Hey everyone! I really wanted to do a cool challenge or post this Earth Day, but I just got a bit overwhelmed. Can we really make a difference in this world? Does taking a shorter shower really do anything?
I don't know the answers to these questions, but I definitely want to modify my lifestyle to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. I just wanted to make a quick reflection of my current lifestyle and set some goals for the future! I broke everything down into categories for an easier read.
I. CLOTHING
This is a big one, y'all. Fast fashion may be *good* for the economy (except most manufacturing is outsourced now), but we as Americans consume SO MUCH. According to a Penn State article, it takes approximately 9,982 gallons to produce a single pair of jeans. My goal, which I have been following pretty well, is to only consume secondhand clothing. New purchases could be limited to 5 items per year. I think I can manage that! It is so easy to get caught up on trends and make impulse buys at the mall. Buying clothes from sustainable brands is unfortunately not currently affordable for the common consumer. (Are sustainable brands elitist?)
Furthermore, I enjoy sewing and making clothes as well! (See my latest sewing tutorial??) Textiles contribute so much to pollution! I have recently learned that fashion is the #2 most polluting industry and that synthetic textiles are made from chemical processes similar to fossil fuels. The average American produces 70 pounds of textile waste annually according to the Council for Textile Recycling. It's pretty bad. So this means that as a sewer, I would like to sustainably source my textiles: buying fabric from thrifts, recycling other garments, and buying organic cotton.
II. FOOD
Approximately 30 to 40 percent of food in America is wasted. I believe it is about 20 to 30 percent for produce. Food is definitely something I take for granted. Not wasting food, buying organic, and buying local produce all can help in reducing food waste and promoting sustainable eating. Spending money is like voting. Whether you purchase a 20-pack of bagged potato chips or buy a potato from a local farmer is a huge difference. Processed foods and pesticide spraying in the agriculture industry are as prevalent as ever. Cast your "votes" carefully. Notice that there are more organic items popping up in grocery stores that wouldn't typically sell organic foods? It's because the demand for organic foods has increased recently. Hopefully this means that organic options won't be so expensive in the next couple of years.
I want to learn how to grow my own foods and compost too. Right now I just throw my orange peels away in the garden, but I think I can do better.
III. TRANSPORTATION
Never drive somewhere if you can walk or take public transport. Unfortunately where I live, there are not many options for public transportation. Taking the bus or train can double or triple your travel time. It's not very efficient. However, next year I am going to commute to school, so I would like to take public transport on certain days or even carpool. It reduces traffic and carbon emissions! Not gonna drive a Prius, no offense.
IV. UTILITIES
I don't quite understand how turning off the lights in the room is eco-friendly or whatever, but I do it anyway! I love using natural light, and I plan to invest in solar panels in the future. Conserving nonrenewable resources such as natural gas is as important as ever. I also read this interesting article in one of my classes on how the recent decline in fertility rates is potentially detrimental for the environment.
Reducing one's "carbon footprint" has become very popular. I remember they did an episode on the Disney Channel show Life with Derek when I was a kid. All these families were competing who had the smallest carbon footprint and the parents were so embarrassed they went to the gas station in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. I don't know, this made more sense in my head.
Still looking for tips to save water! It's so difficult because you need water to do anything. I guess I want to focus on doing laundry more efficiently. Did you know you only need to wash your jeans like every 50 times you wear them? Or maybe it's every 500 times, I forget.
Furthermore, I enjoy sewing and making clothes as well! (See my latest sewing tutorial??) Textiles contribute so much to pollution! I have recently learned that fashion is the #2 most polluting industry and that synthetic textiles are made from chemical processes similar to fossil fuels. The average American produces 70 pounds of textile waste annually according to the Council for Textile Recycling. It's pretty bad. So this means that as a sewer, I would like to sustainably source my textiles: buying fabric from thrifts, recycling other garments, and buying organic cotton.
II. FOOD
Approximately 30 to 40 percent of food in America is wasted. I believe it is about 20 to 30 percent for produce. Food is definitely something I take for granted. Not wasting food, buying organic, and buying local produce all can help in reducing food waste and promoting sustainable eating. Spending money is like voting. Whether you purchase a 20-pack of bagged potato chips or buy a potato from a local farmer is a huge difference. Processed foods and pesticide spraying in the agriculture industry are as prevalent as ever. Cast your "votes" carefully. Notice that there are more organic items popping up in grocery stores that wouldn't typically sell organic foods? It's because the demand for organic foods has increased recently. Hopefully this means that organic options won't be so expensive in the next couple of years.
I want to learn how to grow my own foods and compost too. Right now I just throw my orange peels away in the garden, but I think I can do better.
III. TRANSPORTATION
Never drive somewhere if you can walk or take public transport. Unfortunately where I live, there are not many options for public transportation. Taking the bus or train can double or triple your travel time. It's not very efficient. However, next year I am going to commute to school, so I would like to take public transport on certain days or even carpool. It reduces traffic and carbon emissions! Not gonna drive a Prius, no offense.
IV. UTILITIES
I don't quite understand how turning off the lights in the room is eco-friendly or whatever, but I do it anyway! I love using natural light, and I plan to invest in solar panels in the future. Conserving nonrenewable resources such as natural gas is as important as ever. I also read this interesting article in one of my classes on how the recent decline in fertility rates is potentially detrimental for the environment.
Reducing one's "carbon footprint" has become very popular. I remember they did an episode on the Disney Channel show Life with Derek when I was a kid. All these families were competing who had the smallest carbon footprint and the parents were so embarrassed they went to the gas station in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. I don't know, this made more sense in my head.
Still looking for tips to save water! It's so difficult because you need water to do anything. I guess I want to focus on doing laundry more efficiently. Did you know you only need to wash your jeans like every 50 times you wear them? Or maybe it's every 500 times, I forget.
In conclusion, take all this with a grain of (organic/sustainable/fair-trade) salt, I don't want to push some agenda here. I'm laying out some facts, and stating my opinion, but my purpose isn't to persuade anyone! I am increasingly more passionate about sustainability and I hope to share it with others.
Some good documentaries on sustainability that I would recommend are One Man, One Cow, One Planet; The True Cost (about the garment manufacturing industry); and King Corn. There are a few on Netflix too that I have yet to watch. Sorry! I just really love documentaries.
Happy planet-saving!
--Courtney
