The world is facing a lot of environmental problems at the moment. A lot of these problems are caused by companies and the ways that they produce their goods. And while it’s certainly easier to put all the burden on companies, consumers also have a responsibility to try and make choices that are better for the planet.
Clothing is one of the most environmentally damaging industries of the modern era. It’s easy to believe that all clothing-related damage is just fast fashion, but even regular, everyday clothing can have an impact. If you’re concerned about how your clothing might affect the environment, let’s explore ways of lessening the burden when buying clothing.
Second-Hand Clothing
There are a lot of people that would be quick to turn their noses up at second-hand clothing, but for anyone that’s ever visited a popular thrift store, they will know just how good the clothing can be.
People throw away or donate clothing that’s in perfect shape, and has many years or even decades of usage left in them. It’s not uncommon at all to find branded, expensive clothing at second-hand stores, which are usually offered at a fraction of their original asking price. It’s a great way to get a hold of quality clothing that’s also much kinder to the earth.
Avoid Synthetic Clothing
This one is a bit more difficult to achieve, especially if you’re on a tight budget when it comes to clothing. Synthetic clothing, or clothes that are made using materials like nylon, tend to be a lot cheaper.
But over time, these types of clothing will begin to break down and turn into microplastics. This is a serious problem, as microplastics can infiltrate most tracts of life and can even cause long-term damage to DNA. For this reason, it’s recommended to buy clothing that is capable of decomposing completely if left in the open.
A 100% cotton shirt, for example, can be added to a compost pile, and within a few months it will have completely decomposed and can be used in the garden.
Buy “Green” Clothing
Like choosing out the option of soccer betting carefully, another option is to buy clothing that’s created by companies that have a positive impact on the environment. For instance, it’s now become much more common to find companies that sell clothing made of hemp, which is a lot more sustainable to grow than cotton.
While cotton is better than synthetic fibres, it’s not extremely friendly to the environment because it’s grown as vast monocultures across much of the world. Fortunately, it’s much easier these days to find companies with good intentions that are selling a quality product made in a sustainable way. It’s worth keeping in mind that the clothing from these kinds of companies does also tend to come with a higher asking price.
Clothing is one of the easiest ways to start being more environmentally friendly, even if you don’t have a lot of money to spare but still want to make a difference.