Sustainable in the Suburbs

Sarah Robertson-Barnes
  • 4.6 (10)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Want to waste less, save money, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home. Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.

  1. 3D AGO

    40: How to Host a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (Eco-Friendly Ideas That Save You Money)

    I can’t be the only one who has complicated feelings about goody bags… right? Kids' birthday parties have quietly escalated. The venues. The décor. The goody bags. The expectation that every year has to be a little bigger than the last. But most kids don’t actually need all of that. In this episode, I’m sharing how we’ve kept birthday parties simple, low waste, and still genuinely fun — from smaller guest lists to reusable decorations, bulk food, experience gifts, and activities that don’t end up in the trash. If you’re looking for practical, eco-friendly birthday party ideas that feel realistic for busy families, this episode walks through exactly how we do it. Related Episodes Ep. 16: Sustainable Living with Kids with Jessica Nakamura Ep. 22: Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell Ep. 23: Borrow Before You Buy with LEND-IT.CA Ep. 26: Holiday Food Waste — Simple Ways to Reduce Waste and Save Money Resources How to Have a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (blog post) Should You Give Secondhand Gifts (blog post) Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Kids (blog post) Balloons Blow Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    24 min

  2. FEB 24

    39: Sustainable Home Renovations — Materials, Waste, and Designing Homes For Life with Brittany Steptoe Wright

    We talk a lot on this show about the small daily habits inside our homes. But every so often, the choices get bigger. Renovations bring in materials, demolition, budgets, trades, and long-term decisions all at once. They shape how a home functions — and how it holds up — for years. In this episode, I’m joined by Brittany Steptoe Wright, Founder and Principal of BSW Design and COO of Steptoe Carpentry, for a practical and thoughtful conversation about what sustainable design actually looks like inside real projects with real budgets. If you’re planning a renovation — or simply thinking about your home with a longer lens — this conversation offers a steady framework for building and living in a way that lasts. Takeaways What sustainable design actually looks like inside a renovationWhere renovation waste comes from — and where it can realistically be divertedWhy durability often matters more than trend cyclesHow antiques and inherited pieces can anchor a renovationHow professionals weigh sourcing, longevity, and budget togetherWhy maintenance plays a key role in sustainabilityOne Small Shift Take care of your things — loved things last! Maintain them. Repair them. Clean them properly. Loved things last — and extending the life of what’s already in your home is one of the simplest and most meaningful sustainability decisions you can make. Connect With Brit Website Instagram Podcast Resources Habitat for Humanity  Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Sustainable Waste Farrier Home  RC Home  HanStone Jairpur Living Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    55 min

  3. FEB 17

    38: Things I Don’t Buy Anymore — Eco-Frugal Shifts That Reduce Waste and Save Money

    Buying less is one of the most powerful forms of climate action we have. In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things I’ve stopped buying over the last ten years of sustainable living. This shift into eco-frugal living happened gradually, beginning with using up what I already had, doing periodic waste audits to see what we were consistently throwing way, and getting very clear on how and where to spend our money. Because truly, the most sustainable thing you can buy is nothing. Takeaways Climate action begins at the kitchen tableMany “household essentials” are designed to be constant restock itemsMarketing — especially in personal care — encourages us to buy more than we needReusables make the most sense for things you use all the timeSaving money and reducing waste naturally go hand in handNot buying creates mental, physical, and financial spaceOne Small Shift Instead of focusing on what you might stop buying next, try making a short list of things you already don’t buy anymore — and notice what made that possible. Resources Household Waste Audit Workbook (free download) A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20) How to Quit Using Amazon (blog post and podcast episode) 10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post) How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch (blog post) 3 Ways to Have a Zero Waste Period (blog post) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    22 min

