We had the chance to sit down with the wonderfully bubbly and friendly sustainability expert, Michelle Dufflocq. Michelle is a lifestyle influencer who delved into the world of conscious living during the pandemic. Her content explores the imperfect patterns sustainable living takes and how it’s not an all-or-nothing lifestyle. We’ll let her take it from here, but expect some tips and suggestions on how to live consciously in our modern world.
Q
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A
Of course! My name is Michelle Dufflocq and I’m a Social Media Manager and Content Producer based in New York City. I was born in Chile and grew up in Missoula, Montana so I was lucky enough to be surrounded by really gorgeous natural spaces throughout the majority of my life. As much as this contributed to my appreciation for the earth, it wasn’t until my adult years– more specifically throughout the pandemic– that I became interested in making small changes in my lifestyle to live more sustainably.
Due to the state of the world in 2020 and moving back in with my parents at the age of 25, I threw myself into what I could control. Which started as signing my family up for the local composting program and buying my kale at the farmers’ market. I began following creators like @thatcurlytop, @acteevism, and @juliettelaura who advocate for slow living while sharing incredible resources as well as ethically conscious brands to support.
Being a lifestyle creator, this flowed very naturally into my content and I have really enjoyed sharing my trips to the farmer’s market, thrifted finds, and sustainable swaps with my audience!
Q
What are some examples of slow living that you do?
A
In the last couple of years as eco-anxiety has taken over, I’ve been trying to make small changes to my lifestyle in order to reduce my impact on the planet.
I purchase produce and eggs from my local farmer’s market when I can, compost food scraps every week, shop small and local as much as possible, try to swap out single-use items (like makeup wipes and my cleaning products) for reusable ones, and have (mostly) weaned myself off of fast fashion. I also try to buy the majority of my interior decor and clothing secondhand. Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, and Depop are my best friends!
I think it’s all about starting small with what is most doable for you and your current situation and being patient with yourself as you figure it out. It can be tempting to scrap all of your possessions and start fresh with a ton of chic sustainable gear, but try not to stress! The most sustainable items are the ones you already have 🙂
Q
You’re open about having progress over perfection in regards to sustainable and conscious living. What are some imperfect things that you do?
A
There are so many that I struggle with! Online shopping, specifically, Amazon. Single-use plastic via takeout or product packaging. I’m not vegan or vegetarian. I love a long hot shower.
Q
How do you keep from getting discouraged from the all-or-nothing mentality some people have?
A
I think this is telling of how much our society critiques women’s bodies, firstly, but it also does a disservice to men who experience body dysmorphia. We need more people speaking openly about male body standards because I’m a huge believer in the fact that small changes can result in a large impact when put together! So I try to really lean into this whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. It can also be helpful to unfollow or mute anyone on social media that is contributing to these feelings!
Q
You live in NYC, how do you deal with the knowledge that some things are out of your control? Where do you find the balance?
A
It’s definitely not an easy city to live sustainably in. The fast pace of New York City prioritizes convenience which results in quite a bit of waste. I try my best to focus on what I can control in my own household and then just do my best when I’m out and about! It’s also reassuring to remember that having roommates and the use of public transport greatly reduces your carbon footprint.
Q
Sustainability is not easy, but neither is going to the gym, going to work, eating vegan, and a lot of other things people adopt as a norm. Can you speak on people’s perceptions of sustainability and how that is holding the “movement” back?
A
Unfortunately, the sustainability movement can result in a lot of misplaced energy that even veers towards classism and ableism. Nothing good can ever come from judgment and shame, and I absolutely think a lot of people are turned off by sustainability due to its association with this attitude. It has been said time and time again, but we do not need one person being perfectly sustainable but many people doing sustainability imperfectly!
