26 Green New Year’s Resolutions For 2026 [That You Can Start Today]

In the spirit of my New Year’s resolution – more action, less perfection – I’m doing my best to keep this short, sweet and, as always here on Tilted Map, realistic!

I’m NOT going to suggest you buy nothing, give up cheese forever, learn to make your own deodorant, or stop traveling.

If you want to do any of those things, that’s great.

If you don’t, that’s okay, too. There are still a ton of easy green New Year’s resolutions you can make for small, impactful changes without going to extremes. 

That’s what this is list about: Small, simple yet powerful ways to live more sustainably – now updated for 2026! 

As I wrote about in my newsletter recently, most of these aren’t things we’ve actively chosen that need to be changed. They’re just bad default settings that we’ve never thought about. (Thinking hard about what we buy isn’t exactly encouraged by the big corporations that dominate our attention.)

And the good news is that I’ve done the hard part for you by thoroughly researching and testing simple alternatives to the bad defaults. (As always, everything I recommend I’ve actually used and know it’s worthwhile.)

All of these ideas mights be new to you, or maybe you’re already doing most of them. 

Either way, I’ll bet there’s something you take from this list – and maybe a friend or family member who you can share the rest of these tips with?

Finally, most of these are ideas and products that I’ve written thousands of words about elsewhere on the blog, so consider this your miniature cheat sheet for sustainability inspiration for the New Year!

Without further ado, here’s the list: 26 easy sustainability swaps for 2026:

1. Get rid of your plastic tubes of toothpaste.

For all the plastic suggestions on this list, keep in mind that the climate impact of the plastic industry is more than that of all the flights we take. (In case the whole “skip the straw, save a sea turtle” argument doesn’t feel powerful enough.)

These plastic-free toothpaste tablets are my favorites after testing many, many brands.

2. Same goes for plastic deodorant.

This refillable, plastic-free deodorant comes from the same brand as the plastic-free toothpaste upgrade above. (Again, it’s my favorite after testing about a dozen options. Same discount code as above.)

[Details: Toothpaste tablet review. Plastic-free deodorant review.]

3. Combine shipments whenever you can.

In keeping with buying the first two items on this list from the same small company, try to start thinking about how many packages you’re ordering, and combine shipments whenever possible.

4. Swap your dishwasher tablets.

Do yours come in a plastic tub or packet? We don’t need that excess packaging anymore. Swap them for these, which work just as well, but come in recyclable cardboard boxes.

[Details: Check out my sustainable cleaning products review.]

5. Start composting your kitchen scraps (even in an apartment).

Food waste in landfills is a major contributor to climate change. You can compost the old-fashioned way yourself (if you have the space and the desire), or find a local pick-up service (and consider sharing with a neighbor to split costs), or use the counter-top composter machine we’ve used for years.

[Details: Lomi kitchen compost machine review, and our NEW video review of the latest Lomi version.]

6. Upgrade your laundry supplies.

These plastic-free laundry strips are great for travel, and these are the ones I use at home. These fabric softener tablets come in a cardboard box (the same brand and discount code as #4, so combine those orders).

[Details: Sustainable cleaning products review.]

7. Repair your jeans (and other things).

If you always get crotch holes (or any holes) in your favorite pairs of jeans, send them to this family business to have them fixed instead of buying new. (It’s not a patch; they actually reweave the fabric, so it lasts longer and seems like new. I’ve been sending my old jeans to them for almost a decade.)

This link will save you 15% (same as the one above).

8. Choose more sustainable flight routes and airlines.

Google Flights makes it easy to see and compare carbon emissions. (It’s about more than just direct flights vs. layovers: I’ve found as much as a 63% reduction from one airline to the next for the same route.)

NEW for 2026: A brand new flight booking platform called Book Better is making it even easier to find the most efficient flights, and invest in sustainable aviation fuel. (I’ve been talking with the founders – they’re legit!)

BONUS: This video is a quick intro one of the best ways travelers can contribute to actually improving the climate (without giving up travel):

9. Stop buying throw-away plastic razors.

Upgrade for one of these plastic-free razors. (The “Leaf” – for shaving legs or large areas; or the “Twig” – for faces, or other small areas where you want detailed control).

[Details: Review – my painful adventures in sustainable shaving; I suffered so you don’t have to.]

10. Ditch your plastic bottles of shampoo.

Swap them for these truly lovable bars, or these shampoo and conditioner concentrates in aluminum packaging.

[Details: Shampoo bar review. Shampoo concentrate review.]

11. Upgrade to refillable skincare products.

I’ve tested several brands that give you the results of top-of-the-line skincare products, but with vastly less packaging waste and carbon emissions. This one’s my favorite, and the easiest for anyone to switch to (not too many options).

