BEING SUSTAINABLE IN THE KITCHEN IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK!Let's talk about how you can implement sustainable practices into your kitchen and cooking habits! These are small, easy steps to keep an eco-friendly kitchen that doesn't stop at eating leafy greens.
1. Use washable metal straws instead of disposable plastic ones 2. Cut your use of hot water when washing dishes by hand (but it's better to use a dish washer!) 3. Use cloths instead of paper towels 4. Start composting 5. Juice the cut offs of your fruits and vegetables (bonus: you'll get a yummy drink later) 6. Try making homemade cleaners (they're better for the Earth and for you - no dangerous chemicals!) 7. Eat only what you need 8. Invest in a pressure cooker (it saves time and will reduce the amount of energy you use by 70%) 9. Repurpose glass jars 10. Make your own coffee instead of buying takeaway If you haven't tried any of these ideas, now is the time to do it! For more tips on how to live sustainably, visit https://theminimalistvegan.com/live-a-more-sustainable-lifestyle/ Photo from Luisa Brimble on Unsplash
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Sustainable. It's a word that's thrown around a lot by large businesses and organizations when they talk about the changes they're going to make to reduce their negative impact on the earth. But what does it really mean to be sustainable? And how can you incorporate into your current lifestyle? Being sustainable means that your actions are not causing damage or harm to the environment and other people's needs. In today's world it's not always possible to have sustainable options depending on socioeconomic status, location, and a variety of other factors. But there a few simple changes that you can make in your daily life to help reduce harm to the earth. The first is recycling. Donating your used clothes and separating your cardboard from your garbage are both forms of recycling that are sustainable solutions to limiting the waste you produce. Another change that can be made is using a reusable water bottle; there a variety of affordable options for them and you won't be using single use plastic that ends up in our oceans and landfills. If you have a little more time and energy then I would highly encourage composting! It is free and allows you to use your leftover food scraps to go straight back into the earth. I hope these sustainable tips helped and be sure to comment any other tips we should try!
Microfibers are in everything! Yoga pants, fleeces, and even underwear. All microfibers are synthetic and made from polyester. Polyester can be made from new materials but can also be made from old, recycled materials, like plastic bottles! Every day the world throws away billions of plastic bottles. Some companies are starting to turn plastic trash into stuff we actually like; once recycled, bottles can be chopped up, woven into clothing, and then worn, loved, and washed by you. Seems like a great solution right? When you look closer, there are some real problems with this. Some people think that this means increased plastic use is okay — it is not! Also every time synthetic materials are washed (whether they were made from recycled materials like plastic bottles or all new materials), super tiny pieces of plastic called microfibers are washed off and flow down the drain. Hundreds of thousands each time! The longer these pieces are loved and rewashed, the worse the problem becomes (shedding more and more). These are then washed down the drain, and the fibers are so small, they can’t even be caught by water filtration systems and go right into our rivers, lakes, even the ocean. When in the ocean, these fibers act as sponges, sucking up other pollutants around them. They then become these little ‘toxic bombs’ just filled with industrial chemicals, pesticides, and motor oil that then end up in the bellies of fish that eventually end up in our bellies! It is already estimated that there are 1.4 million trillion microfibers in our ocean. These are some serious downsides to what seemed like a great solution. While we can try washing our clothes less, we need to start using natural fibers. Polyester accounts for more than half global fiber consumption. Buy bathing suits and workout clothes made of recycled material like from the brand Natasha Tonic, the swimsuit brand with the least synthetic fiber used to produce them and made ethically! Avoid most products marketed as vegan, it’s likely going to be made of synthetics. Vegan leather is often made of polyurethane (most popular in home furnishings like furniture, bedding, and carpet underlay) or toxic PVC, and who wants to be wearing that? Here are some brands where you can be sure to find almost 100% natural fibers: Toast Sourcery Agaati Siizu People Tree A DIY herb garden is an easy and inexpensive way to reduce waste at home. Herbs can be used in a variety of different dishes, and they can be saved for a long time without the need of refrigeration. For those living in a small space, don't worry! Herb gardens do not take up much room, and they smell good!
