Terris Little Haven

Retired Nurse | Family Oriented Parent | Living My Best Life In Georgia | Furry Pet Owner | Passionate Blogger | Tiny House Living Owner And Enthusiast

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Your Closet Could Be Hurting The Planet. Here’s How To Dial Down The Impact

You’ll be surprised to know that the fashion industry is responsible for contributing to around 10% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. 

This is way more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. 

In fact, believe it or not, fast fashion also ends up depleting precious natural resources. It is also reported that the industry produces around 20% of global wastewater. 

And the worst part is that around 85% of the textiles either end up buried under landfills or are incinerated. 

So, if you have always been a fan of fast fashion, then yes, your closet is definitely a threat to the planet. And considering the impacts mentioned above, it is high time you do something about it. 

Here are some ways for you to dial down the threat and build an environment-friendly closet. 

  • Take control of your shopping list

The root problem lies in excessive consumerism. You might think that buying new and trendy clothes makes you happy. But that’s not the right approach. 

The more you buy, the more resources will be used to make more clothes. 

That’s definitely a waste of money and precious resources. 

If you want to help the environment, you need to reconsider the foundations of your lifestyle. Try to limit your consumption by buying clothes only when you actually need them. 

  • ALWAYS buy from sustainable brands

There might be times when you would feel like running to the nearest shopping center and refilling your clothes with trendy outfits. But are you buying from the right people?

Taking into consideration the hazardous impact of fast fashion on the environment, many entrepreneurs have decided to offer sustainable clothing to their customers.

They are also offering zero-waste clothes to limit the overuse of natural resources. For this, all you need to do is look up sustainable women’s clothing (or men’s) and pick your designs. 

Remember, the more you demand sustainable stuff, the more readily available it will be down the line. 

  • Think before you throw

Half of the textile waste involves people throwing out their old clothes just like that, which end up exploiting the landfills. 

According to industry experts, almost all of them consist of synthetic and non-biodegradable fiber. 

Instead of throwing your old clothes in the bins, you can consider repairing or redesigning them with your imagination. 

Or you can donate your old clothes to your friends, family, and neighbors, or local thrift stores. 

This way, you can reuse your old clothes in the best way possible.

  • Wash with care

Washing your clothes has a significant impact on the environment. 

Did you know that an average American household does almost 400 loads of laundry every year? 

The water consumption is calculated as up to 60,000 liters of water. That’s a lot of water consumption if you think about it. Not to mention a lot of energy goes into running the drying cycle. 

So, there are simple ways out there that can help you reduce water and energy consumption. Washing clothes in bulk and drying them out in the sun is one way to do it. 

To sum it all up

Your closet might be the best thing in the world for you, but it is definitely not the same for the environment. So, use the tips mentioned above to build a sustainable closet and dial down the environmental impact.