnel vision, where reporting emissions becomes the dominant, sometimes only, focus. Reducing emissions is critical, of course, and we do need to measure and report to demonstrate this. But if we pursue it in isolation, we won’t get the outcome we need. Sustainability isn’t single-issue, it’s about ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ Environmental, social, and economic systems intersect. If we electrify a fleet but ignore questions around who benefits and who is left behind, or transition industries without thinking about biodiversity, workforce impacts and even accept that people around the world will be exploited and human rights will be degraded in the process, we have totally missed the point.
I’m also often surprised by how little understanding there still is about intersectionality. The communities most affected by environmental degradation and climate related hazards are the same communities facing economic exclusion, systemic racism and other discrimination, or health, housing and education inequities. People don’t experience climate risk, economic insecurity or social marginalisation in neat silos. They experience them simultaneously and these harms and disparities exacerbate each other.
What would progress look like in your industry five years from now? What needs to change to get there?
The rate of change can often feel frustratingly slow, but when I look back across the last 5 years, it’s clear that progress has been made, and this is much easier to demonstrate now we have better systems for data capture, monitoring and impact evaluation. Five years from now, I’d like to see more recognition around New Zealand of the important role of procurement in enabling organisations’ sustainability commitments. This is key if they are to move beyond ambition statements to action and progress.
I’d also like to see more cross-sector collaboration, as this is essential if we are to generate meaningful outcomes. Clarity on where each entity sits within the theory of change so we can each understand our role in the system will help organisations to align decisions accordingly and maximise our collective impact.