[Details: Full review of my favorite brand. And here’s my review of the brand that’s a close second. Several other plastic-free face wash options.]

12. Upgrade your vitamins to skip the plastic bottles.

This is my go-to brand – food-grade vitamins that are delivered to your door in paper packets! (Save $15 with that link.)

[Alternatives: These vegan multi-vitamins come in a cardboard tube. Here’s my full review and discount code. For more formulas (gummies, probiotics, kids’ multis, and more) try this brand – which is also vegan-friendly and comes in in recycled packaging.]

13. Swap some of your driving for biking (with electric help if you want it!)

You probably know we love e-biking in Italy, but last year we tested riding zippy little city e-bikes around our neighborhood, too. They’re a fantastic way to drive less and, if you’re like us, they’re more realistic than riding a regular bike for most commuting!

[Details: Read our detailed foldable e-bike review, or watch the video version!]

14. Support local businesses when you travel.

If you take group trips, go with a company like Intrepid Travel that works to reduce and – only then – offset its carbon emissions. (Or, even better, join me one of our hyper-local e-bike trips in Italy this year!)

Seek out more sustainable hotels using Booking.com’s “Travel Sustainable” filter.

[More: The Lazy Guide to More Sustainable Travel, and the story of our Italy bike trip.]

17. Be pickier.

You don’t have to buy nothing all year, but think about buying less (especially less new stuff), and being more selective with your purchases. (Think quality, like the item above.)

Look for used items on Facebook Marketplace, or in local thrift stores before buying new.

Support sustainable brands that offer resale markets for factory seconds and/or refurbished items, like this one from my favorite travel gear brand. (It saves money, too!)

18. Slow. Down.

Slow travel is an absolutely joy, if you can design your life to create the time, and slow shopping is entirely underrated. Put a mental hold on any new purchase for a week to think about whether you really need them.

You might find yourself forgetting a lot of them… and not missing them.

19. Eat more vegetables.

You don’t have to go 100% vegan for the environment, but think about eating less meat and dairy, and more vegetables. Try new things!

[Our Faves: Check out the meatless recipes from our years in Italy.]

20. Switch banks to divest from fossil fuels.

Upgrade to one that invests your money in something better. (I moved to this climate-focused bank in 2022. They have outstanding customer service and a 4.21% interest rate savings account – pretty amazing for 2026! The bank is based in Florida, but can open accounts for residents of other states.)

Other great options include Green Fi (a national option that offers credit cards and lots of benefits), Beneficial State Bank in Oregon, Mascoma Bank in New England, and Amalgamated Bank.)

21. Have a period or bladder leaks? Try reusable products.

You can probably replace at least some of your disposable products with these period underwear (which are also used for light bladder leaks), or try a menstrual cup or disk. Remember – it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, or all right now. But over time I’ve used these products to transition to 100% reusables.

[Details: Period underwear review – brands that are better and more sustainable than Thinx.]

22. Switch to climate-friendly dog food.

If US pets were their own country, they’d be the world’s 5th largest meat consumer. That’s a lot of avoidable CO2 emissions. Because just like humans, dogs don’t actually need to eat chicken and beef – that’s why this sustainable kibble is made of crickets instead of red meat.

23. Use a carbon calculator to compare different travel options

Compare the actual impact of trains, planes, cars, ferries, and more for your specific route (not just “in theory”) and find the greenest way to do each trip. (Tip: It won’t always be the same, depending on the distance, number of travelers, and other factors.)

[Details: The best travel carbon calculators, and what they’re each good for.]

24. Opt in for renewable energy.

It’s easier than you might think (truly) and usually costs about the same! Just search for “switch to renewable energy in your state” to find out how. Most states have a government page explaining the process.

25. Switch to tree-free toilet paper.

These bamboo rolls are the softest I’ve tried, are 100% plastic-free, delivered to your door, and have a lower carbon footprint than regular TP. (And yes, they really work. Like everything I recommend, I’ve tested it thoroughly.)

[Details: Check out my review of the best bamboo and recycled toilet paper brands, and why I prefer bamboo. We also have a video that answers at least one burning question about these!]

26. Use sunscreen without plastic or toxins.

I’ve been testing these sunscreen bars in cardboard tubes. They do get the job done – but I have high hopes that I’ll enjoy using this brand in recyclable metal packaging, or maybe this one, a little bit more.

NEW for 2026: I’ve now tested a DOZEN different plastic-free sunscreens! Check out my growing list of sunscreen reviews for details. My favorite so far wasn’t even on my radar last year.

Before You Go:

Which of these sustainable New Year’s resolutions will you try first? What other ideas do you have for easy ways to reduce our environmental impact? Share in the comments below.

Then SHARE THIS POST with a friend to spread the inspiration. 🙂

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