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A sustainable guide to thrifting

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 16:48:31 +0000

A sustainable guide to thrifting Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:48

Lauren Mullen and Kate Huun

Thrifting goes hand in hand with a sustainable lifestyle. With Americans throwing away over 13 million tons of clothing each year, fast fashion and overconsumption lead to excess waste in landfills, carbon emissions from textile manufacturing and depletion of resources. Thrifting promotes sustainability by diverting clothing from landfills for reuse. You can participate in thrifting by donating unwanted clothing and purchasing used clothing instead of buying new.

The importance of thrifting for sustainability

Less clothing in landfills: Most clothes are made from synthetic materials, which take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. When you thrift, you help extend the life of clothes, which can reduce the volume of clothing sent to landfills each year.
Fewer wasted resources: Making clothes takes a lot of water. One pair of jeans is estimated to use about 1,800 gallons of water in the manufacturing process and cotton growth. Thrifting keeps clothing in use for longer, which can help limit wasted resources through decreased demand for new products.
Reduce chemical pollution: Most cotton used to make clothing is genetically modified, which means the growing process is pesticide-intensive. Pesticides can lead to soil acidification and water contamination. Textile manufacturing can also involve harmful dyes and crude oil by-products. The environmental risk increases when excess chemicals leak into areas surrounding the manufacturing facilities, which can contaminate surface and groundwater.

The benefits of thrifting for consumers

Thrifting benefits not only the environment but also consumers. Here are ways you can benefit by participating in thrifting.

Save money: You can save money by purchasing secondhand clothing. Thrift stores often have much lower prices than buying new items.
Update your style: Thrifting offers a wide variety of clothing types and styles to help you develop a unique and functional wardrobe.
Lower-cost luxury: Thrift stores often have vintage items or designer products at a fraction of the initial cost. You can elevate your wardrobe on a budget.
Social responsibility: You can feel good about disposing of unwanted clothing by donating to a thrift store instead of throwing items away.

Alternatives to thrifting

Thrifting isn’t the only way to keep unwanted clothing out of landfills. The EPA estimates that 84% of donated clothing ends up in landfills and incinerators. When donating, consider whether the items are functional to avoid passing the burden of disposal on to others. Here are other ways to give your clothing a second life.

Make a trade: Plan a clothing swap with your friends, residence hall, student organization or another group.
Alternative donations: Donate directly to those in need, like to a homeless center or domestic violence shelter. Often, these organizations have information on their websites about how or where to donate.
Repair and repurpose: If you have clothing that isn’t in good condition, consider making repairs or reusing the item for a different purpose. For example, you can use old T-shirts as cleaning cloths.
Make it last: Save and store unique items that you may not wear regularly to use for costumes or theme parties.

Things to keep in mind before going thrifting

It’s easy to over-buy when thrifting due to cheaper prices. However, buying things you don’t need just continues the waste cycle. Make sure nothing you purchase ends up back in the donation box. Before you buy an item, consider the following:

Would I buy this if it were brand new?
Do I have things in my closet that I can wear with this?
If I plan to repair an item, do I have the time and materials to do so?
Do I have something like this in my closet already?
Will this fit me? (size, style, etc.)

Start thrifting

Boulder has many local thrift stores within walking distance of campus. Check out this map of thrift stores in the Boulder area.

Behaviors like thrifting instead of buying new can positively impact our environment. Join the Sustainable Buffs community to get more involved.

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Sustainable Halloween ideas

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 19:53:08 +0000

Sustainable Halloween ideas Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 10/06/2024 - 13:53

Celeste Robinson and Karlie Conzachi

Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season. However, the excitement of the holiday can make it easy to ignore zero waste and sustainable habits as you decorate and celebrate. Costumes are often bought specifically for the holiday and then never worn again. And candy comes in small, individually wrapped pieces, which produce much waste that is not recyclable. Halloween can be a time to celebrate and have fun. Yet, with some planning and intention, you can make choices that protect our environment. Here are ways to enjoy Halloween sustainably.

