Sustainability Resources
Discover some practical tools and initiatives to help freelancers and solopreneurs make more conscious choices in their work and life. Small steps can really make a big difference!
Accreditations
Carbon Literacy Training
Free training to learn basic climate science and ways of reducing carbon impact in your circle of control/influence.
Midlothian Business Green Pledge
Local Authority initiative for those business owners living or working in Midlothian, encouraging sustainable business practices.
Those subscribing may use the Green Pledge logo on their website and communications.
Initiatives
Sowing Our Horizons
Sowing Our Horizons offers a meaningful alternative to carbon offsets and invests in making our local food system work for people and planet, starting here in Edinburgh. It’s easy and accessible to all, individuals as well as businesses.
One Tree Planted
UK based tree planting scheme with option to donate as a gift.
The Edinburgh Remakery
Edinburgh-based environmental social enterprise aiming to create a culture of sustainable-waste free living through reducing our waste, reusing and repairing before throwing away. Accepts donations of old tech to repair e-waste.
Treeapp
Business owners can plant a tree for every product sold, event held or employee onboarded. Individuals can also use the mobile app to plant trees around the world.
The Bike Station
The Bike Station envisions a Scotland where cycling for people and for the planet is the norm.
BANZAI
Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative supports their local community to identify and implement practical action to tackle the climate crisis.
Platforms & Tools
Ecosia
Non-profit climate-friendly browser and search function that turns clicks into trees (alternative to Google which no longer meets its carbon-neutral status). Optional AI search and 100% of profits go to climate projects.
Signal
Ethical non-profit secure messaging platform (alternative to WhatsApp, which has some concerns around privacy).
Forest
Productivity app that encourages focussed worktime. Virtual trees are planted and grow on a timer while you work, but leaving the app to go on social media kills the virtual trees. User has option to then turn coins earned when growing the trees into actual tree planting.
Ghost
Non-profit, open source publishing platform (alternative to Substack)
Podbean
Podcast hosting platform (alternative to Spotify/others).
Humanatix
Free, ethical, purpose-driven ticketing platform (alternative to Eventbrite). 100% of profits go to philanthropic causes.
Bank Green
Discover whether your money supports sustainable or harmful activities.
Website Carbon Calculator
Find out how sustainable your website is in just a few clicks with these easy-to-use tools.
Mythic Beasts
Domain name, web and email hosting services with commitment to renewable energy and efficient operations.
Thunderbird
Email provider funded by user donations with commitment never collect personal data, or secretly train AI with users’ private conversations.
Krystal
Independent green web hosting powered by 100% renewable energy.
Events In & Around Edinburgh
Thrivable Scotland Events
Hosted by one of the Outsiders own members, Osbert Lancaster, this brings together people interested in understanding more about how we can create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive.
People, Planet, Pint: Sustainability Meetup
A monthly meetup with like minded people who care about sustainability. Chat about what’s going on locally and how you can get involved.
Further Reading & Listening
Edinburgh Outdoors Podcast
Hosted by one of the Outsiders own members, Angela Casey, Edinburgh Outdoors podcast explores the city’s green spaces and the people in them.
Green IO
Hosted by Gael Duez, this podcast explores how to reduce the environmental impact of our digital world.
Thrivable Scotland Podcast
Hosted by another Outsiders member Osbert Lancaster, Thrivable Scotland focuses on the work being done by people to build resilience and a better world amid the climate, nature and political crisis, despite the challenges faced.
Thrivable Scotland Blog
Written by Osbert Lancaster linking with the themes in his podcast above and exploring more about how we can create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive.
Karen Bennett Graphic Design Blog
Another outsider, Karen, has a blog article outlining some favourite eco-friendly places to eat, drink and shop in Edinburgh.
Embra Digital Blog
Outsiders member, Susan, shares a blog article explaining what having a sustainable website means.
Less is More
Overview of the argument for degrowth as a strategy for tacking climate and ecological collaspe.
Deep Adaptation
A powerful expiration of the idea/hypothesis that climate & ecological collapse is inevitable, and if so, what would that mean for us? How do we find meaning int his context?