10 Ways To Encourage Others To Be More Eco-Friendly (2025)

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Living with people who have wasteful habits can be tough – especially when you’re doing your best to live more sustainably.
It can feel frustrating, demotivating, and sometimes even isolating.

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to force anyone to be more eco-conscious.
You can encourage others in small, meaningful ways – without being annoying or pushy.

In this article, I’m sharing 10 tips (plus what not to do) based on personal experience to help you influence the people around you—whether they’re your family, friends, roommates, or partner.

Let’s begin.

10 Ideas To Encourage Others To Be More Eco-Friendly

1. Show, don’t tell

Trying to tell someone what to do rarely works. Instead, just do your thing.

Bring your bags. Shop secondhand (and show off all the cool & cheap stuff you found). Compost. Use a reusable bottle. Separate your trash.

When people see how easy these things are, they’re way more likely to follow your lead.

By living up to your values, you can influence your friends and family, or at least spark some interest. Your actions will speak louder than telling others what to do.

2. Highlight the perks

People care about saving money, saving time, and staying healthy. And guess what? Sustainable living can help with all of that. For example, mention that’s easy to save cash by:

• Swapping paper towels and wet wipes for reusable cloths
• Ditching single-use items (menstrual cups, razors, etc.)
• Buying secondhand instead of new
• Making your cleaner with vinegar + citrus peels

Related post: How To Save $5,337 A Year By Going Zero Waste

3. Make it easy

If you’re going on a trip or picnic, pack a few extra jars, cloths, or containers. This lowers the barrier for others and shows them how doable it is. You could also:

• Set up labeled recycling bins
• Keep tote bags by the door
• Offer to split bulk items

Eco-friendly swaps feel less intimidating when someone else makes the first move.

4. Take the first step

Want your roommates to compost? Set up the bin.

Want your family to use fewer plastic-wrapped veggies? Offer to shop together at the farmers market.

Show them where you can buy various goods, plastic-free or package-free. This is a great way to show that’s simple to change a few habits. 

If you remove the friction, people are more likely to give things a try.

5. Start a conversation

You can’t expect others to know what you want without asking. Talk with them and clearly explain how important it is for you, and that you’ll appreciate it if they are more mindful of some of their habits. Try:

“I’ve been trying to waste less – would you mind helping out with recycling?”

No shaming. No ultimatums. Just open dialogue.

6. Remind that small actions matter

Many people think their impact is too small to count. Show them otherwise. For example:

Statistical data found that the average American produces over 4.4 pounds of garbage per day. 

Let’s assume 10,000 people will read this blog. Out of this number, let’s say 50% (which is 5000 people) decide to reduce their waste by JUST 25% (which is very doable):

• 5000 people x 1.1 pounds reduced (25%) x 365 days = 2 007 500 pounds of trash. 

This is just a quick example showing that you don’t have to go crazy about reducing your waste. We can collectively make a pretty big difference, even if you reduce 25-50% of your trash.

People often think they are too small to make a difference. Also remind them: every habit has a ripple effect. 

A single person can do a lot by simply spreading the message. When I started being more mindful and reducing my waste, I started having an impact on friends and family who didn’t think too much about their waste before that. 

7. Share powerful facts

A well-placed stat can stick with someone. Try a few of these:

• Only 9% of plastic ever made has been recycled. (1)
• Humans consume up to 52,000 microplastics a year. (1) 
• Plastic takes up to 500 years to decompose.

These kinds of facts aren’t about scaring people – they’re about raising awareness. When someone sees the bigger picture, even small lifestyle changes can start to feel more meaningful.

8. Be patient

Change takes time. I remember how long it took me to build new habits when I first started this journey.

So if someone’s never thought twice about their trash before, they’re going to need time to adjust too.

Be patient, and supportive, and know that their path might not look like yours.

9. Encourage easy changes

When I started out, I didn’t know where to begin.

So I started small: a reusable water bottle, cloth towels, refusing plastic straws.
Once I got the hang of it, I felt more motivated to do more.

Suggesting easy swaps helps people ease into the lifestyle and feel good about their progress.

10. Find a support system

Sometimes it feels like no one around you gets it. That’s where a community comes in.

If there’s nothing local where you live, consider starting a group or just chatting with a few like-minded friends.

Sharing your struggles with others who are going through similar things can be very reassuring. You will see that you are not alone, and a lot of people have similar struggles.

What Not To Do

Here are a few things I’ve learned don’t work:

1. Don’t try to “make up” for others’ waste

Trying to compensate for someone’s wasteful behavior can only make your life more stressful. Don’t take problems that are not yours, your responsibility. If someone isn’t willing to change, it’s not your job to clean up after them.

2. Don’t be pushy

People don’t like being told how to live. If you pressure or force someone, they’ll likely show more resistance to it – even if your intentions are good. Focus on you, and better try to show that being more eco-friendly can be fun, easy, and doesn’t have to be all or nothing. 

3. Do not tell them what to do – share your experience

Dry information and stats won’t always inspire someone to change. While I like to use it sometimes, it is not always useful. Telling a story or your experience about certain things can make you more relatable. Instead of “you should compost,” try:

“I started composting last year, and I was shocked how much less trash I had.”

Personal stories feel relatable – and more effective.

4. Don’t waste your energy on people who won’t listen

Some people won’t be interested in even the slightest effort. And that’s okay. You can’t influence and encourage everyone. Just accept that, and move forward. Focus your energy on those who are curious or open. You’re not responsible for converting everyone.

Summary

It can be challenging to encourage people to produce less waste. With some people, it will go smoothly, with others – not so much.

Lead by example, offer help, and plant little seeds along the way. Some will grow. Others won’t. But either way, you’re already making a difference.

Now, it’s your turn:
Have you ever tried to influence someone to be more eco-friendly?
What worked – and what didn’t? Share your story in the comments below.