The documentary No Impact Man got me thinking about how so many of the things we take for granted every day have some sort of impact on our environment, and thus, each other. As the film’s subject, Colin Beavan, says in the film, we live in a throw-away world: shaving razors, diapers, plastic bags, napkins, toilet paper, Starbucks paper cups—we’re all guilty of mindlessly consuming and rapidly disposing.

No Impact Man follows Colin’s project of curiosity, as he sets out to discover what it’d be like to live as sustainably as possible for a year—taking his shopping/reality TV/caffeine-addicted wife and their toddler daughter along for the ride. Along the way, quite a few laughs are shared; I mean, come on, just imagine what kinds of clashes ensue between the Beavan couple! But it’s also helped me think a bit more about what my family already does and what I could do to live a lifestyle that’s a little more sustainable.

Some of the things Colin and his family do are pretty extreme—no toilet paper?!—but others are things my family has done forever. Hand washing clothes, for instance. As the audience in the theater laughed at Colin, his wife Michelle, and their daughter Isabella stepping on their clothes in the bathtub, I thought, “Hey, this is something I saw all the time as a kid, and something my family continues to do to this very day!” As a child of first- and second-generation Filipino immigrants, this was just one of the things I’m glad my parents continue to practice in America. Even though we have a washing machine, a lot of the time, we actually prefer hand washing our clothes. I guess old habits die hard. Good thing it’s an eco-friendly habit.

But why is decreasing our impact on the environment important? Well, we need to remember that “the environment” isn’t just about beautifying our flora and fauna—it involves the impact on people, too. Without the indoor comforts of electricity and television, the family spends more time outside their New York City apartment. Colin and Michelle spend some time at the beach, take their daughter to the farm where the veggies they buy are grown, and splash in the local fountain. While volunteering, Colin learns about how a garbage dump in the South Bronx is taking its toll on the quality of life of its residents, with more children developing respiratory problems and the disturbance of hundreds of trucks passing through the neighborhood every day. The family also develops relationships with vendors at the local farmers market, and a neighbor at a community garden, who shows them the ropes in raising their own vegetables. Simply put, they are forging connections with each other and within the community. And the more connections are forged, the more accountable we feel about how our actions affect the people we care about.

I’ve already taken some steps before even seeing this film in reducing waste. I have a reusable drinking water bottle I’ve been refilling, I carry several reusable tote bags when I go shopping, and I’ve been helping clear trash every month with some friends in Ke‘ehi Lagoon. I’ve taken note of a few more things from the film that I’d like to do: make more trips to the nearby farmers market, spend more time outdoors, and help my parents grow a few more veggies in our own farm.

At the same time, I admit, there are a few behaviors I can say I won’t fully abandon: I love my computer and am way too used to using toilet paper. So I’m not saying completely and drastically change your lifestyle, because that’s unrealistic and very difficult to do. But I’ll continue to do what I can, a little at a time. I hope you can do the same.

Some links to check out:
No Impact Project
Inspired by No Impact Man, an undertaking to promote behavioral change to live more sustainably.

Story of Stuff
A comprehensive look at the production/consumption cycle and how it impacts us.

Kanu Hawaii
A local website where we can put in pledges and share ideas on what we can do to do our part to preserve our island environment and communities.

MA‘O Farms
A local social enterprise growing organic food and providing opportunities for Wai‘anae youth.

Bela‘Aina
A burgeoning project to preserve our island’s watersheds.