The best books on sustainable living

Going green in the garden has never been easier with Nancy Birtwhistle’s sustainable, eco-friendly tips that will help you make the most of your space, and what it can grow. Whether you have a sprawling garden, a modest patch of grass or just a spare windowsill, The Green Gardening Handbook has over 100 tips that will help you embrace the joy of growing and eating from your own garden. This is a book for anyone green-fingered or not, packed with practical advice to save money and reduce waste, packaged in a beautifully illustrated guide. 

Great British Bake Off winner turned bestselling author Nancy Birtwhistle provides 101 eco-friendly home-hacks in Green Living Made Easy. From upcycling to eco-cleaning and small-space gardening, there are plenty of ways to do our best for both our homes and the planet – and save yourself time and money in the process. Complete with beautiful illustrations, Nancy Birtwhistle’s tips and recipes are relatable and innovative, making this the perfect guide for anyone pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle.

Inspired by her own journey from climate scientist to artist and nature lover, Ali Foxton’s The Green Sketching Handbook is the perfect way to reconnect with your environment. Combining quick and easy exercises with the latest research on nature connection, this handbook focuses on sketching for pleasure, not perfection. In doing so, it encourages us to create a habit that makes us feel good and helps us develop a closer relationship with our planet. 

Inspired by the principles of the Planetary Health Diet, a greener way of eating informed by scientific targets aimed at tackling climate change, nutritionist Annie Bell provides a flexible way of improving your diet, both for the environment and for yourself. Packed with over one hundred recipes, as well as practical tips to reduce food waste, Healthier Planet, Healthier You sheds light on how to eat both sustainably and affordably, without cutting out your favourite treats.

Leading climate activist Vanessa Nakate brings her fearless spirit to this manifesto and memoir about climate change. At Davos in 2020, Vanessa, a Black Ugandan activist alongside four white Europeans, was cropped out of a press photograph – a startling illustration of how those who will see the biggest impacts of the climate crisis are repeatedly omitted from the conversation. A Bigger Picture is a crucial part of the story on climate change and an inspiring account of how we can all join together to protect our planet. 

Jack Monroe is one of the UK’s best-loved experts on budget cooking. In Vegan(ish), she applies her thrifty hacks to one hundred plant-based recipes to reduce both our food bills and our environmental impact. Whether you are already a committed vegan, or simply want to cut back on dairy and meat to help the planet, Jack Monroe’s recipes are creative, affordable and sustainable, without compromising on taste. 

Online sensation Calum Harris promises no-fuss vegan recipes, all of which can be cooked in under twenty minutes. With a focus on easily sourced ingredients, and covering quick solo meals to dinner party favourites, The 20-Minute Vegan is perfect for flexitarians, students, home cooks on a budget and anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint.