Australians have a great appetite for shopping. Our per capita consumption has exceeded that of most other countries. This is nothing to be proud of, but as a consumer, you can still do something to mitigate the impact on the planet, and we can change our way of life and influence others.
In order to begin to focus on all the different aspects of consumers, we have to solve two problems: brand and consumer.
For brands, this means designing, developing, and manufacturing an ecological environment under this premise. The goal is to have a system that will not leave a negative impact.
For you / consumers, this means thinking about the products you buy, understanding the concepts supported in the purchase process, and considering whether you really need this new product.
In order to better help people understand the significance of recyclable shopping, we have listed the different methods that can be used when reconsidering the wardrobe:
For consumers: How to be Sustainable
Wash less. Washing clothes pollutes nature, damages the environment, through the use of water and electricity, and most washing powders are not environmentally friendly. You can try to buy a list of greenwashing powder.
Clothing swap. It will take some time to organize yourself, but it is worth to check out the group ’s clothes exchange on Facebook or try to initiate a private auction. Those are just some of the most sustainable solutions that also could give you the opportunity of meeting new friends and promote the meaning of sustainable fashion.
Buy Second Hand. One of the most environmentally friendly fashion choices you can make is to give clothes a second life, by purchasing second hand, or vintage, clothing. Rummage through your wardrobe and find all that you can do away with.
Buy less and better quality clothing. Quality is the key here, please take a moment to seriously consider whether these items are suitable for your style, and you will find yourself wearing them for a long time. It is best to start with the basics. When clothes fall apart, please check how to fix it, try to design your own style’s cloth, or try to donate it to the community.
Natural Fibres(Avoid fabrics made using petroleum and chemicals). Choosing natural fibers like cotton, wool, and bamboo, it is an important part of any sustainable wardrobe as they are renewable resources, although not all are made equally.
Repurpose or Reuse. Don't throw old clothes into the trash just because you bought new ones! Donate to your local charity, or make money trying to sell to an online second-hand market. But this is not the final solution, in fact in second-hand shops, people sometimes cannot control the majority of those discarded clothes and eventually they get landfilled. Some brands will sometimes use plastic or other non-biodegradable fibers, to replace animal products. Unfortunately, when these materials usually end up in landfills after a short period of time, they directly cause ecological pollution.
For Brands -How to sustainable shop (Include all social studio stores/ resources + new brands to access/support)
Shop online. According to a survey, 22% of the climate impact of clothing comes from consumers driving to the store to try things and from UPS, FedEx, or USPS couriers transporting clothes. Clothes that stay in the distribution centers, lower the environmental impact with online shopping. Another benefit of online shopping is a clearer understanding of what you are buying, in physical stores, there may not be enough time to investigate research on brand resources.
Visit the brand’s "about" section. Many smaller brands can’t afford certification, so it's better to check what they say in their philosophy/code / about page on their website, check their social media channels, and finally ask about their brand, check it the material used is recyclable.
Check the price tag. Expensive things do not always mean good quality. Some established brands produce overseas where the wages are cheaper, and they keep the price tag really high, so they basically increase their margins without keeping the quality level. Be aware of famous brands, you might think to be on the safe side, but sometimes they are unethical.
Look for certifications. There are some gold-standard certifications that show that the supply chain has been thoroughly controlled, whether textiles are produced under socially and environmentally responsible conditions. For examples: - OEKO-TEX is an independent testing and certification system for textiles and provides multiple levels of certification, the most basic of which indicates that the product does not contain hazardous chemicals. - GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), dedicated to textiles containing "at least 70% organic fibers". - The Forest Stewardship Council certification indicates that all the trees involved (yes, some fabrics are made of trees) are sustainably harvested. --- The fair trade certification indicates that the minimum wage of factory workers is at least the minimum wage and the working conditions are safe.
SOURCES & WEBLINKS FOR INFOMATION USED
Image Material:Teva Cosic
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