Sustainable in the Suburbs | Reduce Waste, Sustainable Habits & Intentional Living

Can you be sustainable in the suburbs? Well, yes and no.

Suburban life can make sustainable living complicated — especially when communities are built around cars, convenience, private space, and consumption. But the suburbs are also where so many of us live, raise families, volunteer, vote, garden, organize, and build community.

So what does climate action actually look like here?

This episode looks at sustainable living in the suburbs beyond eco swaps and bigger purchases, and asks what becomes possible when we start thinking about our neighbourhoods, local politics, shared resources, and community resilience.

Takeaways

• Why suburban sustainability is complicated, but very doable
• How car dependency shapes the landscape and our daily choices
• Why the suburbs should not be written off in climate conversations
• How sustainable living goes beyond buying greener products
• Why free, inexpensive, and investment-level actions all matter
• How community resilience and local politics shape what comes next

One Small Shift

Choose one free action that connects your household to your community.

Sustainability is something we practise, share, and build where we live — and sometimes that starts with one small step outside our own front door.

Related Episodes

Ep. 7 - Rethinking Zero Waste and Building Community Care

Ep. 12 - How to Quit Using Amazon (and Why You Should)

Ep. 24: 5 Sustainable Living Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

Ep. 36: How to Host a Clothing Swap

Ep. 42: Overwhelmed by Climate Change? Start Here.

Ep. 45: How To Spend Less on Groceries by Reducing Food Waste

Blog Posts

50 Ways to Be More Sustainable

How to Drive Less in the Suburbs

How to Start Living Sustainably

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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Back in 2020, I was a guest on the now inactive podcast Practical(ly) Zero Waste, hosted by Elsbeth Callaghan. At the time, my kids were little, the zero waste movement online was deep in its “trash jar” era, and many of us were trying to figure out what sustainable living looked like outside of perfectly curated Instagram squares.

Six years later, a lot has changed.

Kids are older, life looks different, and both of us have let go of a lot of the pressure and aesthetics that surrounded zero waste in those early online days. But underneath all of that, the values are still very much the same.

In this full-circle conversation for Episode 50 of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Elsbeth and I talk about what sustainable living looks like now: parenting teenagers and young kids, balancing low waste goals with real life, navigating burnout and social media, building community, and why consistency matters a whole lot more than perfection.

We also talk about what we’ve kept, what we’ve let go of, and how many of the “small shifts” we started years ago have quietly become lifelong habits.

Takeaways

• Why sustainable living looks very different after years of actually living it
• The shift from perfection and aesthetics toward values and consistency
• Raising eco-conscious kids through everyday habits rather than pressure
• How composting, secondhand shopping, and reusables became family routines
• The connection between sustainability, community, and raising responsible citizens
• Why slowing down is often the most sustainable choice
• How “eco-frugal” living can save money while reducing waste
• Navigating low waste living with celiac disease and accessibility needs

One Small Shift

You can always start again.

Even if you’ve fallen out of old habits, even if life looks completely different now, small intentional changes still matter. Start with one thing that feels manageable and build from there.

Resources

Practical(ly) Zero Waste

PZW - Ep. 69: Raising Eco Kids

Inkwood Print Shop

Related Episodes

4: How to Conduct a Household Waste Audit

11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women’s Personal Finance

12: How to Quit Using Amazon (and Why You Should)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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In this episode, I’m talking about what sustainable living with kids actually looks like in real life. Not the Instagram version — the real version. The conversations, the habits, the overwhelm, the convenience culture, and the small shifts that slowly become part of how your family moves through the world.

Takeaways

• Kids learn consumption habits by watching us
• Sustainable living with kids is about buying less, not buying “eco” products
• Convenience culture is deeply connected to overwhelm and mental load
• Small habits shape how kids think about waste, spending, and consumption
• Involving kids in the “why” helps sustainability become a mindset
• Sustainability conversations naturally deepen as kids grow
• It’s never too late to start having these conversations as a family

One Small Shift
Have a family conversation about consumption, waste, or sustainability this week. Ask your kids what they notice, what they care about, and what ideas they have. You might be surprised by the answers.

