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Sustainable Badass: A Zero-Waste Lifestyle Guide
A Guide to Being Sustainable at Home and in Life“Gittemarie is creator that not only provides helpful tips on living a zero-waste and vegan lifestyle, but also articulates it in way that is approachable.” —Jhánneu Roberts (@Jhanneu)
#1 New Release in Upcycling & Repurposing
Reshape your conventional habits, purchases, and recipes with these simple yet effective zero-waste alternatives!
Eco-friendly living made simple. As a lifestyle guide and an introduction to sustainable living, Sustainable Badass shows you why and how to minimize your consumption while effortlessly making your habits greener. Each page has practical tips, tools and important facts about plastic pollution, overconsumption, and the climate crisis. From small changes such as pre-cycling and purchasing items with minimum to no packaging, to eliminating plastic entirely; this book empowers you to be a sustainable badass by making effortless planet-positive choices in your everyday life.
Know the cause, be the change. Gittemarie Johansen, sustainability blogger and speaker, teaches you the way to a greener, more simple and happier life by implementing self sustainable living principles, all while putting the power into your hands as the consumer to speak up and demand change for our planet.
Be sustainable at home.Sustainable Badass encourages you with some effortless principles on the best sustainable home goods. Enjoy this holistic and accessible approach to creating a self sustainable home and lifestyle, that is easy to implement, and fundamental to saving our planet.
Inside, you’ll
A guide to being intentionally sustainable at home Effortless and intentional steps to withdraw from consumerismAll the knowledge you need to live a sustainable life at home and with others
If you liked Simply Living Well, Live Green, or Attainable Sustainable, you’ll love Sustainable Badass.
#1 New Release in Upcycling & Repurposing
Reshape your conventional habits, purchases, and recipes with these simple yet effective zero-waste alternatives!
Eco-friendly living made simple. As a lifestyle guide and an introduction to sustainable living, Sustainable Badass shows you why and how to minimize your consumption while effortlessly making your habits greener. Each page has practical tips, tools and important facts about plastic pollution, overconsumption, and the climate crisis. From small changes such as pre-cycling and purchasing items with minimum to no packaging, to eliminating plastic entirely; this book empowers you to be a sustainable badass by making effortless planet-positive choices in your everyday life.
Know the cause, be the change. Gittemarie Johansen, sustainability blogger and speaker, teaches you the way to a greener, more simple and happier life by implementing self sustainable living principles, all while putting the power into your hands as the consumer to speak up and demand change for our planet.
Be sustainable at home.Sustainable Badass encourages you with some effortless principles on the best sustainable home goods. Enjoy this holistic and accessible approach to creating a self sustainable home and lifestyle, that is easy to implement, and fundamental to saving our planet.
Inside, you’ll
A guide to being intentionally sustainable at home Effortless and intentional steps to withdraw from consumerismAll the knowledge you need to live a sustainable life at home and with others
If you liked Simply Living Well, Live Green, or Attainable Sustainable, you’ll love Sustainable Badass.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
33 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 17, 2022
Gittemary is by far my favourite sustainability content creator on YouTube and I think what she has posted in her videos and on her blog has translated really well into her book that covers such a broad scope of sustainable actions that individuals can make. Like her, I became interested in low waste living through Lauren Singer and her infamous Trash Jar. I became incredibly more aware and conscious about my purchases and the waste I was generating, but the notion of fitting multiple years worth of trash into a jam jar is daunting and not accessible to or to the masses. What I love about Gittemary is her encouragement of making the swaps you are capable of and that the changes you can make are better than none. This book even addresses the necessity of plastic for some people and also does not cause any guilt for people that do need to use plastic for health and medical reasons, or people who can’t afford to buy from sustainable brands. I think it’s great how she gives options that cover all scopes of life, from travel to the home, making sustainability a choice everyone can make in some shape or form. I think this is a great manual for people interested in the zero-waste movement who are beginning to find more ways to reduce their environmental impact. It highlighted changes I’ve already made, but also the ones I would like to be able to do in the future. She has made a wonderful book that is engaging and positive, even when the effects of climate change, fast fashion and plastic waste are ever more daunting (literally finishing this the day before the UK is due to have its highest ever recorded temperatures of 40 degrees and above). Although a lot is out of our control, this book shows the positive changes we can make for ourself and the planet. Go watch her YouTube channel alongside reading this book as I just think she is amazing!💚
January 9, 2023
I really like Gittemarie's Youtube channel but I was overall disappointed in this book. To be fair, when I heard about it, it didn't sound applicable to me (a beginner's guide to Zero Waste while I would consider myself pretty advanced in most areas of sustainability. But a family member bought it as a Christmas gift so I gave it a read.
There was some good information but reading through it, I felt like I was filling in a lot of blanks with my own experience in Zero Waste that a beginner wouldn't necessarily have. Gittemary has also been vocal about expanding the focus of sustainability beyond Zero Waste, so it was disappointing how much this ultimately focused on it. She touched on animal agriculture and the impacts of the fashion industry (yay!) but basically nothing about energy use, transportation (outside of flying), activism, land use, biodiversity, etc. (bummer). There were some practical tips and ideas throughout, but this also felt limited (as an example, for Zero Waste food, she calls out some of the best Zero Waste foods, but this ends up being lasagna noodles, potatoes, and squash, which is... not great).
Ultimately, this felt like a pamphlet version of Bea Johnson's Zero Waste Home (which has its own issues no doubt). I'm not sure who this book is for - it doesn't seem to provide enough helpful info for a beginner and not much new for someone who is advanced. Looking through the other reviews, most were already fans of her channel so I'd be interested to see someone's take on this that doesn't know her online work.
I'll still continue to watch Gittemarie and I recommend her channel to those interested in sustainability. But I won't include her book in my recommendations to others.
There was some good information but reading through it, I felt like I was filling in a lot of blanks with my own experience in Zero Waste that a beginner wouldn't necessarily have. Gittemary has also been vocal about expanding the focus of sustainability beyond Zero Waste, so it was disappointing how much this ultimately focused on it. She touched on animal agriculture and the impacts of the fashion industry (yay!) but basically nothing about energy use, transportation (outside of flying), activism, land use, biodiversity, etc. (bummer). There were some practical tips and ideas throughout, but this also felt limited (as an example, for Zero Waste food, she calls out some of the best Zero Waste foods, but this ends up being lasagna noodles, potatoes, and squash, which is... not great).
Ultimately, this felt like a pamphlet version of Bea Johnson's Zero Waste Home (which has its own issues no doubt). I'm not sure who this book is for - it doesn't seem to provide enough helpful info for a beginner and not much new for someone who is advanced. Looking through the other reviews, most were already fans of her channel so I'd be interested to see someone's take on this that doesn't know her online work.
I'll still continue to watch Gittemarie and I recommend her channel to those interested in sustainability. But I won't include her book in my recommendations to others.
January 22, 2022
Undskyld mig lige et øjeblik mens jeg panikgræder ind i min pude, på grund af uoverskuelige affaldsbjerge og klimakrisen, der kun bliver værre og værre. Hvis jeg overlever næste omgang hyperventilering, lover jeg at suse direkte ned til den lokale økolandbod og opkøbe hele kikærtelageret. Det lyder ironisk, men jeg mener det. Watch me.
January 29, 2025
I love Gittemarie as a sustainable content creator and have been following her (on youtube) for a couple of years now. I have to say, this book was amazing! I loved how the book was divided in different parts of the sustainable life and how she was also really transparent of her journey and changes she made.
I loved to see that there are things I’m already incorporating but also that there are many steps to take still.
I loved to see that there are things I’m already incorporating but also that there are many steps to take still.
March 26, 2023
I've been following Gittemary on Youtube for a few years, and I really enjoy the content she creates, so I was very excited to read her book. However, the book fell short for me. The concepts were handled at a very basic, surface level, so it's a pretty introductory book in that sense, which may be great for some people but for me personally there was nothing new added to my understanding of sustainability. Actually, I feel like Gittemary goes into more depth in her youtube videos, especially her impact series.
I can appreciate that Gittemary tried to make the information accessible for everyone in an easy-to-digest format, but the thing that put me off the most was the writing style. To me, it felt more like a script for a video rather than a book - it felt too informal and inappropriate, with a lot of "funny" puns and jokes, which I do recognise as being Gittemary's signature quirkiness, which in my opinion works great in a video but sadly not in a book.
It's a short and quick read, and covers a few "hot" topics of interest within the sustainability movement (though the book is far from a comprehensive and complete guide) which are well researched and well explained.
It's not a bad book by any means, I think I was just expecting a little more from it.
I can appreciate that Gittemary tried to make the information accessible for everyone in an easy-to-digest format, but the thing that put me off the most was the writing style. To me, it felt more like a script for a video rather than a book - it felt too informal and inappropriate, with a lot of "funny" puns and jokes, which I do recognise as being Gittemary's signature quirkiness, which in my opinion works great in a video but sadly not in a book.
