fashion

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.

Off

Traditional

White

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.

Dark Mode

White

Ways to celebrate Earth Day

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:48:58 +0000

Ways to celebrate Earth Day Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:48

Earth Day began in 1970 as more people in the United States and across the globe became aware of the environmental impact caused by humans. Before the 1970’s, many people considered air and water pollution a normal and expected part of life. Celebrating Earth Day each year is vital because it recognizes the harm caused to the environment while showing support across the globe for protecting the Earth. You can take steps this Earth Day to support sustainability through your own collective and individual actions.

How to contribute to Earth Day every day

You can be a part of Earth Day by coming together with the CU Boulder community to protect our planet. Whether you are on campus or not, you can get involved and make a difference in numerous ways. Here are some of the ways you can participate in Earth Day today and every day.

Participate in advocacy: One of the best ways to make a difference is through advocacy. You can sign petitions and participate in Earth Day events on campus and in your community. You can also write to your local, state and national officials. Ask them to support legislation that protects our planet.
Sustainable fashion: Fast fashion negatively impacts the environment by increasing clothing waste and pollution from textile production. Donate or sell your unwanted clothing instead of throwing items away to reduce waste and give your clothes a new life. You can also make an impact by shopping at thrift stores, buying fewer new clothing items and supporting brands that intentionally support sustainability in their production processes.
Take part in a community or global cleanup: The Environmental Center hosts events to support sustainability locally, like their Boulder Creek cleanup and the annual Campus Sustainability Summit. If you're not in Boulder, you can search for cleanup opportunities in your area or connect with a local organization to offer your support.
Make your next meal plant-based: Choosing more plant-based meals can help lower carbon emissions and reduce the impact of food production on the environment. Transition your breakfast, lunch or dinner to plant-based options and look for plant-based meals at the dining halls on campus. While you can opt for a fully vegan diet, choosing one plant-based meal a day can still have an impact.
Get inspired: Explore ways to take action and make a difference throughout the year. A few standout ideas include picking up trash while you run (hello, plogging), switching to reusable bags, meal prepping and growing a container garden on your patio.
Join the CU community via the AWorld App: The AWorld app supports the United Nations ActNow campaign, encouraging individual action on climate change. Once you download the app, you can join the CU community to track your sustainable actions. Actions include daily tasks like meditating, eating a vegetarian or vegan meal, carpooling or taking public transportation.

Remember, every small action adds up to make a significant impact. Let's work together to create a sustainable future for generations to come. These are just a few examples of how you can make a difference.

The impacts of Earth Day

Since its inception, Earth Day has continued to grow and increase awareness of environmental issues and the actions people can take to support sustainability.

Just one year after the first Earth Day, 25% of Americans believed protecting the environment was important.
In the years that followed, many national environmental policies passed, including:
The Clean Air Act
The Water Quality Improvement Act
The Endangered Species Act
The Toxic Substances Control Act
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, following the first Earth Day marches.
Earth Day celebrations every April 22 continue to make an impact across the globe.

The importance of Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual reminder that climate change has a major impact on our planet, our lives and our future. It can also increase awareness and drives change. Earth Day continues to evolve and add value to sustainability movements across the globe.

Earth Day provides a day to focus on education about environmental issues affecting our planet.
Demonstrations on Earth Day help signal to government representatives the importance of environmental issues to their constituents.
Earth Day sets aside a day each year to reflect on the significance of the planet's health and what we can all do to positively impact our environment.
Earth Day has influenced major national policy in the past and will continue to do so.

The history of Earth Day

Author Rachel Caron released her book Silent Spring in 1962. The book brought attention to how the use of harmful chemicals, such as DDT, caused everlasting damage to wildlife, nature and people, and it called for humans to act responsibly as stewards of the living earth.

Caron’s book motivated Junior Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin to create Earth Day. He selected April 22 because it fell perfectly between spring break and final exams and would allow space for college students to get involved.

On April 22, 1970, an estimated 20 million people gathered at schools, universities and community centers across the U.S. to host inaugural events that brought awareness to the need for more environmental laws. These events also brought attention to a wide variety of environmental issues.

Denis Hayes, who helped organize the first Earth Day with Gaylord Nelson, went on to found the Earth Day Network, which spread Earth Day internationally, helping organize events in over 141 countries.

Earth Day Monumental Moments:

1970: First Earth Day celebrated.
1990: Twentieth anniversary, an estimated 200 million people in over 141 countries celebrate.
2010: Fortieth anniversary, an estimated 1 billion people worldwide gathered to celebrate.
2020: Fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, in-person events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but people globally celebrated via social media.

