In an increasingly fast-paced and inflationary global economy, side hustles are all the rage, with everyone looking for ways to earn an extra income. While there are scores of legitimate opportunities to choose from, not all are scalable or sustainable in the long run.
In this article, we uncover 4 creative side hustles that are sustainable as a source of income and for the environment in general.
Sell Handmade, Eco-Friendly Products
With growing environmental consciousness among the general public, the demand for handmade, eco-friendly products continues to grow more lucrative by the year. From reusable household items to organic skincare products, there are innumerable avenues to explore and tap into.
By sourcing materials locally, or using recycled and sustainable materials, you can ensure your products have significantly lower carbon and environmental footprint. Even print-on-demand merch can be classified as handmade and eco-friendly, provided it meets certain criteria.
Platforms such as Etsy, alongside your local farmer’s market, can be perfect for reaching the target audience for such products. Build a loyal following and your earnings will be as scalable as it would be sustainable.
Offer Sustainable Consulting Services
If you ever reach a stage where you fashion yourself an expert on matters related to sustainability, consider turning that knowledge into a business, and help other sustainability-focused startups and products get off the ground.
Many businesses today are looking for ways to up their green credentials, but it isn’t always easy to navigate this space, given the information overload, and the endless stream of products, solutions, and innovations that you have to sift through.
This is where you as an expert stand to shine, helping guide businesses onto the right path, all the while making the world a better place, and earning a lucrative income yourself. This includes everything from consulting on sustainable fashion to eco-friendly office practices, green event planning, and more.
Start A Digital Recycling or Upcycling Marketplace
Another lucrative side hustle with significant upside potential for the environment is starting a digital recycling or upcycling marketplace.
Unlike other marketplaces, this isn’t a space where large behemoths can take over and undercut you on price and offerings, and this is largely owing to the complexity of this, making it harder to scale and automate.
That being said, an individual operator can build a very profitable business by offering a niche marketplace for upcycled or gently used goods, such as furniture, electronics, clothing, and more.
Become A Green Content Creator
Content creation is booming, and sustainability-focused content is especially in demand. If you’re passionate about green living, share your journey through a blog, YouTube channel, or social media accounts.
You could create content on zero-waste living, eco-friendly home projects, sustainable fashion, or even green tech analysis. Once you build an audience, you can monetize through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or selling eco-friendly products.
Pro Tip: Niche down early to stand out. Whether you’re into eco-friendly meal prep or DIY home projects, focusing on a specific area will help you build authority faster. Use tools like Patreon or Ko-fi to encourage your audience to support your content financially.
Conclusion
A sustainable side hustle needn’t be too complicated or capital-intensive, all you need is a bit of creativity, and an urge to go the extra mile for the sake of the planet.
Such a business, however, truly stands out in the marketplace, clearly signaling to the world that you care about something other than yourself and your bottom line. A business with strong green credentials is often deemed to be more trustworthy than one that is not.
The above mentioned ideas are merely the beginning, with a plethora of other opportunities out, each being more lucrative than the last.
