There’s no denying that humans are solely responsible for the sorry state of our planet. Singlehandedly we have managed to pollute and decimate large sections of the natural world through our unceasing consumerism and greed. The endless extracting and harvesting of natural resources to meet the demands of our society have led to the extinction of hundreds of species, global water shortages, and disturbances to the ecosystem. Unfortunately, for many species it is too late, but fortunately it’s not too late to start being a conscious consumer. If we can each make better choices as individuals, then collectively there will be a positive shift.
10 simple ways that you can lessen your impact on the planet:
- Buy from brands that don’t use excessive plastic packaging
- Buy from brands that have recyclable or biodegradable packaging
- Select garments that are natural such as cotton, linen, leather - the production of these materials is less harmful to the planet than the process to create synthetic materials
- Select garments which contain naturally dyed yarns. Chemical dyes end up in our water systems and cause devastation
- Be thoughtful when making a purchase. Ask yourself ‘Do I really need a new t-shirt or do I have sufficient already?’. The majority of unwanted clothing ends up in landfill where it simply accumulates without any solution.
- When you tire of your old garments either send them for recycling, donate them to those more needy, do a clothes swap with friends, or up cycle them.
- Buy from local homegrown brands to reduce the carbon footprint. Transporting clothes around the globe creates a lot of unnecessary emissions. Check out designers in your local area and you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised. Foreign and branded do not necessarily equate to superiority.
- Encourage and promote brands that create garments from recycled fabric
- Choose garments that are of good quality (i.e. well stitched, well-fitted) - this will contribute to the longevity of that garment meaning that it has to be replaced less soon.
- Spread awareness with your friends and family. Encourage them to shop less frequently and to place less emphasis on their outer appearance. Getting some perspective is likely to be much needed!
It feels good to be fashionable and to have others admire your clothing, but it feels even better to know that you’re not contributing to the further deterioration of our planet.
