In the light of climate change research and activism, sustainability has been a growing and trending topic. Sustainability as a societal goal means meeting our current needs without limiting or making unreachable the needs of future generations. In practice, sustainability looks different for everyone, depending on their intentions, location, and access to resources. For some, it looks like taking only public transportation, for others, this looks like recycling and composting: the sustainable possibilities are endless!

This goal is the driving mission of Ariel Green. After seeing a gap in the representation of women of color in the sustainability movement, she has created her own platform dedicated to uplifting the perspectives that too often go unshared: Sustainable Brown Girl.

Talk about how you started your sustainability journey. What or who inspired you?

My journey started a few years ago. I was learning about the harmful ingredients in our products like parabens and sulfates. I started changing my beauty products and as I was doing that, I learned how these ingredients are also harmful to the environment. I just went down the rabbit hole from there. When I went on YouTube to find different people to follow and learn from, I saw so many White people and I thought, ‘I can’t be the only person of color interested in sustainability and environmentalism.’ I took my search to Instagram, looking for different women of color who were into different aspects of sustainability. From there, I started the Instagram page for Sustainable Brown Girl as a feature page in August of 2019. Then, in June 2020, I launched the podcast to share the full stories of these women and allow them to inspire other people to be sustainable in their own ways.

How do you think your identity as a Brown woman has shaped this journey for you? 

It was discouraging to see upper-middle-class White women living in places like the Pacific Northwest or New York with access to things I don’t have access to in the suburbs in Georgia. It was hard comparing my journey to theirs and I decided I just couldn’t do that. Finding others who looked like me, and who were in similar situations made it feel more achievable and helped me understand that my journey doesn’t have to look like a White woman's journey. I thought it was really important in shaping my journey and in helping others to realize that they can do it too.

What have been some of your greatest successes? In what ways have your dreams become a reality for you?

Before starting the podcast, I started a YouTube channel called Naturally Mermaid where I’ve shared my journey over the years. Before starting the podcast, I was introverted. Putting myself out there to talk to more people made me proud of myself. Another proud moment I would have to attribute to my podcast coordinator, Ariell. She has really pushed the podcast forward by pitching to people I never would have pitched to, like Aja Barber and Christine Platt. Her success is my success and having her on has moved the platform forward.

What are some goals you have for your platform?

One of my goals for next year would be to take the podcast to a video base. I would love to do mini-documentaries following the women we’ve interviewed; following them through their day and showing what sustainability looks like for them. 

What tips would you offer to someone just starting their sustainability journey?

The first thing is to be aware of your waste. From there, just take it slow and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I made that mistake in the beginning and I burned out hard and fast. Just realize it’s a journey, not a destination and there really is no end goal. Things are always changing so be gentle with yourself. Make the changes you can make where you can, be kind to yourself, and be kind to the planet. You’ll make the most difference that way.