It's a short and quick read, and covers a few "hot" topics of interest within the sustainability movement (though the book is far from a comprehensive and complete guide) which are well researched and well explained.
It's not a bad book by any means, I think I was just expecting a little more from it.
August 3, 2022
Hat mir recht gut gefallen, obwohl es keine deutsche Autorin ist - das ist bei solchen Sachbüchern immer ein bissle tricky, denn manche Ressourcen, die es in Dänemark gibt, sind in Deutschland vielleicht eher schwer zu bekommen. Aber immerhin ist Gittemarie in Europa und soooo viele Tipps, die in Deutschland nicht funktionieren würden, habe ich nicht gefunden. Es gibt einige interessante Tipps und viele Selbermach-Rezepte - sowohl zum Kochen als auch für Kosmetik (Mascara, Bodylotion, Gesichtspuder...). Wenn Du Dir nur ein Buch zum Thema Zero Waste zulegen möchtest, würde ich Dir eher Shia Su empfehlen, die ist Deutsche. Aber als großer Fan von Gittemaries Youtube-Kanal habe ich den Kauf definitiv nicht bereut.
July 19, 2022
I have been a subscriber to Gittemarie's YouTube channel for awhile now and she continues to provide helpful knowledge and fun commentary into living a sustainable lifestyle through her videos, blogs, and now her book (,which I have been super excited about ♡)! 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘴 covers everything someone should know about living sustainability one step at a time. I'm especially a fan of the recipes and tips she included as well! I will definitely be utilizing this book over and over again.
August 5, 2022
Great short book with many ideas. Nothing to crazy but reinforces what we can do to improve and not be perfect
August 29, 2022
been following gittemary for ages and she's such a gem and so is this book
January 11, 2023
This is a great beginner's guide to sustainability and zero-waste living! Johansen's tips are straightforward and accessible, and she does a good job of mixing in statistics (sources are in the back of the book, which I love!) and personal stories. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're new to the lifestyle and/or interested in learning new recipes for vegan food, makeup, and home care product.
July 30, 2022
As a long time subscriber to Gittermary’s YouTube channel, I was ecstatic when it was announced her book would be published in English. Her content both in the book and online has made me evaluate some things about my own life and I have made choices to be less wasteful and more green. This book is very accessible, and she makes it clear that everyone’s zero waste journey will be different, that no one is perfect, not even her.
January 31, 2021
Jeg er godt igang med min egen grønne omstilling, og troede egentlig ikke bogen her kunne lære mig noget nyt. Men det gjorde den, og for en som mig som ikke kan huske statistikker, er den altså også ret fed at have stående derhjemme. Bogen nørder tilpas meget uden at man føler det bliver for overfladisk. Stor anbefaling herfra!
October 2, 2022
Good tips and recipes, but an unnecessary read if you've read other books on the same topic. However, highly recommended if you just want Gittemarie's personality outside of Youtube.
August 13, 2022
I’ve been watching Gittemary’s YouTube channel for over a year now, so when I learned her book was going to be published in English I knew I had to buy it! And it did not disappoint!
Gittemary brings humor mixed with great information into her writing that almost makes you feel like you’re chatting with a friend as you read. Her approach to sustainability is authentic, and her style is to be admired! What I loved most is she doesn’t shame you for wherever you are on your sustainability journey. I’m not perfect, but I am trying, and this book is helping me to do better. I’ve already incorporated a few things from it in my daily routine. I’ve made a few of her cleaning recipes and they’ve been great! I’m also planning on making a few of her vegan recipes sometime soon as well.
Not only does she have recipes to help you along, but she presents real information in an easy-to-understand way to get you really thinking about your consumerism choices. No matter where you are on your sustainability journey this book will have something for you. Or if you want to know why you should start being more sustainable, I highly encourage you to check it out. Gittemary will help open your eyes to the state of our world, and why you should care.
Side note: Check out her YouTube channel if you are debating about this book or if you want to learn more about sustainability. She really is a fantastic person and I can’t wait to see what else she puts out into the world!
Gittemary brings humor mixed with great information into her writing that almost makes you feel like you’re chatting with a friend as you read. Her approach to sustainability is authentic, and her style is to be admired! What I loved most is she doesn’t shame you for wherever you are on your sustainability journey. I’m not perfect, but I am trying, and this book is helping me to do better. I’ve already incorporated a few things from it in my daily routine. I’ve made a few of her cleaning recipes and they’ve been great! I’m also planning on making a few of her vegan recipes sometime soon as well.
