Motivations For Lighter Living

More people engage in climate – and planet-friendly practices in their daily lives than we may commonly think


More people engage in climate – and planet-friendly practices in their daily lives than we may commonly think. Yet their main motivation for “lighter living” is not necessarily saving the planet – it can be caring for family, saving money, improving health and wellness, supporting local businesses, or a combination of these motivations.  This research project revealed the diverse motivations that lead people in Guelph-Wellington to engage in lighter living behaviours.  These behaviours include supporting circular products and services, reducing food waste, and other sustainable actions.  By understanding people’s motivations for lighter living, governments, businesses, and community groups can engage more people in these behaviours and help to normalize and mainstream lighter living actions. Through a quantitative survey and qualitative in-depth interviews, we identified 4 main Motivations for lighter living actions in Guelph-Wellington.