Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

To be honest, I’m someone who wants to be proactive, but in reality, I’m not always that disciplined. When it comes to sustainable living, I’m far from being a role model. Still, if I really think about it, there are a few things I’ve been consistently doing — small efforts, perhaps, but still something.

The one thing I can confidently say I do regularly (and that actually has some visible effect) is taking the stairs at work — from two floors underground all the way up to the seventh floor. No elevator, no carbon footprint, and a decent cardio workout. Two birds, one stone.

Other habits? They’re a bit more hit-or-miss. I try to keep up with my independent programming projects, daily prayer, and — on days when the weather’s good, it’s not too hot, and I don’t have plans after work — I bike to the office. So yes, there’s effort, but definitely not the kind of consistency I’d brag about.

Speaking of “sustainable,” it’s hard not to think of ESG — the trendiest three-letter acronym in today’s corporate world.

Nowadays, even CEOs and board chairs are being called “Chief Sustainability Officers.” It’s like everyone’s trying to save the planet. But in Taiwan, where most industries rely heavily on exports, ESG often ends up being more about compliance than conviction — just something companies need to check off in order to keep selling to the EU or other markets with strict green regulations.

In other words, a lot of what we see is “ESG for the sake of ESG” — also known as greenwashing. Reports get written, labels get slapped on, events are held with pretty photos, but whether any of it truly benefits the environment, improves employees’ lives, or strengthens society? That’s a big question mark.

So compared to those shiny reports filled with buzzwords, I actually trust the small, boring stuff in daily life a lot more. Like my daily staircase climb — no headlines, no fancy design, but it’s real.

Sustainability, in the end, might just mean keeping at it. Even if it’s something small, the goal is to be a little better than yesterday.