Resources

10 Tips for Going Zero With Kids

How to Do a Trash Audit With Kids

Thrift Shopping for Kids

How to Prevent Food Waste With Kids

Becoming a Zero Waste Family

How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch

Related Episodes

Ep. 16: Sustainable Living with Kids — Save Money and Reduce Waste with Jessica Nakamura

Ep. 17: How to Raise Eco-Friendly Kids with Talayna Zacharias

Ep. 22: From Refills to Resilience — Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell

Ep. 32: Overstimulation, Overconsumption, and the Pressure to Do More with Gillian Gabryluk

Ep. 40 – How to Host a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids 

Ep. 46: How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change with Brittany Jefferson

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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Sustainability advice is everywhere — and even when you care, even when you’re trying to pay attention, it can be hard to know what actually matters.

In this episode, I’m joined by Alexa Pavan of Go Green With Alexa, a climate communicator and copywriter who’s focused on making sustainability more understandable, more approachable, and a lot more connected to real life.

We talk about what it looks like to move through all of that information — how to figure out what’s credible, what’s actually helpful, and how to take those bigger ideas and bring them into your day-to-day life.

From composting and food waste to media literacy and community action, this conversation is about finding your footing in a space that can feel overwhelming and remembering that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated to matter.

Takeaways

• Sustainability advice can feel overwhelming — slowing down and checking sources helps you build confidence in what you’re seeing and sharing.
• Food waste is one of the most impactful places to start, both environmentally and financially.
• Composting is a powerful way to reduce waste, especially when it’s supported at a larger, community level.
• Sustainable living looks different in every household — it needs to fit your life to stick.
• Small, everyday choices can extend beyond the home and shape communities and local systems.
• Civic engagement is part of building greener communities.
• Creativity and problem-solving are part of sustainable living.

One Small Shift

Start paying attention to what’s around you. Get curious about the life cycle of an object near you. Building awareness is the first step toward making more intentional choices.

Connect With Alexa

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Resources

Household Waste Audit Workbook (free resource)

How to Prevent Food Waste With Kids (blog post)

11 Ways to Reuse Food Scraps (blog post)

Related Episodes

24: 5 Sustainable Living Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

45: Food Waste Is Costing You — How to Spend Less on Groceries with Chelsey Schmuland

46: How to Understand Climate Change (and Talk About It With Your Kids) with Brittany Jefferson

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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Bathroom swaps are one of the most common entry points into sustainable living — but they can also be one of the most overwhelming.

There are so many products, so many recommendations, and so much pressure to replace everything all at once.

In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m talking about what it actually looks like to approach sustainable bathroom swaps in a way that’s doable, practical, and budget-friendly. The focus is on using what you already have, reducing repeat purchases, and making changes that actually stick in real life.

We dig into how much waste is coming from the bathroom, why so many of these items are designed to be used and replaced quickly, and how shifting your approach can naturally reduce both waste and spending over time.

I also walk through what has (and hasn’t) worked in my own routine — from bar soap and toothpaste to deodorant and other everyday products — and why simplifying your routine can often be more impactful than swapping everything out.

Takeaways

• Why the bathroom is a major source of household waste 
• Start with what you already have instead of buying new “eco swaps”
• Which sustainable bathroom swaps tend to work in real life (and which don’t always)
• Simplify your routine instead of adding more products
• How small, consistent changes can reduce waste without overhauling everything

One Small Shift

Take an inventory of what you already have in your bathroom and focus on finishing those products first. From there, you can make more intentional choices about what you actually want to replace (and what you don’t).

Resources

Eco-Friendly Bathroom Swaps (blog post)

Related Episodes

4: How to Do a Household Waste Audit

8: 5 Easy Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps for Sustainable Living

9: Skincare, Sustainability, and Self-Care with Rebecca Ogilvie

10: How to Refill in Your Own Containers for a Plastic-Free Pantry

22: From Refills to Resilience — Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell

38: Things I Don’t Buy Anymore — Eco-Frugal Shifts That Reduce Waste and Save Money

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

We spend a lot of time talking about climate change — but not nearly enough time understanding it.

