Why Men Matter in the Sustainability Movement

When you think of the face of the sustainable movement in 2025, odds are it’s a woman. That’s no accident. Women have led much of the world’s climate advocacy, from grassroots organizing to oversight policy. But if we’re serious about confronting the climate crisis, we need to see and recognize the men in the room—not just as allies, but as active leaders and changemakers.

The Opportunity

Men still hold immense influence over the systems and industries that impact our environment most. Consider this:

• Men make the majority of high-impact consumer decisions, including home improvement, automotive, electronics, and appliance purchases. These choices significantly affect household emissions and resource use. There is nothing more annoying to my husband than the planned obsolescence of appliances!

• Many of the world’s most polluting and resource-intensive industries—construction, energy, transportation, and manufacturing—are male-dominated.  Criticisms of these can come across as attacks on livelihoods and careers. That’s not just a challenge; it’s a unique opportunity to drive internal transformation.

• Men often serve as early adopters of innovation in tools, technology, and systems. Their interest in performance and practicality can help scale sustainable solutions faster.

• Research shows that when men embrace environmentally responsible habits, they influence peers and workplace culture, leading to a wider ripple effect.

  AND....

Men are still, unfortunately, in the majority of positions of power in government and finance. Their decisions set policy, direct investments, and shape economies. Engaging men in sustainability at the leadership level is essential to accelerating change at scale.

Breaking the Mold

The environmental movement has sometimes failed to connect with men. Messaging is often seen as too soft, too guilt-heavy, or simply not built around how men often see themselves: as doers, protectors, providers, and builders.

But sustainability isn't soft. It’s:

• Repairing instead of replacing.

• Choosing quality gear over cheap disposables.

• Leaving things better than you found them.

• Teaching the next generation by example.

These aren’t new ideas. They’re classic values re-framed through an environmental lens.

My Dad!

My dad gardened, fixed machines, and recognized the importance of living harmony with nature. I remember the years of hobbies that included nature photography, Tough Mudder obstacle course races, and in later years hiking. These came from his family roots of farming and probably as an opposition to his day job in a steel plant. But are now cemented to me as part of who he is and what he stands for - making use of the things you already had and being grateful. (good Yorkshire values!).

It is also seeing my husband create and build Halloween decorations from scratch rather than buying inflatable monsters. Of reusing small motors and old ceiling fans to drive a floating ghost across our yard, or scouring yard sales for items to paint and transform. Not only is our display the best but our sons learn to create, tinker, and scare!

A Call to Action

We need to expand the definition of environmental leadership. It looks like the engineer improving solar efficiency, the contractor choosing recycled materials, the dad swapping out plastic-packed products for low-waste alternatives. It’s fixing instead of tossing. Choosing quality over convenience. Taking pride in habits that last. These are values that so many dads, brothers, uncles, and sons already live by—they just haven’t always been framed as climate actions. But they are.

This Father’s Day, let's celebrate not just who dads are, but what they can inspire.

Because climate change doesn’t care about gender. And the Earth needs every voice—including his.

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Shop at Trove

Looking for a way to say “thanks” while encouraging eco-minded habits? Here are a few standout, sustainable gifts that dads will actually use—and maybe even share with a friend.

• 🪒 Safety Razor & Natural Shave Soap: A classic shave, without the landfill waste or skin irritation.

• 🧔 Beard Oils & Balms: Hydrate and tame with plant-based ingredients—no synthetic junk.

• 🚿 Shower Steamers: Aromatherapy meets efficiency. A spa moment disguised as a power shower.

• 🕯️ Soy-Based Candles: Woodsy, clean scents for garages, dens, and man caves.

• 🐜 DEET-Free Bug Spray: Keeps pests away with essential oils, not chemicals.

• 🌲 National Park–Inspired Teas: Thoughtful, grounding, and a great intro to plant-based living.

• 🪙 Cork or Recycled Sail Wallets: Durable, practical, and built with a story.

• ☕ Handmade Mugs by a Local Retired Firefighter: For coffee, tea, or just showing off on the kitchen counter.

  
  

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