Want to learn more? Check out the official Earth Day website for more information on the history of Earth Day, different projects you can participate in and simple ways to change the planet. You can also connect with the Environmental Center to learn ways to get involved.

April 22 is only one day each year, but you can treat every day like Earth Day!

Off

Traditional

White

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!

Off

Traditional

White

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.

Off

Traditional

White

How to identify greenwashing and make sustainable buying decisions

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:09:04 +0000

How to identify greenwashing and make sustainable buying decisions Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/27/2023 - 11:09

Lauren Mullen

As consumers focus more on the environmental impact of products, companies look to cash in by identifying their products as sustainable or environmentally friendly. However, not all brands follow the practices they claim. When businesses falsely promote their products' environmental or sustainable benefits, it is called greenwashing.

Some examples of greenwashing include a company saying their products are made entirely of recycled materials when they only use a portion of recycled materials. Or a company claims each purchased product leads to planting a tree, but the company doesn’t follow through with the accurate number of trees. Greenwashing usually includes exaggerations that mislead customers.

Are environmental claims regulated?

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) protects consumers by enforcing laws to ensure a fair marketplace. Here are some of the current guidelines put in place.

Packaging and advertising should explain the product’s green claims in easy-to-understand terms.
Environmental marketing claims should specify whether they refer to the product, packaging or both.
Marketing claims should not overstate, directly or indirectly, an environmental attribute or benefit.

How to avoid greenwashing

As a consumer, your best tool to combat greenwashing is research. Investigate the brand before purchasing products that claim to be sustainable to ensure their practices match their claims.

You can start by reading online product reviews or researching the resources a company uses to produce its products. Almost every product type has an environmental certification, like clothes, furniture and household goods. Cradle2Cradle is a popular certification that many consumers trust. In this case, you can search for certified products and review the level of sustainability.

Watch for these common greenwashing practices when researching products.

Unclear language or terms with no specific meaning or implication, like eco-friendly.
Suggestive images that give an unjustified green impression without providing specific data about the product or brand.
Irrelevant claims with a heavy emphasis on one small green attribute without mention of how the rest of the company works.
A claim that might be correct, but the company provides no evidence to support the claim.

Implementing sustainable buying habits

Becoming a conscious consumer can benefit the environment, your wallet and the quality of your products.

Try to borrow or reuse items and buy second-hand or local when you can. Also, take the time to find out what you’re purchasing before you spend your money. You may have to read between the lines to discover the truth about brands. The effort you make in the beginning will save time and benefit your future buying decisions.

Take a holistic approach to the process when making purchase decisions. If you find a sustainable brand that ships from across the world, then it may not make sense for you to make the purchase. Also, be aware that genuinely sustainable products may cost more. If the product is sustainable, it will likely be of a higher quality that lasts longer, making the extra money upfront worth it in the long run. For example, fast fashion is cheap but lower quality and wears out quicker.

The Bottom Line

As a consumer, voting with your dollar and buying sustainably sourced and durable products is important. However, be aware of companies trying to profit from your desire to live a sustainable lifestyle by researching the companies you support.

You can download the AWorld app from ActNow to track your sustainable actions, learn ways to implement sustainability into your daily life and participate in challenges with others in the CU community.

Off

Traditional

White

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."

Off

Traditional

White

Take a step towards sustainable fashion

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Take a step towards sustainable fashion Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/19/2023 - 00:00

Sustainable fashion aims to transition the fashion industry and consumers away from the fast fashion model towards sustainable practices in sourcing, production, distribution, marketing and consumption. This is not an easy fix by any means to the environmentally destructive fast fashion industry. Changing values, habits and daily choices takes as much inner work as it does societal. Billion dollar industries bombard us with constant marketing that shapes cultural narratives and norms and encourages us to “stay on trend.”

The environmental and social impact of fast fashion is tremendous, characterized by waste, depletion of healthy soil, contamination of fresh water sources, pollution of the air we breathe, defilement of our oceans, destruction of forests, and damage to ecosystems and the health of their biodiversity. And those are just physical manifestations of the negative impact fast fashion has on our society. There is also a hidden layer of mental health degradation, when we constantly see ads telling us that we are not enough if we don’t have whatever it is they are selling. Fast fashion ads often impact our sense of self-worth and a need for belonging.

