When it came to clothing purchases in my younger years my motto was “the cheaper the better”. I knew that $5 t-shirt was going to shrink and be garbage after one wash. I gave no thought to throwing away clothes and replacing them with an even cheaper new one.
Even now I look around my closet and despondently realize that I only wear maybe 80% of what is in there. Yet Nordstrom and Stitch Fix boxes still arrive (more often that my husband cares to know) and the closet is basically a display case instead of a vessel for a wearable wardrobe.
Now that I’m in my 30’s I realize it is time to start thinking about the impact of all of those purchases and start acting like a responsible global citizen instead of an impulsive disposable one. Once I had children of my own and realized that we are borrowing their planet from them it really was the impetus to start making some changes.
Join me today. Here are some easy ways to start making an impact:
Stop and think before you buy.The thrill of getting those door buster items can be too great to pass up for some shoppers, but is anyone on your shopping list actually going to wear that $5 scarf you scored? It’s probably not on your list and it’s likely so cheaply made that it’s not going to stand the test of time anyway. First and foremost, we consumers have to get better about saying;“Actually, I have no use for this and don’t need to buy it at this time, even if it’s on sale.” Couldn’t you save that money, little by little, toward something better, something you actually want, or put it toward a vacation? (C’mon. Surely you’d get more enjoyment out of a trip to Jamaica than from a decorative phone case.) And let’s be honest: this stuff is going to break or rip, and end up in the trash anyway! Then, you’ll probably say, “It’s OK; it was only $5.” Stop the disposable mentality. Environmentalists would tell you all this garbage is polluting our planet; Doctors would tell you the micro plastics leeching into our drinking water from landfills is putting our health and risk; and financial advisors would tell you that you are literally throwing your money away! If you really like it, find similar version produced by an ethical brand.
If it’s cheap, it should raise a few questions. Clearances aside if you’re getting it for a steal, someone is probably suffering for it. (Every retailer has out-of-season and overstocked products they need to move, so they might drastically reduce the price to make room for other items, which is the difference between “clearance” and “sale” inventory.) A good rule of thumb to remember is that if it’s cheap, it ain’t fair. The workers are probably being paid pennies to make the stuff. If they were to be paid a fair wage, the company would have to hike the price up in order to make a profit (even though we all know they are making a massive profit margin anyway). If you’re willing to pay a little more to make sure the workers are paid fairly, aren’t exposed to toxic work environments or forced into child labor, you’ll likely end up with a better made and longer lasting product anyway. It’s hard to leave a bargain mindset behind, but once you educate yourself, you won’t look at those cheap products the same ever again.
Know the real deal behind the stuff you buy. This is where the “know better, do better” business comes in. (And I get it; it’s hard to research a company you love only to find out there’s a lot to hate about them, but we can’t be ostriches forever!) An easy way to gain insight is to simply check the tag or packaging. If something is fair trade, organic, locally sourced, etc., it will almost always indicate this somewhere. Lots of brands are realizing they can actually become more profitable by making ethical choices, so there are more choices becoming available every day. You can also do a quick Google search on where and how your favorite brands and products are being made. If you learn there are inhumane working conditions, underpaid workers, toxic substances involved, RUN! You can’t unsee it this stuff.
Consciously make room in your budget to buy the right way. Shopping with ethical brands that provide fair trade and organic items will typically cost you more money, but if you spend smarter in other areas of your life, you’ll have a surplus of money to spend where it counts. It won’t feel like an inconvenience to come up with the extra money when you’ve made room in your budget to prepare for it. Make a list of what you want to buy and take a look at it. Which of these items can be eliminated or purchased more ethically? What can you cut out of your current budget so that you can easily afford to go organic?
Shop local, upcycle, and recycle whenever possible. These are easy choices you can make now without necessarily adjusting your budget. Shop local and buy locally-sourced items. Usually, the greater the distance between you and where the item originated, the bigger it’s environmental footprint. This also keeps your friends in business and gives you some good karma! When you’re bored with your clothes, swap with or buy from friends. Upcycle and recycle everything you can, and look for items with minimal packaging. Most items have tons of pointless plastic and cardboard packaging, which is not only dangerous to our earth and our health to create, but is dangerous to dispose of as well.
Every little bit helps. Don’t feel overwhelmed, as if the problems are so big that one person can’t make a difference. In fact, if everyone made more ethical choices, workers would be treated fairly, the environment would be preserved, and humanity would be healthier (There wouldn’t be micro plastics in our clothes and water supply, etc.) Do what you can, even if you don’t have the budget or energy to do it all.
And remember: you vote with your dollars.When you spend your money, you are casting a vote to keep a company in business and to encourage them to keep doing business the way they have been. If the money stops flowing in, companies will have to take a good hard look at their practices and then changes will be made.
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