Focusing on sustainability has never been a cakewalk. When the world feels like it’s on fire, talking about the importance of recycling and clean energy may seem like a luxury. On the other hand, trying to live a sustainable life may feel like a burden, with an emphasis on the types of things we should avoid in order to protect the environment.

Ashlee Piper has made it her mission to prove the opposite. As a sustainability expert, author, consultant, professor, and media personality, Piper has built a career helping people and organizations see sustainability not as sacrifice, but as satisfaction — accessible, joyful, and deeply human.

From Animal Rescue to Sustainability Advocate

Piper’s path to becoming a leading sustainability voice wasn’t linear. “I definitely didn’t study this in school,” she said. “If you’d asked me 20 years ago if I’d be doing this work, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

Her “gateway drug” to sustainability was animal rights, a passion rooted in childhood. Growing up in a home full of rescued animals, thanks to her mother’s informal neighborhood rescue work, she developed an early empathy for living beings. But it wasn’t until she became an ethical vegan in 2012 that she began to connect those early lessons to broader environmental and social systems.

“That personal journey showed me how interconnected everything really is,” Piper said. “How we treat animals, the planet, and each other are all part of the same story. It opened my eyes to sustainability as a way of living, not just a cause.”

Turning Communication Skills into Climate Advocacy

At the time, Piper was working as a political strategist in Chicago, crafting messages and campaigns for candidates and public agencies across the country. But she was struck by how little sustainability featured in the political conversation.

“I was so energized by my own sustainability journey and couldn’t understand why no one was talking about it,” she recalled. “And when it was talked about, it was either too academic or painted as this inaccessible, joyless lifestyle.”

So, Piper decided to change the narrative herself. With no media experience, she launched a vegan food blog to explore sustainable living and test how everyday audiences might respond. What began as a personal outlet soon became a launchpad for a national voice in sustainability communication.

Building a Platform for Accessible Sustainability

Over the next decade, Piper grew her influence through multiple channels, all connected by a simple belief: sustainability should be inclusive, inviting, and engaging. In her sustainability practice, she consults with corporations and organizations on sustainability marketing, ESG communication, and strategic storytelling. In addition, Piper teaches marketing for sustainability at several universities and speaks publicly to corporate, nonprofit, and community audiences on sustainable living and responsible communication. She has also become a media personality, appearing on more than 300 TV segments, including high-profile shows such as Good Morning America and The Today Show. “I love doing TV,” she said. “It’s such a great way to reach people where they already are — to show them that sustainability can be warm, fun, and totally achievable.”

How No New Things Can Benefit People and the Environment

In April 2025, Piper published her second book, No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity. The book recaps how she went from mindless online shopper to a nearly two-year journey of buying only essential items, leaving her happier, healthier, and debt-free. She offers advice for others looking to tackle what she calls “conditioned consumerism” and how being intentional about purchases can help both individuals’ financial lives and the Earth.

“We’ve been programmed into an attitude of consumerism as a salve for everything,” she said. “It’s become so ingrained that I think people, especially when they’re feeling sad or apathetic, will fall for the marketing ploy that buying more new stuff will make you feel better.”

In the book, Piper draws a direct link between how individual choices can affect climate change, as the constant desire for new, often unnecessary stuff leads to overproduction and environmental damage. In short, by making more mindful purchases, we can protect both our pocketbooks and the planet — a deceptively simple but powerful message.

Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainability

When asked about today’s biggest sustainability challenges, Piper doesn’t hesitate. “Governmental obstruction is a massive hurdle,” she says. “The political environment has made meaningful sustainability work harder than ever. Many rollbacks from previous administrations set us back years, and some may never be undone.”

Still, Piper remains an optimist. “When things are challenging, opportunities expand. People start reprioritizing what matters. Economic uncertainty can actually push us to rethink overconsumption and reconnect with community.”

She’s seen that shift firsthand. “I’ve given talks to groups from corporate execs to agricultural workers — people with very different beliefs. But by the end, we’re all talking about small, meaningful ways to live more sustainably. It doesn’t always have to start with ideology; sometimes it starts with saving money or finding joy.”

Advice for the Next Generation on Building a Sustainable Career

As a university instructor, Piper mentors many students entering the growing field of sustainability. Her advice balances realism and hope. “Corporate sustainability can be frustrating and rarely feels like it goes far enough,” she said. “But if you can be proud that you’re nudging things in the right direction, that’s a win.”

She also encourages young professionals not to feel pressured to make sustainability their full-time job. “You don’t have to professionalize your passion,” she said. “Join a group, volunteer, start a small project. That’s activism, too.” And patience, she adds, is essential. “This work is like turning a massive ship. Progress s slow, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.”

Whether she’s teaching, consulting, or appearing on television, Piper’s message remains consistent: sustainability can be for everyone. “It’s not about perfection,” she said. “It’s about participation. Every choice counts, and every person can contribute to a more sustainable world.”

Take the Next Step

For more insights and guidance on navigating the evolving landscape of sustainability and other related issues, stay tuned to our blog for future updates and expert analyses. 

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*Neither the author nor Advance ESG has a professional affiliation with Ms. Piper.