Most of us were never really taught how to understand it, especially in a way that connects it to history, systems, power, and the everyday decisions we’re making.

This week, I’m joined by Brittany Jefferson, an educator and founder of EJ EDU, to talk about climate literacy — what it means, why it matters, and how it shapes the way we think about everything from education to environmental justice.

We talk about why climate can’t just live in science class, what’s missing from how it’s typically taught, and how understanding the bigger picture can change the way we approach sustainability.

We also bring this into everyday life — from raising kids and navigating climate anxiety to having conversations at home and taking local climate action.

Takeaways

• What climate literacy actually means 
• Why social studies, history, and systems thinking are essential to understanding climate change
• Environmental justice and who is most affected by the systems we live in
• The role of education as a climate solution
• How kids are already engaging with climate — from curiosity to overwhelm
• Ways to approach climate conversations at home in age-appropriate, grounded ways
• Navigating the tension between individual action and systemic change

One Small Shift

Download the Climate Venn Diagram. It’s a simple but powerful way to figure out where your skills, your interests, and the needs of the world overlap — and where you can focus your time and energy.

Connect with Brittany
Instagram
Patreon
Teachers Pay Teachers

Resources

All We Can Save – Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (book)
What If We Get It Right? – Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (book)
How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change - Harriet Shugarman (book)
Earth Matters (educational game)

Related Episodes
Ep. 5: How to Navigate Climate Emotions with Jen Knoch

Ep. 7: Rethinking Zero Waste with April Dickinson

Ep. 42: Overwhelmed by Climate Change? The Climate Venn Diagram Can Help

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

You’re not just wasting food — you’re throwing money in the trash.

This week I’m joined by returning guest Chelsey Schmuland, and we’re digging into one of the most overlooked ways to save money on groceries: reducing food waste.

Chelsey is the maker behind Hive to Home, where she creates handmade beeswax wraps as a reusable alternative to plastic food storage. She’s also a grocery budgeting queen and food rescue enthusiast.

We talk about how much food we’re actually wasting (and what that costs), how food rescue apps can dramatically transform your grocery budget, and why proper storage makes a bigger difference than you might think.

If you’re trying to spend less, waste less, and make your kitchen work better for you — this episode is packed with strategies you can start using right away.

Takeaways

• Food waste is one of the fastest ways to lose money on groceries — often without realizing it
• Food rescue is a practical way to cut your grocery bill
• Proper storage — especially breathable storage — helps food last longer
• Beeswax wraps are a reusable, plastic-free way to keep food fresh
• Planning for leftovers and using scraps can stretch your groceries budget
• Strategies on how to (re)use and store almost everything
• Composting helps close the loop — but keeping food in use is the goal

One Small Shift

Before you shop this week, check the reduced section or a food rescue app first — and build one meal around what you find.

Connect with Chelsey

Website

Instagram

Resources

A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20)

11 Ways to Reuse Food Scraps

How to Prevent Food Waste with Kids

How to Use Beeswax Wraps (and Keep Food Fresh Without Plastic)

Flashfood (use code is SUST7K8EA for $5 off)

Too Good to Go 

Odd Bunch

Souper Cubes

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

Spring is when the birds get loud again. You hear them before you see them — in the morning, in the trees, and in the background of your day.

If you’ve ever thought about getting into birding, this is a really natural place to start — right outside your door.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to start birding in your own backyard, how to identify common birds by sight and sound, what’s happening during nesting season, and how to support birds in ways that genuinely help.

There’s a lot of advice out there this time of year — and not all of it is as helpful as it sounds. So we’ll also walk through what to avoid, common bird hazards in suburban spaces, and simple ways to support backyard biodiversity and habitat.