Costumes

Buy or make costumes from local thrift stores. Often, thrift stores bring out items specifically for Halloween, making it easy to find costumes. Shopping at thrift stores is also typically cheaper than buying a premade costume.
If you’re not thrifting your costumes, buy reusable costumes like an animal onesie or other items you may wear again.
There are also costume rental services, so you can get the exact costume you want without buying it for only one occasion.
You can make your costumes. Homemade costumes often use cardboard, clothing you already have or scrap fabric. You can reuse or repurpose materials and spend less money on your costume this Halloween.

Treats

Choose candy to hand out that has paper packaging (like nerds, pixie sticks, etc.)
Choose candy with aluminum foil packaging (like Hershey’s kisses)
Both paper and aluminum foil are recyclable, whereas candies wrapped in plastic are not. While it seems like a slight difference, so much candy is handed out and produced for Halloween that this subtle difference can have a significant impact.
While making treats to hand out on Halloween produces the least waste, this may not be feasible for trick-or-treaters. However, if you're getting treats to hand out to close friends and family, make treats like cookies or homemade candy.

Decorations

Keep decorations simple.
Instead of fake spider webs and plastic spiders, stick to the classics and put a carved pumpkin on the front porch. Pumpkins are entirely biodegradable, and it is fun to carve them with your friends or family. You can roast the seeds to make a delicious and nutritious snack.
Choose better quality decorations that you can reuse each year. If you decide not to store your decorations for the future, consider donating them to a thrift store.
Get creative and decorate your house using things you already own. Look for ideas online or plan a DIY night with friends. This way, you don’t have to buy anything new, and you don’t have to throw anything away after the holiday.

The positive impact of a sustainable Halloween

There are many habits you can choose to make this Halloween season more sustainable. As we continue to learn and become more eco-conscious as a community, we also continue to grow as individuals and figure out the impact of our actions. Advocating for sustainable practices goes much further than protecting wildlife and our environment. Being sustainable encompasses us and how our interactions with one another can impact our future generations and human life. When you end up composting your locally bought pumpkin, thrifting and reusing clothing or decorations, you benefit yourself, others and the environment.

During this Halloween season, we encourage you to be mindful of how you can implement sustainable practices into your life. Sustainability can look like saving money and reducing waste when celebrating Halloween this year.

Halloween kicks off the holiday season, but with a little planning, you can celebrate sustainably by reducing costume waste, avoiding non-recyclable candy wrappers, and making eco-friendly choices.

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How to cultivate an eco-conscious mentality in a material world

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:17:00 +0000

How to cultivate an eco-conscious mentality in a material world Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:17

Kayla Vasarhelyi , Karlie Conzachi and Kate Huun

Living an eco-conscious lifestyle rather than one of consumerism is essential to lower your carbon footprint and demonstrate dedication to sustainability. You can consider how your actions impact the environment and your overall well-being and determine if you want to make changes.

Break the convenience habit

Convenience products, like takeout food, single-packaged items and plastic grocery bags, can make life easier but often have a harsh environmental impact. You can take a moment to evaluate purchasing decisions and weigh the pros and cons of convenience compared to a more sustainable option.

While it might seem like more effort, sustainable options can save you money and avoid the need to dispose of waste. One example is using a reusable water bottle. When you carry a water bottle with you, you don’t need to pay for beverages like bottled water, and you can refill the reusable bottle for free. This simple act helps reduce waste and offers more convenience in the long run.

Find value outside of material possessions

With the constant barrage of marketing, it is easy to believe that buying the things you want can make you happier. It can feel good to buy new things. However, chasing the latest items to try and cultivate happiness can make you feel controlled by consumerism. It can actually lead to stress, anxiety and debt.

Instead of trying to purchase things to enhance happiness, consider what brings true feelings of joy, like relationships and working toward your goals. Also, saving money and investing in financial security can help you feel more freedom and worry less, ultimately leading to more happiness.

Understand planned obsolescence

Planned obsolescence produces products that will fail or become less desirable over time, leading consumers to discard their old products and buy something new. With mass production, companies can produce goods quickly and need to drive demand for their products. Planned obsolescence saves companies from spending money to make higher-quality products.

This is not a sustainable practice and has contributed to a throw-away society. For example, technology and car companies produce new products yearly with only slight changes, encouraging consumers to repurchase the latest products.