By reading this article, you have already taken the first step towards achieving sustainable fashion, which is increasing your awareness. The next step is to learn about alternatives to our current fast fashion model. This step can be daunting with the copious amounts of information out there. Furthermore, there are often feelings of guilt and shame that surface when we become aware of how our actions have impacted both people and the planet. Finding a community is crucial when undertaking the journey of unlearning and relearning, which is why the Environmental Center is organizing a Drop and Swap event on April 25th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Environmental Center’s spring 2023 clothing swap is an opportunity for CU Boulder students to not only revamp their wardrobes, but find community and support as they try to break free from the fast fashion industry.

This event will have an educational component 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. If you do not have clothes to donate for the swap, don’t worry, come as you are and take home new-to-you items!

If you have clothes to donate after your spring cleaning purge, you can bring clothes to the Environmental Center in UMC 355 Monday–Friday, April 17-21, or to the UMC Ballroom on the day of the event. In addition to the drop and swap event, the “give and go” move out program in the residence halls will also accept clothing.

Jumpstart your sustainable fashion journey with AWorld

You don’t have to wait until Drop and Swap to start your sustainable fashion journey. CU Boulder has partnered with the AWorld app from ActNow, the United Nations’ campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. The app allows users to weave sustainability into their everyday lives and track their impact. One of the many actions you can log on the A-World app is “Choose Secondhand Clothes” with an estimated impact of 16 Kg CO2 saved and 330 gallons of water saved. Be one of the first 500 to sign up for AWorld app and get a free stasher bag! From April 15 through June 15, track your Sustainable Buff actions using the AWorld app. For each Buffs action logged, CU will invest $1 toward campus conservation and local carbon sequestration projects, up to $10,000.

Join the sustainable fashion movement and break free from the fast fashion industry at the Environmental Center's upcoming Drop and Swap event, while also finding community and support along the way.

Off

Traditional

White

Earth Day is a global affair

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Earth Day is a global affair Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 04/08/2023 - 00:00

Earth Week is here and it's time for all of us to come together and do our part to protect our planet. Whether you are on CU Boulder’s campus or not, there are numerous ways you can get involved and make a difference. Here are six ways you can participate in Earth Week:

Participate in advocacy: One of the best ways to make a difference is by advocating for our planet. Sign an Earth Day petition or attend the Campus Climate Action Plan Town Hall and participate in the following breakout sessions. You can also write to your local officials in Boulder or wherever you are registered to vote. Ask them to support legislation that protects our planet.
Sustainable fashion: Don't throw away your clothes! Instead, donate them or check out the bins at the Drop 'N' Swap event on April 25 in Boulder. This is a great way to reduce waste and give your clothes a new life.
Take part in a community or global cleanup: Attend the 30th Annual Campus Sustainability Summit on April 19-20, or participate in the Boulder Creek Earth Month Cleanup on April 27. If you're not in Boulder, you can search for a cleanup in your area via Earthday.org.
Make your next meal plant-based: Transition your breakfast, lunch and dinner to plant-based options. Look for plant-based meals at the C4C on campus. A few places to check out plant-based recipes include Delish and Food Network.
Get inspired! There are many ways to participate in Earth Day 2023 and make a difference throughout the whole year. Earthday.org has a phenomenal list of ways to take action. A few standout ideas include picking up trash while you run, switching to reusable bags, meal prepping and growing a garden.
Join the CU community via the AWorld App: The app's goal is to support the United Nations ActNow campaign that encourages individual action on climate change. Once you download the app, you can join the CU community and track your sustainable actions. A few actions you can log include meditating, eating a vegetarian or vegan meal, carpooling or taking public transportation.

Remember, every small action adds up to make a big impact. Let's work together to create a sustainable future for generations to come. These six ways are just a few examples of how you can make a difference.

Off

Traditional

White

Sustainable habits for 2023

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Sustainable habits for 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/27/2023 - 00:00

The University of Colorado Boulder is home to some of the leading sustainability programs and environmental research in the nation! As Sustainable Buffs, it is our duty to be mindful of our habits and take full advantage of the opportunities we have in Boulder to be as sustainable as possible in our everyday lives. By holding ourselves accountable with integrity, we promote a more balanced future of energy exchanges that are regenerative to the earth, rather than exploiting our environment. Join the legacy of passionate CU students on the forefront of sustainability by adopting these simple sustainable habits.

