4. CLOTHING
People love buying new clothes. But fast fashion has an astonishingly high environmental and social cost. The fashion industry generates over 92 million tonnes of waste every year, most of which is incinerated, sent to landfill or exported to developing countries.
There are lots of ways to be both fashionable and sustainable. Start by organising your wardrobe so you know what you’ve got before you start shopping, and that anything you buy will “work” with what you currently have.
Don’t throw away damaged items – there are loads of YouTube videos to help you repair clothes and accessories. You can even make your clothing more personal using repair methods such as Sashiko stitching, making the repair a visible feature of your clothing.
Buying secondhand will save you money, and the social and environmental benefits of charity retail are widely recognised. You could also swap clothing you no longer want with friends and family or at swap shops.
Alternatively, you could buy less, but higher quality clothing. These items are usually more durable and last longer.
5. WASTE MANAGEMENT
We generate more than 2 billion metric tons of solid municipal waste worldwide each year. This figure is expected to increase by 70 per cent by 2050. There are many small changes we can make to reduce the amount we put in our bins.
Writing a shopping list can reduce overbuying and impulse buying. Take reusable bags with you when you shop. And shop packaging free. There are lots of places to buy food without excess packaging like zero waste shops where customers are encouraged to use containers from home to fill and refill with bulk wholefoods.
Make sure you know what you can recycle locally and follow the advice provided. Reducing waste saves valuable resources as well as reducing pollution and your weekly spend.
By making small changes to our lifestyles, we can collectively move towards a more sustainable future.
Ian Williams is Professor of Applied Environmental Science and Alice Brock is PhD Candidate in Environmental Science. Both are at the University of Southampton. This commentary first appeared on The Conversation.