By resisting the urge to purchase a new product just to get the latest features, you can help reduce waste and save money. You can also invest in products from companies that make better quality products. Before throwing an item away and purchasing something new, find out if what you already have can be fixed or repurposed. Many clothing companies, such as Dr. Martens, Patagonia and REI, will repair their products for free. Find more companies that offer lifetime warranties and will repair their products here.

Avoid cradle-to-grave production

Cradle-to-grave is a cycle of production where companies extract resources to produce products without consideration for the end of the product’s life cycle. The cradle phase is the creation of materials using resources, while the product ending up in a landfill is the grave stage.

A cradle-to-cradle mentality offers a better way for production. With this method, companies make products intentionally to allow for recycling, upcycling or other sustainable disposal options. You can explore products with Cradle-to-Cradle certification to help drive demand for sustainably produced products.

Actions to help cultivate an eco-conscious mentality

You can be more sustainable in your daily life with minor changes.

Upcycle. Upcycling reuses existing products in a new way instead so they can stay out of the landfill. You can get creative by upcycling yourself or buying upcycled products.
Buy local. Reduce the use of resources and energy that goes into transporting and manufacturing items by purchasing locally. For example, buying food from the farmer’s market reduces packaging and transportation costs.
Buy less. Before you buy something, consider whether it is a need or a want. Limit your purchases to items you need to avoid overconsumption of goods. For example, if you already have five pairs of jeans, do you need to purchase new ones?
Buy used. If you need to make a purchase, consider buying the item used. You can buy used for most products, including clothing and household goods or a used car instead of a new one.
Recycle. Divert your waste from landfills by learning how to recycle correctly. It will help decrease your carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change.
Go electronic. Sign up for electronic bills and other notifications rather than printed and mailed communications. Not only does this help the environment, but it also makes it easier to sort through and dispose of your mail.
Avoid single-use items. Invest in reusable products, like water bottles, coffee mugs, food storage containers, metal straws and more. You can save money over time and avoid contributing to landfill waste.
Compost. Learning how to compost can drastically change how much we discard into landfills and help rejuvenate crops and nutrient-deprived lands.

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The impact of plastic on climate change

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:43:32 +0000

The impact of plastic on climate change Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 09:43

Kayla Vasarhelyi

It takes more than 1,000 years for plastic to decompose. Every plastic bottle, straw and container ever thrown away is still intact and somewhere on earth. The plastic problem affects every part of the planet, from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Marianas Trench.

What is single-use plastic?

Single-use plastics are types of plastic designed for one-time use with the expectation that the user will throw them away. These plastics prioritize convenience over durability and repeated use, making them a prime culprit behind our throw-away society.

Worldwide, more than 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year, and half of this is single-use plastics. Single-use plastic includes water and soda bottles, plastic grocery bags, product packaging, straws, coffee cups and single-use plastic baggies.

What is plastic made of?

Plastic is derived from fossil fuels, including natural gas and crude oil, and also contains chemicals that are known endocrine disruptors and threaten human health. Plastic does not decompose. Instead, it breaks up into smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics are practically everywhere on earth and pose a deadly problem for wildlife. If too much microplastic accumulates in an animal, it can cause punctured organs or intestinal blockages. Human exposure to plastics with these chemicals may cause hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems and even cancer.

How single-use plastic production contributes to climate change

Because single-use plastic is produced from fossil fuels, extracting and creating these plastics emits vast amounts of greenhouse gases.

It is estimated that just the extraction of these fossil fuels and their transportation to plastic factories emits 1.5 to 12.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.
Removing forested land for oil extraction and pipeline construction has also released more than 1.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This land clearing also limits the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere.
The refinement of plastics emits an additional 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year.
Landfills, where single-use plastics are sent, account for more than 15% of methane emissions. The disposal of more plastics in landfills leads to increases in landfill size and these emissions.
There is an enormous floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean, twice the size of Texas, that continues to grow.
Plastic pollution affects the most vulnerable communities first. Developed countries, such as the United States, send plastic to developing countries for processing. Eventually, the amount of plastic can become so overwhelming that these communities run out of ways to dispose of it and become covered in plastic trash.

Easy ways to help reduce plastic use

The best way to reduce the impact of single-use plastics on climate change is to stop using this type of plastic. This task can seem quite tricky in a world full of plastic packaging. However, even small changes can have a significant impact. Here are some things to do to limit your single-use plastic waste.