Plan your grocery shopping

There are many ways to consciously approach shopping for food. As college students, we are just learning how to stock our refrigerators and take care of ourselves, which often results in unnecessary food waste. By planning beforehand rather than shopping impulsively, you can avoid wasting money and food. One way to shop mindfully is to plan your meals for the week and find recipes before you go shopping. Another tactic for mindful shopping is to tune into your body and what you need, versus what you may want at the moment. Rather than going to the store while hungry, try to eat before so you can shop with a clear head. A great place to shop sustainably is Nude Foods, a zero waste grocery store in Boulder. You are allowed to keep the glass jars they sell food in, which is great for storage. It's also a good idea to bring your own bags and avoid unsustainable packaging when possible.

If you are struggling to afford groceries, schedule an appointment to visit CU’s Buff Pantry, which is located in the UMC next to the bookstore downstairs. To make an appointment, first click the “Join” button on Buff Pantry’s CU Serves page to fill out the client intake form. From there, you can schedule a time to come in and pick up some free food!

Compost

Composting your food waste is a simple way to be sustainable in your daily life. When you throw food waste in the trash, it releases methane, is not as easily broken down and is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Excess methane in the atmosphere is one of the leading causes of climate change. When we compost our food waste, we create the foundation for valuable, nutrient rich soil as the food breaks down. Student environmental activists have worked hard to further composting efforts all over campus. Green composting receptacles can be found at all of the main waste stations as well as the bathrooms on campus. To learn more about proper composting practices, check out this Composting 101 guide. It is vital for the CU community to get on board with composting. Recently, students, faculty and staff have not been composting correctly. This has led compost to become an expense to our school rather than a return on our investment, which threatens the future of our composting initiatives. We all need to learn to compost our food waste properly, or we may not have the option to do so on campus in the future due to the contamination of the waste streams, which are very difficult and costly to sort.

Eat organic

Soil is alive with microorganisms that we need to grow food. Pesticides kill these essential organisms that make up the microbiome of the soil. By choosing to eat organically, we support the organic food system and farmers who are doing this vital work to help us nourish our bodies. You can purchase organic produce at the local farmer's market.

Use public transit

As a Buff, you have a free RTD pass. Boulder has some of the most clean, comfortable and most efficient buses that are constantly running to get you where you need to go. The average traffic volume in Boulder on a given day is very high as a result of students and professionals commuting in and out of the city. One of the leading causes of global warming in our atmosphere is the pollution byproducts from transportation. Not only are there environmental incentives to limit traffic on the road, but also monetary ones as the prices of gas have been volatile. Take the bus! It is so easy and you can save hundreds in gas money, while also saving energy by taking the bus to get around.

Boulder is a microcosm of sustainable opportunities for CU students in terms of transportation, compost and healthy food. We can take these values with us as we grow into our positions in a workplace in the future. Practical everyday solutions exist all around us and consumers do have power to drive the market of sustainable developments. “Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are root causes of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution" (UN SDG Report 2022). If our patterns of consumption can do so much damage, choosing sustainable habits can propel humanity in a new direction with regards to our relationship to the environment. Although one person’s choices won’t restore the earth right away, the collective effort of many can shift our economy over time as we start to value sustainability in our everyday consumption choices.

DIY project: grow your own organic herbs on the windowsill

What you will need:

seeds for your favorite herbs (cilantro, chives, parsley, basil and rosemary are some popular ones)
a well-lit windowsill or grow lights
nutrient-rich soil
containers/pots

Fill a container with soil and sprinkle with seeds, covering the seeds again with a layer of soil. Pat gently. Keep the soil moist but not too damp as the seeds germinate and follow the watering instructions specific to each herb. Make sure you label them so you remember which herb is which. If you choose to add fertilizer to the soil, make sure to use one labeled safe for edible plants. Soon after, you will sprout affordable, organic, packaging-free herbs from your home!

The E-Center can help you become a Sustainable Buff! Save money and energy through the cultivation of everyday sustainable habits to start the new year off right.

Off

Traditional

White

fashion

A sustainable guide to thrifting

Off

Sustainable Halloween ideas

Related Articles

Ways to celebrate Earth Day

Off

Sustainable Buffs winter closet clean-out tips

Make a plan

“One thing in, one thing out”

Be realistic

Give your “maybes” a chance

Donate!

Off

How fast fashion impacts sustainability

Off

How to identify greenwashing and make sustainable buying decisions

Off

How to rave sustainably: adopting the eco-rave

Off

Take a step towards sustainable fashion

Jumpstart your sustainable fashion journey with AWorld

Off

Earth Day is a global affair

Off

Sustainable habits for 2023

Plan your grocery shopping

Compost

Eat organic

Use public transit

DIY project: grow your own organic herbs on the windowsill

Off