Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Sabado

Hi Michelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I first started my Instagram account @zerowastesunflower in 2018. I wanted to be an ambassador for a reusable period products company! I received products from them in exchange for a fair review.

I also started my account to share my sustainable living tips with a larger audience. I was posting my tips on my personal account for my friends, but I wanted to make a bigger impact by sharing them on a public account.

In college around 2014, I first learned about the concept of zero-waste living. I was mindblown that I could practice conscious consumption to decrease the amount of waste I produced. Previously, I thought recycling was the only action I could take for the environment.

In the past 10 years, I have learned that “progress over perfection” is the key to living sustainably. It’s not about having all your possessions made of biodegradable materials. The best way to live sustainably is to buy only what you need, use up what you currently have, and support small businesses over big corporations. It’s not possible to live a waste-free lifestyle, but I believe every action you can take, big or small, counts.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Living sustainably is not a smooth road. There are many mistakes along the way, but I keep trying to improve my habits to do my part for the Earth.

Forming my Instagram community helped me with my sustainability journey. I have bonded with my friends over the mistakes we have made and we give each other advice to avoid making the same mistakes. We encourage each other despite not being perfectly sustainable.

There have been many days I’ve forgotten to bring my reusable tote to the grocery store. When that happens, you have to get creative. A friend told me she used her jacket to carry her groceries to her car instead of using a plastic bag. What a brilliant idea!

When I was a travel nurse, it was difficult for me to make homemade meals while staying in a hotel. I ate takeout most of the time and that created a lot of waste. My sustainable action was to use my utensil kit for every meal instead of using plastic utensils from the restaurant or the hospital.

Furthermore, I have tried several natural deodorants and some have worked and some have failed. The same goes for shampoo and conditioner bars. I still prefer using shampoo and conditioner in bottles as my hair doesn’t dry out as much with those formulas. Much of the sustainability journey involves trial and error. One of my biggest dilemmas is the issue of choosing fruit that is not packaged versus choosing organic fruit that is packaged in plastic. Which is the greater evil?

I have had the hardest time making the switch to a safety razor. I tend to cut my skin a lot while using them so I have gone back to a razor with disposable heads.

I love how living sustainably encourages you to get creative. It’s not the most aesthetic lifestyle since you’re reusing items a lot of the time, but it is rewarding knowing you’re doing your part. You just have to keep trying your best to be as sustainable as you can.

One of my favorite sustainable challenges I have done was a no-buy year. I did not buy any new or thrifted clothing for a year. I bought clothing like socks and underwear if I needed to. I thought it would be very difficult, but it was actually very easy! Once I stopped browsing for clothes online and shopping for clothes in person, buying clothes stayed completely off of my mind!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am known for my content showcasing eco-friendly products. I like to shoot reels that show off my personality and creativity. I also like shooting static photos that display a product aesthetically. I try to tell the brand’s story in my content as I mostly work with small businesses. I have worked with larger corporations and I also find those collaborations rewarding. However, it feels more personal and meaningful when I collaborate with a business with only one or a few employees.

I’m also known for my voiceovers in my reels! It took me a long time to learn how to record a good voiceover, but I did it! It also took me a long time to learn how to craft a reel and feel comfortable in front of the camera.

I am really proud of how far I have come in my content creation process. I have worked with so many brands in the past 7 years. I have given so many others advice on how to successfully land brand deals as well. I’m so proud of myself for becoming a leader in the sustainability and mental health niche!

I started posting about my mental health on my account to relieve my eco-anxiety. I found that others were keen to share their feelings about eco-anxiety as well. Over the years, I have shared a lot about my mental health struggles and although it was scary, it was so rewarding. A lot of people have reached out and thanked me for being so transparent and showing them that they are not alone in their struggles.

I am so proud of the community I have created. It’s mainly a sustainability-themed community, but there are people who I have bonded with over mental health, sobriety, poetry, clean beauty, and nursing. I even have my old classmates on my account!

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?

For new creators, I would say do your research! Choose a niche and find your leading influencers in that niche. See what they do well and what content and topics resonate with their followers. Study the algorithm as well! Research the best hooks to use. Learn how to create an effective profile bio and be sure to include your email address in your bio.

Learn how to write a pitch email to send to companies when asking for a brand deal. Know your worth and do not agree to collaborations that aren’t paying you fairly for your time and effort. If a brand has a small budget or no budget, see if you can negotiate for more products or a long-term partnership. Communicate with a brand if you need more time to meet their deadline and always be professional in your emails.

Practice being comfortable in front of the camera. Shoot in natural light as much as you can. Follow people in your niche as it makes your profile more accessible for others in your niche to find you. Lastly, create your brand by being authentic on your page. Your content doesn’t have to be curated all the time as people appreciate realness and transparency. Make genuine connections and maintain them for high engagement on your page.

I wish I had known to shoot with a tripod when I was starting to make reels. I would prop my phone up against something like a cup, but it never seemed to be the right height to capture my face or full body! I also learned how to clean my screen before shooting. No more blurry photos or videos!

Pricing:

• Reel: $250
• 3 story set: $150
• Static post: $150
• LinkedIn Post: $250

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Michelledana.substack.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/zerowastesunflower?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@zerowastesunflower?_t=8gERHcWUkxP&_r=1