11 Random, Sustainable Acts of Kindness

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There I sat, head in hands, parked outside the grocery store. A tad melodramatic, yes, but I was exhausted and really didn’t want to brave the crowd. A rickety pickup pulled into the spot beside me, and an elderly gentleman emerged. Without hesitation, he tapped on my window and asked, gently, “Are you alright?” I told him I was and thanked him, and off he went to return his bottles. That sweet soul lifted my mood and changed the course of my day—just by checking in. And that is a random act of kindness.

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Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. It celebrates those little, unprompted acts that can have broad and rippling effects. Whether or not you believe in karma, doesn’t kindness have a way of sticking with people? And a way of spreading.

So, in the spirit of these lovely acts—and with earth-friendliness layered in, because we love sustainability around here—here are 11 ideas for random, kind acts to brighten someone’s day while supporting our beautiful planet. Which is your favorite? With spring around the corner, I’ve got my eyes on #11 👀🌸

11 Random, Kind, Sustainable Acts

#1. Ahh—easy, joyful, and tangible. Picking up a piece of litter is sure to better the day of anyone who walks by that same spot after you, and helps wildlife and the planet. Plus I always like to think that if anyone sees you beautifying the neighborhood on your walk, they might be inspired to pick up a piece or two of litter on their next walk.

#2. Patronizing your favorite small, sustainable business is a great thing, but want a free and long-lasting gesture? Write them a glowing review. It can make a real difference to them in our review-driven world, and will be there for others to see in perpetuity. Go above and beyond by infusing the review with detail that’ll really make it POP.

#3. There’s a certain classiness to doing something “in someone’s name,” isn’t there? It’s like transcending the physical, and honoring someone in a grander and more meaningful way. And doing so through tree planting is a perfect way to loop the planet into all that classy goodness. Arbor Day Foundation and One Tree Planted offer great options.

#4. I snuck this in here even though it’s not strictly a ‘sustainable’ idea because it’s just always a good thing to do. And if we’re stretching a little, we can say that those who are happy and confident (thanks to being complimented) are more likely to pay it forward to others and the planet. Yeah! And I do mean compliments here, not flattery. This is easy and fun: notice something you genuinely admire about someone, and tell them.

#5. You’ve gotta love a good, green gift. And alliteration. This idea is a lovely one because it benefits both your recipient and the sustainable business from which you bought the gift. The world is your oyster when it comes to sustainable gifting: reusable water bottle, non-toxic soy candle, farmers market tote, recycled glassware, a plant, a pretty compost bin. For more inspiration, try these 25 eco-friendly gift ideas.

#6. Why yes, you can be your favorite omnivore. Or maybe it’s your partner, parent, or friend. If you’d like a little inspiration in this department, try a plant-based food blog—Plant Based RD and Rainbow Plant Life are two of my personal faves—or go all-in and getcha self a plant-based cookbook. If this idea intimidates you, rest assured that the plant kingdom offers endless flavor, texture, color, and variety to craft absurdly tasty meals.

#7. Sending hand-written notes is a classic, uncomplicated, and meaningful way to show you care. And what is more delightful than going to your mailbox to retrieve a letter? You can make this idea earth-friendly by writing your note on recycled paper. This can take most any form: use a scrap piece that was destined for the recycling anyway (maybe spruced up with some doodles), purchase a pad of recycled paper or notecards, or kick it into high gear and send a plantable, seed-infused card.

#8. Unoriginal, maybe, as far as random and sustainable acts of kindness. But effective! Giving $10 (or $5 or $20) to a worthy environmental charity is a great act of kindness. Choose your favorite, or for a little inspiration check our Rainforest Trust, The Good Food Institute, and Union of Concerned Scientists—all highly rated.

#9. Plants are just innately joyful, aren’t they? And they’re very giving things, so it’s nice to spread the love by sharing your plant cuttings with those who will appreciate them. Look up how best to propagate your specific plant, then get to snipping and transfer the spoils to a little jar with water. Guaranteed to brighten someone’s day.

#10. Since plastic is everywhere, it can feel overwhelming to move away from it. But how do you eat an elephant-sized piece of tofu? One bite at a time, baby. And so it is with plastic. Challenge yourself to make one meaningful (if small) swap for a single-use plastic item to a reusable one. For example, swap plastic wrap for reusable food wraps. Or swap plastic water bottles for a pretty reusable water bottle. Let loose your imagination!

#11. What could be sweeter and more earth-friendly? The choice is yours whether you leave a packet of wildflower seeds in a public place for some lucky passerby to scoop up, or you leave it on a family member, friend, or neighbor’s front porch. Bonus points if the packet itself is compostable or recyclable. And don’t forget to include a sweet little note!

Which of these speaks to you? I’d love to hear—leave a comment below!