How to be an Environmentally Responsible Consumer
There are some obvious things you can do to help the earth- recycle properly, stop littering, turn off the lights when you leave a room, conserve water, the list goes on. Although we do these things on a daily basis, they don’t account for everything. In the American culture of over consumption and instant gratification, it can be difficult to live a sustainable and equivalent lifestyle. With just a little effort and knowledge, you can lower your carbon footprint and encourage companies to improve their environmentally responsible practices. This article outlines just a few ways you can help! Click on the photos for more information and articles.
1. Clothing
Buying new clothing is pretty exciting, but cheap clothing from fast fashion brands is lower quality and most likely produced in sweatshops. That new pair of jeans was probably produced in unsafe working conditions, with toxic dyes, unprotected sandblasting, and dangerous runoff that pollutes the water of the community where the factory operates. The same is true for many other products that you may have bought for an unbelievable cheap price.
What can be done about this? Instead of buying six or seven shirts for $100, that will fall probably apart in a few months, spend your money on two or three quality pieces that will last for years. Yes, its undeniable that ethically sourced clothing costs more, but it will be higher quality and all around beneficial for you and the invisible lives that are victims to the chains of production. By paying more, you ensure that they are given a fair wage and help prevent toxic runoff. There are no negatives to this approach!
Look for companies who use organic cotton, natural dyes, manufacture locally or in the US, or are open about their suppliers. You can also help the environment by washing your clothing less! Levi’s found that by wearing jeans 10 times before washing, American consumers can reduce their water and climate change impact by 77 percent. That’s remarkable and a great way to conserve resources.
Levi Strauss & Co
Levi’s was the first company to release a full list of suppliers and they are actively involved in improving the industry, working conditions, factory assessments, government advocacy  and sustainability. They are also dedicated to using less water in the production of jeans.
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Local Designers, Boutiques, Companies
Smaller scale businesses are often much more environmentally friendly, and by buying locally made and designed products, you support the local economy.
Others
A lot of these brands are definitely not cheap, but they are environmentally friendly, and have high prices for a reason! They are making fewer profits from their products than big name, mass-producing designer brands. If it’s out of your budget, try waiting for a sale or looking for an item secondhand. Check out the following: Nudie Jeans, Agave Denim, Alternative Apparel, Prana, Everlane, and Bluer Denim. For more brands, explore my links at the end of the article.
2. Electronics
What did you do with your last phone? Did it wear out and break? Was your two year contract up and so you bought the latest and greatest technology? Although having a new electronic device is a wonderful feeling, be mindful of what happens to your old device! Electronics contain some pretty toxic metals that don’t belong in a landfill. They need to be disposed of properly. Phones, laptops, computers, printers, tablets, desktops, televisions, batteries, etc. Try one of the following next time your device breaks or slows.
Reuse
You may have upgraded to a new laptop, but your slightly sluggish and bulky old one can be used by someone else. Donate it to be refurbished and resold, or to an organization that will find it a home with someone who cannot afford new technology.
Recycled
Don’t put that in your trash can! Instead, take your broken device to a facility that responsibly breaks it down and properly disposes and recycles the materials inside. Best Buy and Staples are common stores that accept electronic items to be recycled. For a more local choice, take it to Free Geek, which is a nonprofit here in Portland. They break down some items and also repair others to sell! It’s a pretty cool program, and you can even donate your efforts as a volunteer at their facility.
3. Food
Where is your food sourced from? Is it organic, fair trade or local? Food that doesn’t meet these standards is likely produced with heavy uses of pesticides, which adds pollutants to the surrounding soil and water.
Moreover, what form is your food in? Individually wrapped products are extremely wasteful. Look for packages that contain less waste, are NOT contained in plastics, and are healthy! Additionally, bottled water is terrible for the environment. Although it may be convenient to grab a plastic water bottle, you’ll drink it and finish it in a short amount of time, and they’re often thrown away or recycled incorrectly. Instead, carry a reusable metal or glass bottle or use a filtering device if your local tap water is undrinkable. If neither of those options is viable, try a refillable five gallon water bottle that can be purchased and reused.
4. Etcetera
Another way you can help the environment is by consuming energy responsibly. Use LED bulbs instead of incandescent. They are more expensive initially but save money on energy consumption costs and last much longer than the alternative. Buy a reusable and compact shopping bag instead of accumulating disposable plastic ones. There’s so much in your life that can be changed and improved, without any negative effects for you!
5. Education
Lastly, you can be an environmentally friendly person through your education. Educate yourself on environmental, climate and social issues. Use your best judgment when it comes to how you apply your skills. If a company has a bad reputation environmentally, don’t support or work for them! Find a way to apply what you’re good at, no matter the major or specialty, to help the environment. Make ethical and smart decisions when it comes to what you consume and what you dedicate your time and money towards.
6. More
For more information and interesting reading material, check out the following articles, blogs, and websites.
http://www.levistrauss.com/sustainability/planet/
http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/news/stories/toxics/2010/textile-pollution-xintang-gurao/
http://www.refinery29.com/why-i-dont-buy-fast-fashion-cheap-clothes
http://worldwearproject.com/about-us/global-responsibility
http://www.electronicstakeback.com/how-to-recycle-electronics/
http://fairtradeusa.org/products-partners
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