Individual actions like recycling or choosing a plant-based diet are often criticized as useless distractions from systemic change, yet they also build the cultural momentum that pressures corporations and governments. I used to think my plastic-free swaps were pointless until I saw my city ban single-use bags after a grassroots campaign, which started with neighbors making small changes. But if we focus too much on personal virtue, do we let industries off the hook for the 71% of global emissions they produce?