Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet

by Sheila M. Morovati, David Pogue (Foreword by)

Overview

A practical guide and inspiring story of how one person really can make a difference when it comes to saving the environment.

Sheila was sitting in a restaurant with her family, watching her toddler color using the free crayons handed out with each kid’s menu when the thought occurred to her: What happens to these crayons at the end of each meal? The answer to this question inspired Sheila to embark on a mission to reduce the amount of waste our society produces and to become a leading voice in advocating for the preservation of our planet.

In Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet, Sheila M. Morovati encourages readers to adopt new behaviors and shift their perspectives so that they, too, can make a difference. Readers will follow Sheila on her journey, starting out as an immigrant with limited resources to successfully launching over nine global environmental campaigns. Her innovative solutions to habitual waste have resulted in legislation forcing even the largest companies to embrace sustainability and make changes to benefit the planet. Readers will learn that one person can create a ripple effect for change. If Sheila can do it, then so can you.

Imperfect Environmentalist also dispels the myth that to be considered an environmentalist, one must be all in, or live “zero waste,” to have a meaningful impact on combatting climate change. Small modifications, such as committing to eating eight plant-based meals per week or cutting out plastic utensils, can add up to a large impact. Each chapter shares ten action steps for readers to adopt in their daily lives to become more eco-friendly, resulting in a comprehensive manual of creative tips for eliminating “habits of waste.” By sharing the load, becoming an environmentalist does not need to be intimidating or overwhelming. In sharing her work and tactics for advancing environmental activism, Sheila’s message will motivate all readers to embrace being imperfect environmentalists. Our planet depends on it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538179109
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	88,538
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Sheila M. Morovati is the founder and president of two non-profit organizations: Crayon Collection and Habits of Waste. She has fostered systemic change by targeting major corporations, giving everyday individuals the power to make better choices for the planet and inspiring meaningful activism. She was invited by the World Economic Forum to participate in their platforms “Nutrition Disruptors” and “Consumers for Climate Action,” for which her work was published. Sheila has been featured in People Magazine, LA Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, BUZZFEED, ATTN: Media, Forbes, HuffPost, Bloomberg Radio, and various regional broadcasts. She has been seen on national television shows such as The Kelly Clarkson Show and CBS Sunday Morning. Sheila was born in Tehran, Iran, and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

Table of Contents

Foreword by David Pogue

Chapter 1. Here’s How It All Began…

Chapter 2. STRAWS & Malibu

Chapter 3. #CutOutCutlery

Chapter 4. #LAGREENTEEN

Chapter 5. #ShipNaked / #ShipGreeener

Chapter 6.Bars Over Bottles

Chapter 7. Lights Camera Plastic

Chapter 8. 8meals

Chapter 9. Carbon Offset Challenge and How Every Action Has a Value

Chapter 10. Epilogue

Bibliography

Notes

Index

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

The transition toward a more sustainable future will require us to both press for large institutional changes and make a wide range of lifestyle changes. We often wrongly assume that there’s a choice about doing one or the other, but Imperfect Environmentalist makes a great case for how to do both at once. Sheila Morovati shows how small efforts can have a big impact.

Edward Walker

Sheila Morovati is a true force of nature in the world of sustainable change. Her remarkable journey is a testament to the power of passion, creativity, and deep insights into the mechanisms of behavior change. In her book, she masterfully demonstrates how innovative thinking can serve as a catalyst for effectively "nudging" consumers towards more sustainable behaviors, with technology as a pivotal enabler. Furthermore, what sets Sheila apart is her ability to drive change through the stakeholder theory. She has been remarkable in shaping policies and legislation to advance eco-friendly ways of living for sustained progress on a broader scale. Her work brilliantly bridges theory and practice, providing an inspirational roadmap for readers to make a meaningful impact.

Zara Ingilizian

I have known Shelia for many years and what she has done with Imperfect Environmentalist,along with her ongoing work, is to provide a practical, down-to-earth guide for everyone to make changes through the proven model Sheila has demonstrated over, and over, again. This is the way for change, by you and I taking action ourselves. This book blows away the idea that we cannot do it. In fact, we can and must.

Darin Olien

Sheila Morovati’s Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet is a roadmap of environmental stewardship. Packed with tips, insights, and how-tos, Sheila shares the story of how she influenced our throw-away society and through her experiences, teaches us how to reduce plastic waste, lower our carbon footprint, make better food choices, save money, influence major companies, help pass legislation, and motivate young people. This book makes it clear that participating in the environmental movement is available to everyone. It’s an inspiration for those who wish to make a difference.

Laura Faye Tenenbaum