Dear Tanya, Who are you and why did you start www.bettergreendesign.com ?
I like to describe myself as a Sustainable Creative because it merges my passions for art, nature, and innovation. I started my website originally as a blog to inspire people to protect the natural environment. BGD focuses now more on how individuals can reduce their environmental footprint, mainly through waste reduction.
What are the goals of www.bettergreendesign.com?
BGD’s main mission is still to connect people with the beauty and wonder of nature in order to inspire them to protect the environment. A current goal however is to help individuals reduce their waste, especially single-use plastics.
Which milestones did you already reach?
I’ve found a community with shared values, such as MyTree.TV, and I’d like to think that my posts have inspired some to protect the natural world. I’ve only started my business of helping local homes and offices to declutter themselves of plastics and needless waste, and I am working on growing it.
You mentioned a story from MyTree.TV in your stories. Do you think Instagram (Meta) is part of the problem or part of the solution for our society?
Both. Social media is amazing at connecting people with information whether it’s about a rare disease and possible treatments or spurring movements such as Fridays for Future. At the same time, social media has isolated and divided many, partly due to algorithms utilized by Facebook/Instagram (now Meta) and even YouTube.
What do you think about Jane Goodall?
Jane Goodall is an amazing woman and leader in animal conservation. She has forged a path for future female scientists and given an authoritative voice to wildlife.
What do you think about Ella Daish?
Ella’s passion and tenacity inspires all of us. Her current mission to convince P&G to stop making tampons with single-use plastic is brilliant yet so simple.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am actually writing several books, including a guide book on local art murals. Public art is a large passion of mine as it connects people and brings together communities.
Which charities do you support and why?
I support wildlife conservation and animal welfare charities because animals are relatively voiceless in our homo sapiens dominated world. And in the end, we humans will be all the poorer if the ongoing sixth mass species extinction does completely occur.
What do you look for when choosing projects to support?
I support projects that make the world a better place for all species whether it is habitat protection, animal rights, or inspiring artwork.
Do you have any other innovative projects or what’s next?
Besides writing my books, I am continuing to seek ways to help people declutter their homes and offices of plastic and needless waste.
Have you ever hugged a tree? When was the last time and why? P.S. is healthy…
Of course, I’ve hugged a tree several times, but possibly not enough. The last time I hugged a tree was on a hike to do a survey for the Colorado Pika Project, and there is a beautiful, old Douglas Fir that makes a wonderful rest stop along the trail.
Thank you very much for your time and energy in answering these questions.
