A survey published in Visions For Change: Country Papers, a document collating the results of the Global Survey on Sustainable Lifestyles (GSSL) project, has highlighted that many graduates are looking to live green, sustainable lives. ‘UK Youth: The conflicts of contemporary lifestyles’ interviewed over 300 graduates with a view to understanding their aspirations and expectations of the future. The survey identified a huge 60% of the pool as ‘green dreamers’ – individuals who wish to live with ‘more environmental value’.

Recycling Lives offers training and work experience for all

However, the survey identified the rift between respondents’ aspirations and their actual life plans. Despite their hopes for eco-friendly living, many were fearful of being unable to obtain financial self-sufficiency, as well as losing their freedom as members of society. Evidently, the current state of the economy is affecting people’s desires to help the environment. The 23% of the interviewees who remained positive – stressing that sustainable living would be part of their future plans – defined the concept of sustainable living as an awareness of one’s effect on both the environment and on others within your community.

One person who lives by such an ethos is Furniture Donation Network founder, Steve Jackson. Steve, who began work in his father’s recycling company at just 16, helped to develop the business until it had acquired all the scrap yards in Preston. At the same time, he set up a string of new businesses and, following the success of these entrepreneurial ventures, he created Recycling Lives -a Queen’s Award-winning commercial recycler and social welfare charity. The company is a blend of ethical, environmental and social solutions: using the success of the commercial arm, the Recycling Lives charity trains and educates vulnerable members of society, including long-term unemployed and homeless individuals. This gives them the skills and experience they need to return to full-time employment.

Furniture Donation Network makes a difference to families across the country

Steve then sought to offer these sustainable solutions on a national level, and so created the first of his Community Dotcoms, Furniture Donation Network. The service enables people all over the country to donate their very good or excellent quality furniture to charity. Using Furniture Donation Network’s straight-forward online booking system, individuals can book a collection from the comfort of their own home. The items are then collected by the Furniture Donation Network team or by one of our charity collection partners. This means that, in donating furniture to us, you generate business for local charities and help households who may not be able to afford brand new furniture. So, just through a few clicks, sustainable living is possible – even in difficult times.

Indeed, entrepreneurs like Steve Jackson show that today’s green dreamers can achieve financial self-sufficiency alongside sustainable living. By creating Community Dotcoms that work with his charity-driven commercial company, Steve has ensured that ethical solutions remain sustainable. With more Community Dotcoms planned for this year, there will further opportunities for charities and social enterprises across the country to gain business. This shows that graduates do not have to just dream of a green future: they can help create one.