  4. FEB 10

    37: Sustainable Decluttering — Why Letting Go Isn’t Neutral

    Donation dumps are basically reverse shopping hauls. Decluttering is often framed as an end point — clear it out, drop it off, move on. But what if the way we let things go quietly trains how we bring new things in? In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m exploring the relationship between decluttering, donation, and sustainable living — and why donation isn’t bad, but also isn’t neutral. We talk about mindful decluttering, overwhelmed donation systems, and how slowing down the letting-go process can shape more intentional habits around both acquiring and discarding things. This conversation sits at the intersection of sustainable decluttering, minimalism, and organization, and asks what becomes possible when we stay present through the full life cycle of our stuff, instead of treating decluttering as the end of the story. Takeaways Decluttering is part of the buying cycle, not separate from itDonation isn’t bad — but it isn’t neutralDonation systems are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of donated goodsSlowing down decluttering creates useful feedbackCommunity-based solutions take more time... and that's the pointPaying attention when things leave your home shapes future purchasesOne Small Shift Look into your community-based options. That might mean joining a Buy Nothing group, checking what local organizations actually need, or learning where items are most likely to stay in use — and letting that guide how you let things go. Resources Sustainable Decluttering – An Eco-Friendly Approach to Letting Things Go (blog) How to Host a Clothing Swap (podcast episode) Fewer, Better Things - How to Reduce Kitchen Clutter (podcast episode) Sustainable Minimalism - Stefanie Marie Seferian (book) No New Things - Ashlee Piper (book) The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard (book) Consumed - Aja Barber (book) Aja Barber (Patreon) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    21 min

  5. FEB 3

    36: How to Host a Clothing Swap — Sharing Clothes & Building Community

    We all have clothes we don’t wear. Pieces that might fit again someday, that were expensive, or that feel too nice to just drop into a donation bin. When those clothes start piling up, donation often becomes the default solution. And once those bags are gone from the trunk, the buying cycle begins again. In this episode, I’m taking a closer look at that pattern, and at what it might look like to slow down not just how we buy clothes, but how we let them go. We’re talking about clothing swaps — how they work in real life, why they’re such a powerful (and often overlooked) tool for sustainable living, and how sharing clothes within our existing circles can keep clothing in use closer to home, while also building connection and community. Takeaways How donation has become part of the buying cycle (and why that matters)How clothing swaps keep clothes in use locallyWhy letting go of clothing is emotional (and how swaps create a softer landing)How to actually host a swapWhy planning for leftovers is just as important as planning the swap itselfHow sharing clothes can quietly build connection and communityOne Small Shift Try it! If you have host energy, host a clothing swap — start small, keep it simple, and see what happens. And if hosting feels like too much, say YES to attending one. Resources How to Host a Clothing Swap (blog post) Ep. 35: Rethinking Sustainable Fashion with Sabs Katz Clotheshorse Podcast Consumed - Aja Barber (book) Aja Barber - Patreon Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    25 min

  6. JAN 27

    35: Rethinking Sustainable Fashion, Consumption, and Personal Style with Sabs Katz

    This episode touches on sustainable fashion — but it’s not only about fashion. It’s a conversation about how we think about clothes, how we relate to what we already own, and how everyday decisions around getting dressed connect to consumption, care, and creativity. I’m joined by Sabs Katz, the creator of Sustainable Sabs and a cofounder of Intersectional Environmentalist, for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about personal style, overconsumption, and what it looks like to slow down without turning sustainability into a rulebook. We talk about clothing as memory and legacy, why reducing consumption matters more than chasing “better” products, and how practices like mending, swaps, and intentional limits can actually make style clearer — not more restrictive. This episode is for anyone who wears clothes — which is all of us. Takeaways Why fashion can be such a complicated entry point into sustainabilityWhat “sustainable fashion” can look like in real lifeClothing as memory, inheritance, and careReducing consumption without rigidityMending, swaps, and community-based alternativesFinding creativity outside of constant trendsSome excellent challenges to curb your consumption and recharge your creativityOne Small Shift Pause before buying something new. Save it, sit with it, and see how you feel about it a week later. Connect With Sabs Instagram Website Substack Resources Intersectional Environmentalist Indyx Hot or Cool Institute Drive to Target - poems by Hayley DeRoche Pattie Gonia How to Host a Clothing Swap (blog post) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    59 min