Takeaways

• How to start birding right in your own backyard
• Why birdsong supports mental well-being
• How to identify birds by sight and sound (using Merlin Bird ID)
• What citizen science is — and how to take part
• A look inside Project NestWatch and nesting season
• How to join the Great Backyard Bird Count
• Why common nesting materials (like yarn and dryer lint) can harm birds
• What birds actually need: habitat, not materials
• Common bird hazards (windows, cats, habitat loss)
• Simple ways to support backyard biodiversity

One Small Shift
Leave your earphones at home for one walk this week and just listen. Learn to identify one bird by sound and tell me who it is!

Resources:

Safe Nesting Materials for Birds (blog post)

Merlin Bird ID
Birds Canada - Project NestWatch

Birds Canada - SwiftWatch

Great Backyard Bird Count

Wild Birds Unlimited

Feather Friendly

Related Episodes:

Ep. 18: Connecting Communities Through Green Spaces with Carolyn Scotchmer

Ep. 20: Wildlife Conservation, Birding, and Finding Hope in Nature with Matt Howard

Ep. 25: Redefining Sustainable Living — From Zero Waste to Real-World Resilience

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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What does sustainable living actually look like in the suburbs — in places designed around cars, convenience, and big box shopping?

Laura Newton is the founder of The Kind Matter Company, a Canadian eco-boutique and refill store focused on low waste living, eco friendly products, and non-toxic household essentials. What began as a personal search for safer products after her daughter developed severe allergies has grown into a retail business built around making sustainable living more accessible for everyday families.

Kind Matter now has multiple locations across Ontario, including a flagship store in Mississauga’s Heartland Town Centre — a typical suburban shopping plaza where refillable products, Canadian brands, and plastic-free options sit alongside everyday errands.

This conversation explores how refill stores and low waste shopping fit into suburban life, what customers are actually looking for, and how eco friendly products become part of real, everyday routines — without requiring a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Takeaways

• Why accessibility is one of the biggest barriers to sustainable living and low waste living
• What customers are most curious — and hesitant — about when they first encounter refill stores and refill systems
• Why cleaning products are often the gateway into refilling and eco friendly home swaps
• How placing refill shops inside suburban shopping plazas changes everyday shopping habits
• The role Canadian and women-owned brands play in Kind Matter’s product curation
• The importance of community-focused sustainability and local shopping in suburban areas

Connect With Laura

The Kind Matter Company

Terra Greenhouses

Products Mentioned

Birch Babe

Cheekbone Beauty

The Bare Home

Notice Hair Co. (see in store)

Routine Cream (see in store)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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This episode originally aired in the very first month of Sustainable in the Suburbs. I’m revisiting it now because this idea remains one of the clearest ways to find your place in climate action — and sometimes returning to the foundation is exactly what helps us feel re-energized.

Climate change feels HUGE — and it is. The problem is urgent and complex. And when you start looking for solutions, it can seem like there’s an endless list of things you should be doing. All of them are important, and that can feel completely overwhelming.

But meaningful climate action doesn’t happen because one person does everything. It happens when many people each find their place — in their homes, their neighbourhoods, and their communities.

In this episode, I’m sharing a simple framework I often come back to refocus my efforts: the Climate Action Venn Diagram from Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. We’ll talk about how your skills, your joys, and the needs of the world can come together to help you find your own personal starting point — one that feels meaningful, realistic, and sustainable for the long haul.

Takeaways

• The Climate Venn Diagram helps identify a meaningful starting point for climate action by looking at what brings you joy, what you’re good at, and what the world needs.
• Sustainable living isn’t about doing everything — it’s about doing something that feels right for you.
• Joy is a powerful motivator in climate work and there are countless ways to contribute your skills.
• Climate action often happens at the community level — through local advocacy, shared resources, and collective resilience.
• Building habits that feel good and fit your life helps make climate action sustainable for the long term.

One Small Shift

Download a copy of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s Climate Venn Diagram worksheet, grab a pencil, and just see what comes up. You might be surprised by how much clarity this one little exercise can bring.

Resources

How to Start Living Sustainably: A Simple Framework for Climate Action

Climate Action Venn Diagram

How to Find Joy in Climate Action (TED Talk)

What If We Get It Right? (website)

All We Can Save - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson (book)

What If We Get It Right - Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (book)

Buy Nothing Project

Related Epiosdes

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.