What the F#ck is MVC/A - minimum viable change/action?

Don't try to be perfect, try to be mostly good.

Sustainability is about making smart choices that protect our environment and create long-term benefits. Some of the biggest sustainability challenges can feel like insurmountable mountains. After all, what can we do by ourselves to tackle climate change? 

I sometimes have a tendency for solution aversion especially when the changes can be so drastic. As an example, transitioning to a plant-based diet reducing the impact on the environment from dairy and meat production, but for some, this can be a drastic lifestyle change if they’ve been consuming and enjoying meat all their lives. Leveraging sustainable energy such as solar panels or wind turbines to reduce environmental impacts from fossil-fuelled energy production can also be incredibly expensive to set up.

We’ve heard about Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Sustainable action doesn’t need to be big or drastic - you can take Minimum Viable Actions/Changes (MVC/A) instead to take steps toward sustainability.

What the f#ck is MVC/A?

MVC/As are small actions or changes that you can take that don’t impact your lifestyle significantly, but add up over time.  Doing these consistently builds into habits, and over time these small changes done consistently can have a powerful impact on the environment. 

Here are some examples of where you can make MVC/As to start making your positive impacts on the Earth today.

Food

One way to make small changes for sustainability is to try out simple lifestyle experiments. Starting small can be as simple as breaking your habit of buying packaged food and instead cooking your own meals from scratch to reduce plastics. It’ll save you money, and can be healthier as well. 

While we’re talking about food, why not try the occasional vegetarian meal? One simple change we can make is to eat less of the products that have the largest environmental footprint. Eating less meat, can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. You don’t need to fully become vegetarian - instead, take a MVC/A to occasionally eat vegetarian or vegan meals.

Being conscious of the products you use.

Changing the products you use can also make a lasting impact without changing your lifestyle. Using sustainable and organic products can help to reduce your carbon footprint and help to protect the environment by reducing the amount of potentially toxic chemicals that enter waterways, whether it’s through flushing or leeching of these chemicals from use, or reducing the demand on less sustainable alternatives to encourage manufacturers to use sustainable practices and ingredients. They’re also healthier alternatives for you and your family.

You could also look to buy clothing or fashion that is sustainably made, made to order, and even those that are part of a circular fashion ecosystem that can be recycled into new products. This can significantly reduce waste and the amount of resources spent in the fashion industry.

Use fewer resources in your day-to-day.

Change can also involve abstaining from something. As an example, reducing your consumption of energy will make a big difference to the environment. This can be taking fewer hot showers (or maybe even fewer showers in general to conserve water), or even spending less time on screen scrolling social media which can help conserve device battery and reduce wear on your batteries. 

You may find that your quality of life doesn’t change much from making these minimum viable changes to your life, but over time these can add up. You may even find these changes as a fantastic stepping stone to taking on more sustainable habits, such as going entirely plant-based.

Give it a go - start your Minimum Viable Changes/Actions today.