Herbs purchased at the store often have a very high package to product ratio. They often come in large plastic containers that end up in landfills. It's easy to do your part to help the planet by having your herbs grow right in your house. The materials needed for your DIY herb garden include: Mason jars (these can be recycled!) Small rocks or gravel Potting mix Herb plants or seeds (can be purchased at local garden center or hardware store) Jar labels (get creative with it!) Steps to completing herb garden: 1. Clean out your mason jars 2. Lay an inch or two of your small rocks/gravel at the bottom of the jars. This is for water to drain into since there are no drainage holes. 3. Place some potting mix into the jar on top of the rocks 4. Transplant or plant your herbs/seeds into the soil, and cover with any remaining potting mix so the mason jar is full 5. Label your jars *Important to note: The herbs need at least six hours of sunlight per day, so put them by a window! *Keep the herbs watered, but do not overwater. America is 7th in the world for recycling, with Germany and Austria taking the lead!
Recycling became a globally recognized to be a necessary practice in the 1970's, which attributed beautifully with the counterculture of the times. Yup, Hippies made recycling cool. Hippie culture and practiced promoted a sustainable lifestyle. Within that lifestyle recycling was a major factor, along with being sustainable and straying away from a materialistic mindset. It was the hippie culture that started the pro-environment movement, including the introduction of Earth Day in 1970. Yes at the time they were not always regarded by others as being in high standings, and known by many as tree huggers. Hippies' morals and values paved a path to the philosophy of valuing and being appreciative of the Earth through recycling, sustainable practices, organic food, low carbon footprints, vegetarianism and forest preservation. You don't have to wear the wide flared pants and only eat vegetables to channel your inner hippie. But next time you make that conscious choice to recycle just know you're a little hippie too! Here's the thing: sustainable fashion is IN! Recycled Riches is here to teach you how you can vamp up your wardrobe without negatively impacting the environment. Let's be real: why wouldn't you want to look good and help save the Earth while doing it?
With that being said, here's 10 tips on how to recycle and repurpose your old clothing! 1. Host a garage sale and donate the proceeds to a charity 2. Directly support those in need locally 3. Donate clothes to retailers or thrift stores and receive a discount or credit 4. Seek out local organizations 5. Shop from thrift stores 6. Do a clothing swap with your friends and/or family 7. Donate to a textile recycling program 8. DIY into something new 9. DIY into something old 10. Consign and resell For more information, read the Good Trade's article "10 Impactful Ways to Recycle & Repurpose Used Clothing!" Did you know that the EPA estimates that textiles make up 5% of all landfills in the US? Or that only 15% of unwarned clothing is actually recycled? We’re here to teach you how to properly recycle your unwanted clothing!
When you think of waste, what do you think about? Often times, people envision things like plastic bottles, food scraps, dirty diapers… Not a perfectly wearable t-shirt or shoes that got thrown away simply because they no longer fit. These kinds of things can be resold, reused, repurposed, or recycled. Here are some tips for you to keep old unwanted items out of the trash and your closet. Reselling your clothing is one of the best ways to find a new home for your old clothing and to make money while doing it! “Recycling” clothing does not always mean literally that. In this case, you’re simply passing on clothing in good condition to be loved by someone new. You can either take items like this to your local consignment shop, or you can sell them right from home with online companies like Depop or Poshmark! To reuse old t-shirts or cotton clothing, you can use these around the house as cleaning cloths. This will save you money and help our Mother Earth by choosing to reuse. Simply cut your old clothing into shape of choice and get cleaning. If you already have enough rags… Try donating! Your old clothes can be new clothes to someone else. Places like Goodwill are also beneficial for the entire community, creating jobs and saving the planet. You can also take your old things to homeless shelters or community centers to directly benefit those in need. Follow this link to find the nearest thrift store near you: https://www.thethriftshopper.com/ If your clothes are past being reused, then you can start look toward recycling options such as Council for Textile Recycling. It’s so important that we work together to keep our planet green and these are some great steps everyone can take! |
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AuthorBlog posts are written by members of Recycled Riches Clothing Co. Archives
April 2021
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