Not only does she have recipes to help you along, but she presents real information in an easy-to-understand way to get you really thinking about your consumerism choices. No matter where you are on your sustainability journey this book will have something for you. Or if you want to know why you should start being more sustainable, I highly encourage you to check it out. Gittemary will help open your eyes to the state of our world, and why you should care.
Side note: Check out her YouTube channel if you are debating about this book or if you want to learn more about sustainability. She really is a fantastic person and I can’t wait to see what else she puts out into the world!
May 30, 2025
For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle
A great introduction to living more sustainably. I love the approach Johansen takes in this book. She recognizes that people don't have the same abilities and privileges, and encourages readers to do what works for them and not to feel guilty about waste they cannot control. This makes for a more accessible read, which is great for beginners.
Includes straight-forward tips and information on how to reduce waste and consume more responsibly with specific sections on household items, electronics, clothing, food, holidays and parties, and personal care products.
While Johansen provides information on different products to buy to replace disposable items, she also includes low-cost and free options such as using empty glass jars for food storage, shopping secondhand, and using up what you already have.
Also includes vegan recipes and instructions for making various personal care products such as lotion, makeup, and facemasks.
A great resource for beginners interested in learning more about reducing their use of animal products, avoiding packaging, and ways to live more sustainably.
A great introduction to living more sustainably. I love the approach Johansen takes in this book. She recognizes that people don't have the same abilities and privileges, and encourages readers to do what works for them and not to feel guilty about waste they cannot control. This makes for a more accessible read, which is great for beginners.
Includes straight-forward tips and information on how to reduce waste and consume more responsibly with specific sections on household items, electronics, clothing, food, holidays and parties, and personal care products.
While Johansen provides information on different products to buy to replace disposable items, she also includes low-cost and free options such as using empty glass jars for food storage, shopping secondhand, and using up what you already have.
Also includes vegan recipes and instructions for making various personal care products such as lotion, makeup, and facemasks.
A great resource for beginners interested in learning more about reducing their use of animal products, avoiding packaging, and ways to live more sustainably.
March 23, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️
This is great for what it is: a beginner’s guide to zero waste lifestyle.
I’ve been watching Gittemarie’s YouTube videos for years now, and unfortunately feel like I got more out of those. She does cover a range of topics in this book, but it is usually either on a relatively basic level or to a very nitty gritty detail (metal straws, anyone?), and almost entirely focused on individual action.
I feel like if Gittemarie wrote this book today it may very well be different aa the zero waste movement (and environmentalism overall) has evolved away from an obsession with plastic packaging and into a much more holistic and considered position.
Still — if you’re an absolute zero waste newbie this book could be a great place to start from!
This is great for what it is: a beginner’s guide to zero waste lifestyle.
I’ve been watching Gittemarie’s YouTube videos for years now, and unfortunately feel like I got more out of those. She does cover a range of topics in this book, but it is usually either on a relatively basic level or to a very nitty gritty detail (metal straws, anyone?), and almost entirely focused on individual action.
I feel like if Gittemarie wrote this book today it may very well be different aa the zero waste movement (and environmentalism overall) has evolved away from an obsession with plastic packaging and into a much more holistic and considered position.
Still — if you’re an absolute zero waste newbie this book could be a great place to start from!
February 26, 2023
I had never thought about a few things mentioned in this book, like household sponges
My favorite recipes from this book:
Cleaner:
1/4 gal vinegar
Peels of two oranges
Wide set bottle
Make sure perks are completely submerged. Let sit for 7 days
Can spray to clean any surface to desmell. Combats smells. Leaving open jar in a closed space can help smells.
For general cleaning, mix .5 cup solution with .25-.5 gal warm water
Toilet tabs:
1.25 baking soda
.5 cup citric acid
.25 cup dish soap
5-6 drops essential oil
ice cube tray
Freeze at least one hour. Use one per cleaning
My favorite recipes from this book:
Cleaner:
1/4 gal vinegar
Peels of two oranges
Wide set bottle
Make sure perks are completely submerged. Let sit for 7 days
Can spray to clean any surface to desmell. Combats smells. Leaving open jar in a closed space can help smells.