Use a reusable water bottle.
Bring a reusable bag to the store.
Avoid overly packaged items at the grocery store, such as pre-cut fruits and vegetables.
Grocery shop at a bulk foods store.
Repurpose old bottles or containers.
Cook at home instead of ordering takeout, which often includes extra plastic packaging.
Get a travel cutlery set.
Use bar soaps and shampoos instead of liquids in plastic bottles.

Make a larger impact

Participate in a local cleanup day or pick up trash when walking, running or hiking.
Support legislation that reduces plastic use.
Buy products from companies committed to reducing plastic use.
Support organizations addressing plastic pollution.
Download the AWorld app to track your sustainable actions.

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Tips for sustainable travel

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:33:41 +0000

Tips for sustainable travel Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:33

Natasha Smith and Karlie Conzachi

Travel can be exciting, but it can also negatively impact the environment. Whether you travel for vacation, to visit family or out of necessity, there are many ways to incorporate sustainable, eco-friendly practices into your travel plans.

Here are some tips to help you stay green the next time you head out of town.

Consider your mode of transportation

Flying is probably the quickest way to get to your destination, but it typically has more carbon emissions than other forms of transportation. If you choose to travel by plane, travel with intention.

Choose direct flights because they produce less carbon emissions than connecting flights, plus you get to your destination faster.
Take advantage of the RTD Sky Ride, which can take you from campus to the airport. You can save money since you don’t have to pay to park your car at the airport.
Look into carpooling. Plan to travel as a group if you and your friends go to the same destination.

Pack reusable items

Choose sustainable and zero-waste alternatives to popular travel items. By making the switch, you can make even the smallest aspects of your trip eco-friendly.

Solid toiletries, like shampoo bars, conditioner bars and toothpaste capsules, help combat plastic waste. You can also buy toiletries in bulk and transfer to reusable travel-size containers.
Organic and reef-safe sunscreen can help protect marine life.
Bamboo toothbrushes are widely available and are a simple biodegradable switch from traditional plastic toothbrushes.
Bringing a portable water purifier to places without safe drinking water is an excellent alternative to buying countless plastic water bottles.
Bring reusable utensils, bags and containers.
Pack snacks to take with you and store them in reusable containers.
Bring your reusable water bottle and thermos with you.
Pack reusable period products, such as a menstrual cup.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Keep tickets and passes on your phone to reduce waste and save on printing costs.

Go camping

Camping is a great way to plan an eco-friendly vacation. Many popular tourist destinations have campsites available nearby. Camping can help you reduce your carbon footprint by consuming less water and electricity than in a hotel. Also, follow “leave no trace” principles to keep the earth as beautiful as you found it.

Camping has many benefits, from access to better air quality to circadian rhythm improvements and stress relief.

The Boulder area has countless campsites. In addition, the CU Rec Center offers equipment rentals to students through Outdoor Pursuits to help you achieve your backpacking and camping adventure goals.

Stay sustainably

If camping isn’t an option, you can find an eco-friendly indoor option. Booking a vacation rental in a small residence can produce a smaller carbon footprint than a large hotel chain. You can also vet your hotels to make sure they are sustainably certified. You can use the website bookdifferent.com, which specializes in finding and aggregating eco-certified hotels for environmentally conscious vacationers.

Support the local economy

One of the best things you can do while traveling is to support the local economy. Dine at locally owned restaurants since small restaurants are more likely to source their goods locally than large chains. Also, they prevent food waste during many parts of the food chain, including food loss in produce packing houses, manufacturing facilities and transportation and distribution networks.

Buying local, handmade goods also impacts the environment by providing an alternative to cheap, manufactured items. Handmade gifts also often carry more sentimental value because of their one-of-a-kind nature. And buying from local artisans helps them keep doing what they love.

Plan for sustainable travel

Implementing sustainable travel practices takes planning and intention. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect. Making a few small choices can have a significant impact over time. You may also influence others to follow your example.

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CU Boulder's zero waste program crushing cardboard waste: 40,000 pounds of cardboard diverted from landfill

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:13:49 +0000

CU Boulder's zero waste program crushing cardboard waste: 40,000 pounds of cardboard diverted from landfill Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/12/2023 - 15:13

The week before classes start is always a busy and exciting time for campus, over 7000 students move into the residence hall during this time. This year the Zero Waste program provided recycling services for over a dozen welcome events, recycled 20 tons of cardboard and film plastic, and sponsored an on-campus reuse sale.

Every year when students move in on campus over a dozen staff and volunteers from the Environmental Center work to make sure as much of their incidental waste, including cardboard boxes and plastic grocery bags, is recycled. Meanwhile, staff from Facilities Management run extra shifts to keep up with overflowing cardboard recycling dumpsters and recycling carts. During move in week facilities crews will sometimes dump cardboard dumpsters at some residence halls as many as 7 times during a 12 hour day. This year volunteers and staff worked through heat advisories, flood watches, and broken trucks to divert 40,000 pounds of cardboard from the landfill in five days. This is over twice as much as we recycled in 2019.

The mountains of cardboard boxes are taken to the Boulder County Recycling Center where they are bailed and sent to paper mills to be recycled back into new boxes. CU earns recycling rebates when waste is cleanly sorted by staff and volunteers. These efforts help to offset the costs of running the Zero Waste program at CU Boulder. When disposing of waste, use the proper bin. If you are unsure, check out the Eco-Cycle A-Z guide. “Recycling and composting properly is the easiest way for Buffs to get involved in climate action on campus. When the 35,000 members of the campus community do their part every day, it makes a big difference.” Angie Gilbert, E-Center Recycling Program Manager.

Prioritizing reuse and waste reduction holds greater potential for advancing towards a circular economy and achieving zero waste goals than recycling alone. This year the Environmental Center partnered with Resource Central to pilot a sale of reused home good items from last semester’s move out donation drive. CU students were able to pick up gently used storage units, mirrors, chairs and other furniture items for an average price of $4, without even having to leave campus. �鶹��Ժ interested in furnishing their own living spaces sustainability are encouraged to check out a local thrift store or visit Resource Central.

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Sustainable Buffs winter closet clean-out tips

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:28:18 +0000

Sustainable Buffs winter closet clean-out tips Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/12/2023 - 13:28

Now that the temperatures have dropped and we’ve had our first snowfall of the season, sweaters, cardigans and jackets are go-to items in the wardrobe. These clothing items tend to take up more space, potentially crowding your closet. That makes this the perfect time to slim down your wardrobe and declutter your closet. Here are a few tips and tricks on cleaning out your closet and getting ready for winter!

Make a plan

When deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, having a plan can simplify the process. You can sort clothing into a “keep” pile, a “donate” pile and a “maybe” pile. Think about what you like to wear, where you go most often and how much space you have. Having a mix of options in your wardrobe is ideal.

“One thing in, one thing out”

This approach ensures that your closet doesn’t become overcrowded with clothes. For instance, if you bring in or buy a new shirt, consider donating an older one that you don’t wear much anymore.

Be realistic

Know that you can’t keep everything just as you can’t get rid of everything. Think about how many items you want to clear out of your closet. It’s okay to take out just three or four items. When choosing what to keep, ask yourself:

Would I buy this if I saw it today?
When was the last time I wore this?
When will I wear this in the coming months?

Give your “maybes” a chance

Put your “maybes” at the front of your clothing choices and try to wear them at least once before deciding if you want to keep them or get rid of them. You might be surprised by how much you like that shirt you haven’t worn in a while or that pair of pants that’s been stuck at the bottom of your drawer.

Donate!

When it’s all said and done, the clothing you decide to remove from your closet can find a new home through donation. There are many different ways to donate your clothes. The Environmental Center’s fall 2023 fashion swap is an opportunity for CU Boulder students to clean out their closets and revamp them with something new! Pre-loved clothing collected from students will be available for other students to take for free. Additionally, this event is an educational opportunity to teach students about upcycling and mending their clothes, where to find used clothing in Boulder and about resources on campus for students to meet their needs. We hope that we can inspire students to be more environmentally conscious in their closets and provide them with some cool, new (to them) clothing.

You can bring clothes to the Environmental Center in UMC 355 Monday–Friday, 9-5 from Nov. 27–Dec. 5 , or to the UMC Ballroom on the day of the event. As you wrap up your closet cleanout, remember to make the process fun!

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How fast fashion impacts sustainability

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 20:45:13 +0000

How fast fashion impacts sustainability Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/02/2023 - 14:45

Ryan Zabors , Kate Huun

Did you know that your fashion choices can positively impact the environment? When you choose clothes made with recycled fabrics, you can help save water and lower carbon emissions. Other actions, like buying second-hand and repairing clothing items, also help promote sustainability. To learn more and track your impact, download the AWorld app.

Do your part for sustainable fashion

It feels good to get a new item and show off your style but consider where the clothing comes from before you buy. In the current age of limitless information at our fingertips, it takes just a few minutes to research the source of your clothes. Thinking about sustainability when buying clothes helps reduce the number of harmful pieces produced and ensures you get a high-quality and long-lasting product.

Fast fashion is a large-scale issue spreading worldwide across multiple billion-dollar companies. As scary as it sounds, consumers can impact the market. Many companies have started listening and changing their ways. Businesses like Zara and H&M have committed to sourcing their products only from recycled materials and have started integrating that into their newer pieces. While a step in the right direction, how we spend our money can encourage other companies to follow suit. Fighting with your wallet is one of the most impactful ways to make a company listen. Educate yourself on what's going on behind the scenes to help you make informed decisions.

It's essential to be conscious about where your clothes come from. Still, for the benefit of the environment, it’s even more important to ask yourself whether you really need an item before you make a purchase.

Tips to practice sustainable fashion

Invest in durable clothing that will last longer.
When possible, buy from sustainable brands and B corps.
Research slow fashion brands that incorporate mindful clothing production.
Instead of throwing clothing away, trade, sell or donate items.
Have a clothing swap with your friends to refresh your closet for free.
Sell your clothes at consignment shops for cash or store credit.
Sell clothing online.
Donate clothes to a local thrift store and shop at thrift stores. Learn the benefits of thrifting.
Repair damaged clothing instead of throwing it out. Check out YouTube channels for tutorials.
Repurpose items, like using an old piece of clothing for a costume. Old T-shirts make great cleaning cloths and dusters.
Have fun and get creative!

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion designs, creates and markets clothing to make fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers. This isn't a new concept. From a business perspective, it fits the goal of creating supply to match the changing demand. Social media and increased online presence have caused the issue of fast fashion to grow. With fashion trends spreading sporadically and fizzling out of the spotlight in a matter of weeks, the supply has to follow these sudden waves of demand. This has led some companies to make large amounts of a product very cheaply and unsustainably.

Fast fashion in action

This issue stretches over the entire fashion industry, with many companies to blame for their unsustainable practices, including the popular fast fashion brands Shein and PrettyLittleThing. One common mission for lower-end, high-volume clothing companies is to make higher-end fashion accessible and affordable for everyone. At face value, the concept sounds great until you look at how companies operate.

To cut costs and make their pieces more affordable and current, these companies often produce more than is possible to be sustainable. The goal is to produce as much as possible at a very low cost. This model has led to reports of low wages for workers and other negative impacts.

While Shein is one example of how fast fashion runs, it's not the sole perpetrator of pollution released from the production of clothes. Most big brands have to follow a similar model to meet the constant demand for new clothes.

We can help break this wasteful cycle by incorporating sustainable practices into our buying decisions and investing in durable clothing from trusted brands.

Facts About Textile Waste from the Council for Textile Recycling

Textile waste accounts for 5% of landfill space, according to the U.S. EPA.
The U.S. generates an average of 25 billion pounds of textiles annually, or around 82 pounds per U.S. resident.
Only 15% of that gets donated or recycled; the remaining 85 percent goes to landfills, with 21 billion pounds of textile waste going to landfills annually.
The average U.S. citizen throws away 70 pounds of textiles.
These numbers are growing exponentially.

Did you know that your fashion choices can positively impact the environment? When you choose clothes made with recycled fabrics, you can help save water and lower carbon emissions.

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Reduce, Reuse and Recycle like a Sustainable Buff

Anonymous — Thu, 04 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle like a Sustainable Buff Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/04/2023 - 00:00

Reduce, reuse and recycle have been ingrained into our heads since we were kids. One of my favorite CDs as a kid was Jack Johnson’s Curious George, which featured this song and is probably the first time I heard of the three Rs. To this day, the song still gets stuck in my head.

Reducing, reusing and recycling can be pretty easy. The most challenging part, in my opinion, is just being mindful of the products we use every day.

Reducing, for example, may seem hard. Like many people our age, I love to shop and spend money. However, I try to buy things that I know I can use for a long time, rather than cheaper items that might not last as long. I also try to think about what I am buying and whether I really need it. Less consumption means less will end up in a landfill.

As for reusing, this is super easy! I have started to pay attention to things that I throw out a lot, like paper towels or snack bags. I realized that there were reusable alternatives to these items and invested in some. I saw a video of people cutting up old towels and pillowcases and decided to follow suit. I used these squares and some reusable kitchen towels, and now I only buy small packages of paper towels for the really gross stuff.

As for snack bags, I went to Target and bought some of their reusable ones. They’re more expensive than the Ziploc kind, but I won’t have to buy another set for a much longer period of time.

Recycling took me a while to get used to. Recycle bins weren’t very accessible to me before moving to Boulder, but now I do my best to recycle everything I can. I recommend checking out this guide to ensure you recycle things properly. Plastics are labeled with different numbers, which can be confusing. Keep in mind, every city has different guidelines on what can and cannot be recycled, so make sure you stay informed!

If you’re passionate about recycling or want to be more involved, CU’s Environmental Center has opportunities to volunteer. Get involved with Ralphie's Green Stampede, which helps make Buffs sporting events zero waste, or help with move out.

Sam, a Sustainable Buff and CU Boulder student, talks about the three Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle.

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How to rave sustainably: adopting the eco-rave

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

How to rave sustainably: adopting the eco-rave Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/20/2023 - 00:00

Bryce Poirot

Going to large music festivals, clubs, raves and parties appeals to many people, and after not being able to participate in these large gatherings during the covid-19 pandemic, people are eager to return. PLUR - Peace, Love, Unity and Respect - is a common phrase in rave culture; valuing and respecting the earth that you have the privilege of partying on is the best way to spread love. It's important to practice the mantra, “No Planet, No Party."

What is an eco-rave?

An eco-rave is a rave or festival that has sustainable practices in mind. Before you go to a rave or festival, research whether or not the organizer has pledged to make their event carbon neutral. Beware of greenwashing, which is when a company provides a false narrative that they are sustainable or environmentally conscious in order to give consumers peace of mind. Read more about greenwashing here.

Thrift your clothing

Finding the perfect festival ensemble at a thrift shop can help make your outfit pop even more; plus, you'll have a story to tell your friends about where your outfit came from. Check out this quick guide to thrifting.

Party local

In addition to the expenses associated with traveling, travel increases your carbon footprint. If you are willing and able to find a local festival or rave, attending local events is more sustainable. If you are traveling by plane, you may be able to purchase a carbon offset.

Carpooling

Carpooling is a fun way to arrive with your friends at the same time, cut travel costs and reduce your carbon footprint. Splitting the gas money or rideshare cost can also make the evening more affordable. Learn more about traveling zero waste.

Bring your own reusable water bottle

Rather than purchasing water or beverages sold in single-use plastics at the event, bring your own reusable bottle. Most venues have places to refill your water bottle.

Clean up after yourself

Littering is not cool. Not only are you adding trash to the environment, but someone else has to clean it up after you leave. Find the proper recycling and landfill areas at the event and dispose of your waste correctly. This puts the "respect" part of PLUR into effect.

Do your own research

Who is running the event? Does the company use sustainable practices? Will there be vegetarian or vegan food options? Is the stage made of sustainable materials? If you find a festival that follows sustainable practices, spread the word and use the power of your dollar to reward this practice.

Going to large music festivals, clubs, raves and parties appeals to many people, and after not being able to participate in these large gatherings during the covid-19 pandemic, people are eager to return. PLUR -- Peace, Love, Unity and Respect -- is a common phrase in rave culture; valuing and respecting the earth that you have the privilege of partying on is the best way to spread love. It's important to practice the mantra, “No Planet, No Party."

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