All of you have calculated your emissions and you have surely discovered the unexpectedly high impact of some of your behaviors (eating meat, flying to a sunny destination, etc.) on your total footprints.
Are there any behaviors that you are really willing to change or to improve for the sake of the environment? What challenges do you encounter or think you will encounter while trying to change these things? What help, support, and insights from others would make your life easier with these new behaviors?
Let's discuss these issues and make our pledges here!
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More environmentally friendly alternatives to fast fashion websites.
According to Yale Climate Connections, in 2023 SHEIN (a popular online fast fashion company) emitted 16.7 million total metric tons of carbon dioxide. In addition to this, another fast fashion website called Temu contributes to 10% of carbon emissions in the fashion industry (GreenMatch.co.uk). Fast fashion is largely harmful to our environment, the way that these clothes are produced in factories is unsustainable and often inhumane. A lot of people buy clothes from these websites because they are incredibly cheap in comparison to most available clothes. However, there are ways to get cheaper clothing without relying on fast fashion clothing. Thrift stores and charity shops have affordable clothing that is often much higher quality than the clothing available on fast fashion websites. Thrift stores are much better for the environment because they reuse clothing that has already been manufactured and worn by others, meaning it does not produce any more carbon. It also prevents clothes that people don't want from being put in landfills, leading to less waste. Another reason people buy clothing from these websites is because of trends and current fashion cycles. If you have old clothes that you don't like anymore, instead of buying new clothing, you can upcycle clothing by altering them into different styles of clothing, trying new/different ways to wear clothes, or embellishments like embroidery, paint, and patches.
I heavily agree with this sentiment. I would also like to add how according to Sakshi Venkataraman from NBC News, these rich corparations advertise their fast fashion through micro trends that last for a few, or maybe even one month and that is why they are made with such low quality materials. They are created to be thrown after a few months and it is very sad. Usually when I see these clothes in stores like Ross, where unbought clothes are sent for a cheaper price, I sew and alter them for both the benefit of me and also the benefit for the earth by making them longer lasting, which makes me need to buy clothes less.
Adding to this; with how tarrifs are now and the prices on these "fast fashion" websites, there is absolutely no excuse any longer to not go thrifting or go to affordable clothing stores. I'd also like to say that we should strive for natural-fibre clothing rather than synthetics. The material also promotes biodegradation.
buy a sheep, spin its wool, and then sew your own clothes. loads more climate friendly than recycling clothes that might have aids on it. unless you want them to get aids so that their are less humans polluting the earth.
ay carumba