Sustainability Tips and Tricks

Hey loves,

As we have successfully completed January, if any of you have some new year resolutions and have kept them up during arguably the bleakest time of the year, then I congratulate you. Bearing that in mind, one of my resolutions was to be more sustainable with fashion; this has somehow ended up becoming a resolution that I've applied to more of my daily routine than merely clothing! 

As a society that is becoming more knowledgeable to the affects that things such as plastic consumption are having on the environment, I feel like we're in a boat where some of us know what to do to help combat this, yet some of us are still ignorant to what needs to be done. It is not a criticism, I was really in the same boat as the latter; it wasn't until I started to educate myself on the topic that I really started to take an interest. Also as a Bath citizen (who have just been bombarded with snow, giving almost a subtle hint about global warming!) that focusses heavily on recycling, and park-and-rides over cars in town, and with the news always making threatening reports saying we have until 2040 to sort ourselves out, I think it's really important that we start making more of a conscious effort to make a change. 

That being said, I don't mean everyone has to throw away any form of plastic and stop using Boohoo; everything has it's place, but one of main problems our society is obsessed with is convenience. Everything is now so accessible, we have almost lost touch with the effect that this has on not only us but also the planet. Whenever we buy fruit to clothes, there is an excessive amount of plastic that it is all coated in. I was kindly given a book called No More Plastic by Martin Dorey, that not only offered an insight into the effects of plastic, but gives simple steps to reduce consumption each day, that I would highly recommend reading! The other thing to bear in mind is in order to become more sustainable it is better by taking little steps; if you overwhelm yourself or constantly resent the idea of being sustainable it won't be as affective, so just try where you can!

Below I've suggested some little tips for sustainability. They're not mind-blowing or anything out of the ordinary, but they are tips that I found particularly helpful to my 'sustainability journey'. 

1.)  Recycle

This is a simple given, but once you start getting yourself into a habit of separating your rubbish it will help so much! Having lived with recycling enthusiasts for over two years now, I can separate what goes in what bin very quickly. If you don't know your recycling rules for your area, just look up your local council or ask your neighbours (we did this last year and it helped so much).

2.) Donate to charity and use charity shops

Although there is evidence that not all clothes that get donated to charity shops get used, by simply donating and also shopping in charity shops is a convenient way to get rid of and find clothes. They're also great because as well as being cheap, you will find something completely unique and alternative to your wardrobe. A savvy tip for clothes, if you shop in more affluent areas, chances are the charity shop clothes donated will also be better quality. It will also mean you don't have to pay for delivery, or break through thousands of plastic bags just to get to your item, like some of the fast-fashion websites.

3.) Watch videos

One of the easiest ways to educate yourself is to watch videos (and read) up about it. One of the ways I first found out about it was by watching a Venetia Falconer video, and minus being obsessed with her videos now, found it very insightful. Pinterest, YouTube and FaceBook/Instagram/Twitter videos are also good for educating yourself and giving inspiration. 

4.) Reuse and find uses for things

This leads me onto reusing products. It's as simple as if you have a plastic bag, reuse it next time you go shopping, or if you have some old clothes you could also turn them into something else. This is another reason why Pinterest is great, because it gives you lots of DIY ideas. For all you coffee/tea/hot-chocolate lovers, getting yourself a 'keep-cup' or flask is a fab way to save money and metal straws are a good alternative for paper/plastic ones. 

5.) Make a conscious effort to find alternative more sustainable brands

Next time you're in a supermarket look at how many of your usual products are covered in layers of unnecessary plastic. It is actually shocking when you properly notice it. However, if you collect loose fruit/veg without the plastic bags, and if you're favourite brands sell more eco-friendly alternatives (e.g. a jar instead of a plastic pot), these are all little steps. Equally, if you search for more sustainable companies and shop there, although it may be slightly more expensive, if you make little purchases every so often you'll end up with longer-lasting clothes so you won't have to constantly repurchase items. 

So I'm not saying stop using fast-fashion websites and to never buy plastic again, but if you make more of a conscious (almost Rebecca Bloomwood) thought every time you pick an item- just think 'do I really need this?'. If you can live without, or can find an alternative, do that instead. It's little steps that will help us sort the ecological mess we're in, and it's better to start now than when our planet is truly Ian-Bealed and has nothing left.

Thanks for reading and all my love,

Odette