For general cleaning, mix .5 cup solution with .25-.5 gal warm water
Toilet tabs:
1.25 baking soda
.5 cup citric acid
.25 cup dish soap
5-6 drops essential oil
ice cube tray
Freeze at least one hour. Use one per cleaning
March 12, 2023
This book is perfect both for people who are just now showing interest in the zero-waste ideology and for people like me who have been following a more sustainable path for a few years now. It’s packed with factual information and great tips on how to implement long lasting changes into your lifestyle. I love that the information is international and not just about Denmark (like other books I’ve read that give information only for the author’s country). Gitte is a queen of research and has been a huge inspiration for me for the past three years. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to lead a more sustainable life and help care for our one and only planet. Yeehaw <3
January 6, 2024
I love Gitte and her badass, cool approach to zero-waste. No cottage core and tiny flowers here, but urban econess. A great read to get back into sustainability. I also love that she stresses that zero/low waste will look different for everyone, and that you should make the choices which suit you. Every step is a step, so that's very encouraging.
Even though she gives plenty of "ouch" background information, she doesn't come of preachy.
Even though she gives plenty of "ouch" background information, she doesn't come of preachy.
February 9, 2025
This was very thought provoking to read. She touches on so many different aspects on being eco-friendly, and the steps are very practical and consumer friendly.
It was refreshing to read something that focuses on the descisions we as consumers can make. It felt quite empowering, actually. I love that she writes with so much empathy that also allows the individuals to decide what steps fit into their life style.
3/5 stars!
It was refreshing to read something that focuses on the descisions we as consumers can make. It felt quite empowering, actually. I love that she writes with so much empathy that also allows the individuals to decide what steps fit into their life style.
3/5 stars!
October 17, 2023
Mostly skimmed my local library's copy. Not a lot that I will take away, and I think the author's youtube content is more compelling and practical than what's in this book, but it could be a good starting point for someone really (and I do mean really) new to ideas about more sustainable lifestyles.
August 19, 2024
At the beginning of the year, I set myself a goal of reading at least one non-fiction book a month and here I am with my 11TH (!!) non-fiction book this year!
I've been following Gittemarie on YouTube for a bit more than a year now and when I heard she had a book in English I had to check it out!
Sustainable Badass is a great overview for anyone wanting to learn more about sustainability and zero-waste. It has compact information regarding all the topics you might think about when starting your zero-waste journey from explaining what plastic actually is, to helpful tips on how to live your life more sustainably. There are even some recipes at the back for various tasty plant-based meals and zero-waste cosmetics and cleaning supplies.
I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the zero-waste lifestyle. And as an bonus I think this book makes a perfect gift for your friends and family who you would like to guide towards more sustainable living.
I've been following Gittemarie on YouTube for a bit more than a year now and when I heard she had a book in English I had to check it out!
Sustainable Badass is a great overview for anyone wanting to learn more about sustainability and zero-waste. It has compact information regarding all the topics you might think about when starting your zero-waste journey from explaining what plastic actually is, to helpful tips on how to live your life more sustainably. There are even some recipes at the back for various tasty plant-based meals and zero-waste cosmetics and cleaning supplies.
I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the zero-waste lifestyle. And as an bonus I think this book makes a perfect gift for your friends and family who you would like to guide towards more sustainable living.
April 16, 2025
I love how the author offers suggestions for going Zero Waste. I learned quite a few new things and I love the recipes she has in the book. Multiple times she also mentions that there is no such thing as a perfect environmentalist and not to get paralyzed by perfectly but to start with one thing. I love that!
July 3, 2023
This was actually really good and covered a lot of topics. I listened to it, and think it would be better in paper bc there are a lot of recipes and things I’d want to reference visually. Also the narrator really enunciated hard, which was a bit distracting
January 24, 2024
Listened to the audiobook. It was presented in a way that seemed as though having a sustainable conversation with a friend. While I feel this was all common sense having been on a sustainable journey for years now, this should be a read for anyone early on in theirs!
November 7, 2024
The first book that got me into zero waste! It gives such insightful tips and was a page turner. Johansen is very persuasive in her writing and has successfully convinced me to take up a zero waste mindset.
September 5, 2022
Gittemary writes the way she speaks, making the book nice to read. Even though the topic is quite heavy, she uses jokes and practical tips to lighten the mood. Great book!
December 26, 2022
Gittemarie is one of the best sustainable talker there ever is. The way she speaks/writes makes it inspirational to go zero waste and to try it out.
March 6, 2023
Helpful
May 1, 2023
The standard advice book along with some personal thoughts and anecdotes. The only reason I keep reading these books is to motivate myself to be mindful and sustainable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews