Yahoo Finance Check out these simple ways to reduce your clothing’s impact on the planet
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Fashionable and sustainable don’t always go hand-in-hand, but there are plenty of ways to get your stylish swag on while reducing your carbon footprint. On this episode of Green Living, host Lauren Singer (@trashisfortossers) shares her tips and tricks for reducing your clothing’s impact on the environment, helping you create a good look for both you and the planet.
Wear What You Already Have
“The most sustainable fashion is always what’s already in your closet,” says Singer. A great way to “remix your wardrobe” is finding an item you already own, and looking online for a fresh, new way to style it. Another strategy for getting the most out of your current wardrobe is making sure your closet is well-organized. Singer suggests organizing by color or season to make sure no items get left behind.
Buy Clothes Intentionally
Before Singer purchases anything, she makes sure that any new purchase would add “value and versatility” to her wardrobe. Once you decide you do want a new item, Singer suggests checking secondhand stores or websites to see what the options are. In addition to keeping clothes out of landfills, secondhand shopping is also more affordable than buying new.
If secondhand shopping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of designers who are using sustainable practices, including upcycling, using natural fibers and low impact dyes, and practicing ethical construction. If you are buying new, make sure to keep an eye on the fabric. Polyester, according to Singer, is “derived from fossil fuels and pollutes our water systems every time we wash it,” while textiles like organic cotton, linen, hemp, wool and silk are more environmentally friendly.
Wash Clothes Sustainably
Conventional laundry detergents are packed with ingredients that could be dangerous for both our bodies and the planet. Natural laundry detergent, like Simply Co. Laundry Detergent, is Singer’s preference because it’s made with just three ingredients and plastic-free packaging, while staying free of harmful petroleum-based ingredients.
Another pro-planet laundry tip is making sure to pretreat stains before washing. “Stained clothing is hard to wear and hard to donate, and pretty impossible to resell,” says Singer. Pretreating stains will help you extend the life of your clothing, while also making sure they stay looking fresh.
Singer also suggests using a microfiber washing bag when washing synthetic clothing or materials. This helps keep dangerous microfibers and plastics, which fish often mistake for food, out of the ocean. Singer also shares that washing with cold water and doing shorter cycles when possible is ideal, as is air-drying or drying on a low temperature using drying balls, which help reduce overall drying time.
Ensure Your Clothes Find a Clean End of Life
Singer notes that 85% of clothing ends up in landfills, but there are ways to be part of the solution instead of the problem. Wearing what you already own, selling your clothes to secondhand stores, hosting a clothing swap with friends, donating your clothes, or recycling to a textile recycling center are all great options.
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