Green Panda | Sustainability | Greta

Over the last couple of weeks, I shared a couple of books for you to take with you to the beach and beyond, and discussed self-care. Today, I would like to talk about another type of (self-)care, contribution. 

Self-care is not just about setting boundaries personally but as a group too, and contributing to this group leads to self-preservation.

But before diving into today’s topic, let me welcome the new joiners who subscribed and joined this community of like-minded personal growth hackers! 

Last Saturday, a friend organised his big annual summer BBQ. Chilled beer and rosé wine were flowing as the flames in the pit were roaring with all sorts of meat and sausage dancing on it! Plate after plate of meat. Can you visualise this BBQ? 

Well, I refrained and did not eat any meat! Zip, nothing, zero, niente!! Even more crazy, out of my holiday in Spain, not a single piece of Jamon Iberico or croquetas de Jamon!! I am a foodie and I have always loved my meat but decided to give the meatless tribe a go!

For some reason, over the last couple of weeks, several things have come together in that sense. My girlfriend’s heath, several documentaries (like Game Changer and Cowspiracy on Netflix! MUST WATCH!) and funnily enough a business challenge for my MSc where we had a 3-day role play to create a sustainable food brand to then be challenged in front of a panel. Our brand was called Green Panda, a brand specialised in alternative protein…ok like Beyond Meat, but better 😊

I am not planning to become an apostle of a meatless life, everyone is free to decide but for this project I did a lot of reading, listening and studying. All this research has made me realise that eating less/no meat is not only better for you but also a game changer for the environment!

So this meatless try is really about the bigger picture and for me to give back to the planet, to contribute in some way.As I studied, read, and listened to my MSc Sustainability business challenges I came across the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which I felt compelled to share.

You can see them at the top of this letter but also read more about them here:

https://www.globalgoals.org/

https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals

Today there are a thousand ways to contribute by supporting giving back to people or the planet. I give monthly to UNICEF, my girlfriend is on a board of a charity, and others eat less meat 😉. 

What drives you? Water? Gender equality? Education? Poverty? Hunger?

I am no one to tell you what to focus on and will simply feel blessed if any of those 17 goals land for you and you can find inspiration to contribute somehow.

We also grow by giving back.

Question:

How can you contribute and change the rules?