Justine Reichman on Simple Habits That Reduce Waste Without Moralizing

Justine Reichman is the Founder and CEO of NextGen Purpose, a platform focused on practical sustainability at the intersection of food systems, consumer behavior, and everyday life. Based in San Francisco, she is also the host and executive producer of the Essential Ingredients podcast, where she highlights innovators and practitioners advancing responsible, regenerative approaches to living.

In this conversation, Reichman speaks with Scott Douglas Jacobsen about making sustainability accessible and realistic. She shares simple habits such as eating at home to reduce packaging, using food before it spoils, buying in bulk, and planning meals for flexibility and minimal waste. These practices are rooted in intention rather than perfection.

The discussion extends beyond food into hosting events, home design, and fashion, emphasizing durability, vintage pieces, and thoughtful consumption over trends. Reichman also addresses greenwashing and corporate responsibility, reinforcing the idea that meaningful change happens when sustainability is framed around personal values, accessibility, and real life, not shame or moral pressure.