Being Sustainable in a Digital Age - Blog (January)

Recently, I went on a trip to the zoo. Almost every animal was out and visible - the monkeys, the lions, tigers and bear, giraffes, lemurs, red pandas, otters, and snow leopards. Several of the animal talks from zookeepers mentioned the importance of purchasing paper products only with the FSC label. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council and means that the paper used in the product did not come from a destruction of a habitat, so it’s better for the animals. 

This got me thinking of other ways we can be sustainable in an ever-changing age. A digital age. A rather… selfish age. In this blog post, I will be mentioning ways we can stay sustainably-friendly, keep to our morals and values, and preserve what we have.

No matter what line of work you’re in, you’ll likely be using modern technology such as a laptop or PC, or traditional technology such as pen and paper. Both can help us get work done and achieve our goals, but there are ways to make sure we have a better impact on the wider world around us before we hit the first key, click the first link, or scribble the first sentence. We have to choose which tools we use.

If using modern technology, you’ll likely already know by now that almost all major tech companies are shifting towards AI. This means new and enhanced features, easier usability and possibly more time-efficient planning, but it could mean some complexities, namely giving up personal information.

After doing some research on what AI models collect the least amount of data - PC Mag - Microsoft CoPilot came out clear on the other side, as of November 20th 2025. Google Gemini uses data to train AI (in specific cases). ChatGPT, DeepSeek and Qwen all both use your data to train AI LLM (Large-language model) and share your data with advertisers. Each model is different in exactly what information it shares, so it is highly important to check their privacy policies!

The reason CoPilot is the best, according to the explainer article written by PCMag Australia, is because “Microsoft’s privacy documents require bouncing through a few links, as Microsoft 365 Copilot has different data protection than Bing, which is used for search in the app. Copilot’s privacy policy states that it collects minimal customer data, doesn’t send your info to advertisers, and refrains from using your prompts and responses to train foundation LLMs, which is ideal.” CoPilot uses its own data to provide contextual answers suited to your work.

There are ways around preventing AI chatbots from collecting your data. Firstly, avoid using the chatbot apps on your phone, such as ChatGPT. The rest can be done off your local computer, though it will require some good hardware - best CPUs. You’ll want an appropriate software, like Ollama, which is a free language model desktop operation app, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux. On your computer, you’ll need to download the local version of the chat-apps. It’s important to check the reviews of the chat-apps before committing to them.

Another option is to use the AI built into the computer. They process your data on the device without a need for internet connection, therefore preventing data sharing. Humans have always valued privacy, so it’s important we stick to our guns and not allow models that share our data to get in between us and our work. While researching and implementing new software can take a bit of time, it’s time worth investing in the long-run.

If you use traditional technology, I would strongly recommend purchasing products that have either of these three logos:

They’re three different labels, but they all strive for the same mission: sustainability and forest and plant preservation.

The labels can be found on a variety of items, including: paper products, book and art supplies, furniture and decor, tyres, timber, clothing, and sports equipment. When you can buy products or supplies with the FSC mark on it and from a local store, you’re on the right track - it’s quality paired with sustainability.

To wrap up the work lifestyle side of things, my advice: get to know the new tech, how it operates, and what it means for you and your business. If they’re going to get in between you and your work, find other alternatives that can be effectively implemented while still being sustainable.

As a part-time author, I’m personally reasonably tolerant of AI, keeping in mind that I use it to visualise my descriptions of characters, take new angles on marketing, and do research. Many of the models I find interesting, but it’s not something I invest in until I know what I’m committing to. Software like Grammarly, DeepAI, and story-plotting apps. I never use it for writing any scenes or planning out my manuscripts. I try to use local and FSC supplies when doing short-hand practices. There’s certainly more I can do in the sustainability realm as a human being, though.

Straight from a Google Chrome search in response to sustainability tips, I’m met with several helpful suggestions such as “reducing consumption, conserving resources, and managing waste. Choosing local, seasonable, organic food and supporting sustainable businesses also significantly lowers your environmental impact, as detailed by the UN and various.”

When typing the same search into Microsoft Edge, practical examples are the first thing to pop up: Rechargeable batteries; capsule wardrobe; beeswax wrap; low-flow showerhead; and even dual flush toilet! 

We’re currently in the first week of 2026 - maybe a good new year resolution would be committing to a few sustainability practices. A little can go a long way.

In conclusion, while we all have different lifestyles, morals, values and goals, we can all choose to support sustainability. It won’t drastically change our lives, but it can change the world around us for the better, and it’s likely that as a result of our actions we will feel better. Look for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) labels when purchasing paper products, timber, furniture, etcetera - this means animal and plant preservation and forest sustainability. When using tech, try to make informative decisions based on expert knowledge and what you believe is best for your work. I can’t say there is a bad tool, because it’s all subjective, but I can say that the present is unravelling quicker than a ball of yarn. We can’t change that, but we can adapt while staying rooted in what matters.

-Campbell