Tim Jarvis: How to use your money for good

One of the most impactful ways to protect the planet is by choosing how you spend your money more wisely. Tim Jarvis explains how easy it is. 

People often ask me for ideas on ways they can make a difference to help save and protect the environment. I think a lot of them expect me to suggest things like ride sharing, cycling to work, eating less meat and switching to solar – which are, of course, important things we should all be doing.

But the biggest thing an individual can do to help save the planet is to think about how they spend their money. To me, that’s what money for good means. It’s about spending money to get the right outcomes and to have the biggest impact.

These purchasing decisions come into all elements of your spending, from how you shop at the supermarket and the clothes you buy, to how you donate to charity.

The average Australian family spends around $75,000 each year on food and basic consumables. That’s a lot of money that has the potential to be invested in good things! If we’re choosing to buy things like organic produce, sustainably made clothing, and green energy, our dollars are telling these huge organisations to do the right thing. There’s power in our purchases. 

Look at what you’re buying at the supermarket and aim for organic food options or buying from a local farmers’ market.

If you’re buying fish, make sure it’s been sustainably harvested – check the label or ask your fishmonger to find out. If you’d like to learn more, visit GoodFish or download their app.

Look for items with the Fair Trade label, as these goods are directly supporting locals and farmers in the country where that product was produced. Also keep an eye out for products containing palm oil; avoid it altogether if you can, and aim to purchase goods that contain sustainable palm oil if you can’t.

It takes around 2,700 litres of water to make one t-shirt. Many inexpensive clothes are made outside of Australia, often by labourers who are working in difficult conditions on low wages.This clothing travels vast distances (and racks up a huge carbon footprint along the way) to reach our shelves. To make matters worse, cheap clothes are often thrown out after a short period of time with 30% of Australian adults having thrown away more than ten items of clothing in the past year.

Enter the concept of ‘slow fashion’ – it’s all about reusing pre-loved clothes that have been sustainably derived. Embracing the slow fashion movement means shopping in op shops and vintage stores, doing clothing swaps with friends, and, if you’re buying new, investing in ethical and sustainably made goods. 

Doing good in the world is even easier, with a range of big brands donating a portion of their profits to charity; there’s even an organisation – called BCorp – that is providing certification to companies that are actively working to make the planet a better place. Just look at toilet paper company Who Gives A Crap, who donate 50% of their profits to build toilets in developing countries, and HoMie, a Melbourne-based apparel company who donate 100% of profits to support Australian youths experiencing homelessness and hardship.

If you have the means, consider making regular donations to charities you feel passionate about. Don’t forget, if you’re an AIA Vitality member, you can choose to donate your weekly active benefits to a range of charities as well. Visit AIA Vitality for more information.

AIA Ambassador Tim Jarvis is a world-renowned polar explorer, expedition leader and environmental scientist. With a focus on sustainability, Tim has more than 25 years’ worth of experience in his respective fields, and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to helping teams and individuals perform at their highest level.