I understand that clothes are a necessity, but how many times do you just shop to shop. You don't need those new shoes or that new skirt. Online shopping may seem like a greener option, their are fewer people driving to stores so vehicle related carbon emissions are lessened, right? Wrong! You are actually increasing the carbon emissions by online shopping. The clothes have to be shipped from wherever they are in the world to your front door. That takes a lot of energy. It may be flown by plane over seas- carbon emitted, and then packaged and put on a delivery truck which drives to your house- more carbon emitted. Now don't just assume that by driving to the store and getting the clothes yourself helps the environment. It doesn't. Items still have to be packaged and shipped to the store. Also, you driving to the store releases green house gases. Instead of needless shopping on outings with your friends or any other scenario, try more green options.  You can still  have fun without shopping and you might save yourself some money at the same time.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment … e-shopping

I agree that shopping, including the production and shipping of clothes, has a major impact on carbon admissions. Although shopping just to shop can be harmful, there are other ways of buying clothes that produce less carbon emissions, such as going to thrift stores and used clothes stores. This eliminates carbon emissions in many steps of the way, such as the clothes already being produced so factories do not have to use energy to make the new clothing. Unlike online shopping or driving to a store that has new clothes, the clothes do not need to be shipped on a plane, which are large contributors to carbon emissions. They also do not need to be packaged because they are simply brought as donations to the store and put up for sale. Donating clothes to thrift stores helps eliminate landfill and allows them to be repurposed, which is a way to be sustainable and help the environment. Going to thrift stores is a greener option for shopping and can also save you money.

This is an interesting topic that most people are not aware of. I completely understand how shopping causes more carbon emissions, so what is an effective way for people to buy materials without having it delivered or driving to the store? I agree that choosing a specific place to shop decreases few carbon emissions and being aware of the distance to the shop is important, but is there a way to get around to the grocery or appliance store without using energy from cars?

I understand your position on the harms and dangers of shopping, but shopping makes up many of the businesses in the world. According to, http://www.aspenwsi.org/wordpress/wp-co … erview.pdf , " Cashiers and retail salespeople were the most common occupations in the entire economy in 2011, employing 3.3 million and 4.3 million people, respectively, and representing nearly 6 percent of total U.S. employment." Malls have plenty of retail and flagship stores to choose from. Over time however, more and more people are moving to online shopping on websites creating even more traveling and shipping for the companies. Trends motivate almost all of our desires to buy things we do not necessarily "need", at least for myself it does. If I see all my friends using a particular gadget, of course I'd want to be part of the fun and buy that gadget. Reducing shopping, shipping, and carbon emissions is going to be a challenge due to the constant birth of different trends and the advancement in technology. Spreading awareness about the carbon footprint a single shopper  can create in one trip may not stop that person from shopping a lot. There are different ways to reduce carbon emissions without cutting off shopping trips (even though that would make a great impact on reducing the carbon footprint). For example, thrift shopping and donating, as mentioned before, can beneficially impact our carbon footprint. What are other ways we can reduce our carbon footprint if halting shopping is not an easy option?

There seems to be no way around this carbon emission which you talk about. I am wondering would something such as an uber or taxi save carbon emissions. It would seem like it would take less because the taxi or uber was going to pick someone up either way. SO if you make it come to you and take you to the store and back that is less carbon than the uber going and picking someone else up and you driving yourself. WOuld this be a safer option for the environment?

In my case, when I completed the carbon footprint test, the Shopping section was almost nonexistent. I buy a very few products and I rarely go to the store. That's why I'm convinced that to pollute less we should only be thanked by what we have. It is not difficult at all to be modest!

- You made a list of your main needs... Does the product not appear there? _Get rid of it!_
- What is the last useless item you put in the shopping cart? Did you use it at least?

I always first consider these questions. Why? _Supermarkets are founded to sell..._ I don't want to be a victim of advertisements and manipulation. I want to think freely, in the absence of factors that make me use the money unnecessarily.

http://www.businessinsider.com/supermar … ney-2011-7

I completely agree that shopping is essential. It's not just about social connotations but also it's the clothes on our back that keep us warm. One way to cut back on you carbon emissions while shopping would be to buy from stores/buy products with less packaging. Supporting a more green friendly company can really make all the difference. Another way to cut back is to buy from second hand stores. If you don't like thrift shopping you can even go to other types of second hand stores like Plato's closet or Buffalo Exchange. They have similar clothes to the stuff in stores now but often cheaper prices and you are cutting down your carbon emissions.

i really enjoy thrift shopping i do it at least every week fashion is a passion of mine and i couldn't imagine living in a world without shopping retail therapy is my go to therapy but i also think its really important to think about your carbon footprint i stopped shopping at big corporate stores such as forever 21, urban outfitters etc due to child labor but now i can include carbon emissions as a reason to

I agree with your point but I think that the US economy is very much based off of shopping and consumers. If we want to lessen its carbon footprint we'd have to take smaller steps like using more reusable bags or containers and making the most out of what we buy.

Some people just shop to shop. they don't need the clothes they just do it for fun and that is not helping to reduce your carbon footprint. But every once in a while you kind of have to shop because your clothes are old and ratty but i only personal do it when I need to. i completely agree though.

I recently noticed that many of my clothes are either hand me downs, or thrifted from local thrift shops. This has helped lower my carbon footprint (at least in the personal purchases portion) and its very fun! I never feel like the clothes i wear are old or gross and its always exciting finding really great things for a low cost. Its also very helpful if these stores are close-by because then you don't need to drive and can walk. It will also be better for the environment if you bring a backpack or any reusable bag.

I think the shopping is a need. It is an essential way to live. People that shop constantly just for the fun of it, or just because they want the newest edition to something i think is not essential. A way to help everyone from shopping and to reduce carbon footprint is to maybe shop at second hand clothing stores or goodwill or even a place that isn't always name brand. Using second hand stores will help the enviroment by reducing the production that name brands do. Also simply buys bigger clothes so you know you will grow into them later to last you years. Unlike getting something that is really small and will have to get rid of in a short period of time. Also to reduce carbon foot print would to be giving away clothes to good will so that other people can shop for them rather than just throwing them away. I believe this is a need but it can be controlled.

Obviously people shop because they really want new things and to change themselves a bit, but it's really useful to thrift shop most of the time, which also lowered my footprint quite a lot.