by Kori Cooper
photo from www.wisegeek.com
News about how our buying habits affect climate change is blazing like wildfire across media streams – especially now that nearly every country has committed to lowering planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Last year it was even found that the apparel industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions and remains the second largest industrial polluter, second only to oil. When you consider the 30 outfits the average American woman has in her closet today compared to the nine she had in 1930, you question whether or not more money is being spent on need or waste? Different lifestyles may require a bigger or smaller wardrobe, but, for the sake of our environment, it is worth the effort to try and buy less.
Many of my friends and I love to shop. Yet, I have realized it is well past time I’ve changed my decision making process when it comes to how I buy. One thing I’ve already begun doing is buying higher quality items (always on sale) that will last longer. That way I am able to buy less. Another measure I am working on is donating, selling, or sending to recycle, the items I am tired of wearing. That way, people can use that perfectly good stuff! Also, I am going to go into thrift stores more often instead of giving my money to businesses that do not employ sustainable practices. Now, not enough people prioritize sustainable shopping, it’s something most don’t even know about – but you should. And the importance of this tip is now being supported with stacks of evidence from news streams all the time. Retail therapy is not doing us any good. Fighting climate change is perhaps the biggest fight we humans have ever been up against, so disrupting how consumer culture works was a significant, but easy resolution for me to make.
Jessica Alba’s Closet | Photo via Design Time