  7. JAN 20

    34: How to Quit Using Paper Towels (and What to Use Instead)

    Paper towels are one of those everyday items most of us don’t think twice about — until we do. They’re convenient, familiar, and deeply embedded in our kitchen routines. But when you slow down and look at what goes into making something designed to be used once and thrown away, it becomes worth questioning. In this solo episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m talking about how to quit (or significantly reduce) paper towel use in a way that’s practical, flexible, and rooted in real life. I share how paper towels quietly disappeared from our home years ago, why they’re so easy to overuse, and what actually works instead. We dig into the environmental and financial cost of paper towels, how ideas about cleanliness and convenience shape our habits, and why changing what’s within reach can naturally change behaviour. I also walk through realistic reusable alternatives, storage and laundry concerns, edge cases where disposables still make sense, and what to do if you already have paper towels at home. The focus is on choosing reusables where they make sense, and how small changes add up over time in everyday life. Takeaways Why paper towels are designed to be overused — and why that’s not a personal failure.The environmental impact of single-use paper products.Practical alternatives to paper towels that work in everyday homes.How small behavioural changes can reduce waste.Why using fewer paper towels still matters, even if you don’t eliminate them entirely.One Small Shift Take the paper towel roll off your counter and put it somewhere else — under the sink, in a cupboard, or the pantry. Just notice what you reach for instead over the next week or two. Related Episodes 8: 5 Easy Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps for Sustainable Living 11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women's Personal Finance 33: Fewer, Better Things — How to Reduce Kitchen Clutter and Waste Resources What to Use Instead of Paper Towels (all my favourite products) How to Knit a Dish Cloth (free PDF pattern) 10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post) A Beginner's Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    27 min

  8. JAN 13

    33: Fewer, Better Things — How to Reduce Kitchen Clutter and Waste with Sasha Mazzuca

    Our homes are full of things we barely notice until they start to feel heavy. Duplicate pantry items, forgotten gadgets, drawers that are full of junk... And suddenly, everyday life feels harder than it needs to be. In this episode, I’m joined by Sasha Mazzuca, founder of Disch and a professional organizer, for a thoughtful conversation about our relationship to stuff — and how choosing fewer, better things can make daily life feel calmer, more functional, and more sustainable. Sasha shares how years of organizing clients’ kitchens led her to a surprisingly universal problem: the towel drawer. From there, she walks us through how thoughtful design, simple systems, and well-made tools can reduce clutter, decision fatigue, and waste — without requiring a full lifestyle overhaul. We talk about why eco-friendly products don’t have to be boring or expensive, how paper towels quietly add up in both cost and resources, and why the kitchen is often the easiest place to start building more sustainable habits. This conversation is especially timely for anyone feeling the pull to declutter, reset, or simplify — without chasing perfection. Takeaways Why clutter often comes from delayed decisions and forgotten duplicatesHow professional organizing intersects with sustainabilityCommon myths about eco-friendly products — including cost and aestheticsWhy the kitchen is a natural gateway to sustainable livingWhy paper towels are one of the easiest places to reduce wasteHow fewer, better-designed tools can support lasting habitsOne Small Shift Sasha suggests starting with one drawer — especially the towel drawer. Choosing tools that actually work, fit neatly, and get used every day can reduce clutter, waste, and mental load far more than we expect. Connect With Sasha / Disch Website Instagram Facebook Resources What To Use Instead of Paper Towels (blog post) 10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post) A Beginner's Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (e-book - use code PODCAST20) 5 Easy Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps (previous episode) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    52 min
See All (41)

Trailer

4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Want to waste less, save money, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home. Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Robertson-Barnes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sustainable in the Suburbs
  • Show Website
    Sustainable in the Suburbs

You Might Also Like