Today is Earth Day 2021. How can we reduce waste? Even though this website is about fashion, reducing waste is so important that it should be talked about on all websites. Every year we can see the effects of greenhouse gases in our weather and natural disasters. We also know the effects waste can have on wildlife, such as waste from plastic straws and packaging.
Here is a list of ways I have reduced waste or plan to become less wasteful, in fashion and life.
Reduce Waste: Buy Used or Pre-Owned Clothing
According to BBC Future, approximately a garbage truck full of clothes ends up at landfills every second. Globally 92 million tons of textile waste is created each year. By reducing the amount of unnecessary new clothing we purchase, we can reduce waste. We can look first at buying used clothes, either in-store or online on sites such as eBay or Poshmark, and find the clothing item we were looking for in good condition. Stay tuned for a used clothes edit that will be updated regularly with clothing items that might be of interest to you.
Reduce Waste: Go Easy on Trends
Yes, I do have a whole page dedicated to 2021 Fashion Trends for Women so this might sound a tad hypocritical. If you really like a trend, buy one or two pieces of clothing, wear it even when it is not trendy, and have most of the items in your wardrobe be of a classic style. That way, you and I will be reducing waste from throwing out had-been trendy clothes.
Swap Plastic Toothbrushes for Biodegradable Toothbrushes
The American Dental Association recommends that our toothbrushes be replaced every three to four months. If we followed that recommendation, the U.S. alone would be throwing over one billion toothbrushes away each year. A bamboo toothbrush with replaceable heads is an excellent swap. Less waste, and the waste there is, is biodegradable. I found these on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sPtFgY
Reusable Fabric Shopping Bags
The ocean is already filled with around 165 million tons of plastic. Swapping single-use plastic shopping bags for reusable fabric or mesh shopping bags will help with that problem. Mesh bags are great because they will expand to whatever size you need them for. I found these cute cotton mesh bags (3 for $10.98) on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gxZico
Reduce Waste: Use a Glass Water Bottle
Every time I walk into a Costco or Sam’s Club, I see many people still buying single-use plastic water bottles. So much waste could be avoided by purchasing and using a glass water bottle. I bought one 3 years ago and absolutely love it. It was the best price for its size ($14.99 for 20 oz.), has a removable silicone sleeve for cleaning, and also has a removable seal that can be washed so you don’t get mold in the seal. You could also use a metal bottle, but I don’t like the taste of the water once it has been in a metal bottle. Here is a link for the affordable glass water bottle I have or one similar: https://amzn.to/3vcNWyy
Reusable Cotton or Bamboo Pads
How many cotton pads do you use a day? If you use three cotton pads a day, that means up to 1,000 cotton pads end up in landfills per year. There are many benefits to having reusable pads to clean your face. One, you avoid the plastic bag that all disposable cotton pads come in. Two, you don’t have to make a run to the store when you inevitably forget to buy cotton pads, saving you gas and time! Three, you produce less waste. I found these on Amazon for $12.99 for a 20-pack. They are 100% bamboo cotton and they come with a little storage box and a laundry bag.
There are many larger ways that we can reduce our environmental impact on the planet such as driving an electric car or eating more vegetables and less meat. However, we can start small by implementing the things I have mentioned in this article. Let me know down below what are some sustainable, waste-reducing, and environmentally-friendly changes you have implemented in your life!
