The New Year's Resolution that started Banish

Every year, millions of people set New Year’s resolutions, often with the best intentions but not always with lasting success. I was no different. At the start of 2018, I made about ten resolutions, ranging from cutting my body weight in half to waking up early every single day. But the one that truly stuck with me—and ultimately changed my life—was my resolution to reduce my waste.

I didn’t make any drastic changes overnight. I wasn’t aiming for perfection or eliminating waste completely; I just wanted to make more conscious choices that would be better for the environment. At first, I felt like I was on the right track—I was already using a reusable coffee cup and water bottle, which were simple swaps. But as I dove deeper into my journey, I quickly realised how difficult it was to be truly waste-free.

One of the biggest eye-openers for me was the sheer lack of education and awareness surrounding sustainable choices. I remember ordering a bamboo toothbrush online, thinking I was making a better choice for the planet, only to have it arrive wrapped in plastic packaging. The irony was frustrating. Here I was, trying to reduce my waste, but my efforts were being undermined by unnecessary plastic. It made me stop and think: if even the most eco-friendly products were wrapped in plastic, how could the average consumer be expected to make truly sustainable choices?

That’s when the idea for Banish was born.

I started researching and found that there were incredible suppliers and brands out there committed to doing the right thing. The problem wasn’t a lack of sustainable options—it was that these options weren’t easily accessible or well-known. So, I decided to bring everything together in one place. I envisioned Banish as not just a store but a resource, a community, and an educational platform where people could find eco-friendly products and learn how to live more sustainably without all the guesswork.

Much like sticking to a new diet or fitness plan, making sustainable choices needs to be easy and convenient. If the nearest gym is miles away, or fast food is more accessible than healthy meals, the odds of long-term success are low. I wanted to remove those barriers for people trying to reduce their waste. With Banish, customers know that when they purchase something, it will come plastic-free and be genuinely good for the environment.

Now, just over a year since launching, I still can’t believe how far we’ve come. The journey has been incredible, and I’ve loved every minute of it. In just our first year, Banish helped prevent 1.5 tons of plastic from entering our oceans and landfills. And this is only the beginning. I’m excited to see what’s next and how, together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on our planet.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s that small changes really do add up. You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference—you just have to start.

What started your sustainability journey? 

Photo credit: Josh Miller