Today is Earth overshoot day. Which means, that our demand for ecological resources and services given in a year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. We shouldn’t only keep this in mind but act accordingly. Every single one of us. Take small steps. But take them.
I thought of a few points that I think can easily be implemented in everyday life.
Buy less, choose well, …
This point may sound strange coming from someone who makes a living selling things. Nina Hertig, co-founder of London design studio and gallery Sigmar perfectly sums it up: „We work with people who share our values, and we work hard to tell stories, not sell products. It is important that we communicate context and principles, so people can build their own relationship with the pieces we sell. It is never a transaction”, she tells Hugo MacDonald in The New Era magazine.
I firmly believe that we should generally consume less but more consciously. As consumers, we have a choice – and the power to make a difference. Before I buy something new, I ask myself the following questions:
Do I really need it? Can I buy it second-hand? Or maybe even borrow it?
If it's something I don't really need but absolutely want – which applies to almost everything –, I ask myself whether I will enjoy it for a long time and can imagine having it in my life forever.
Sometimes I also must dig deeper and ask myself why I want it so badly. Am I having a bad day and need something to cheer me up? If the answer is yes, I try to find comfort elsewhere.
Often, I find my answers by just waiting and sleeping on it for a night. Some supposedly urgent desires often become relative overnight.
… make it last
The first point doesn't work without this one. I think that every child and adult should learn to take care of his or her things, to look after and repair them. Why not teach this at school? I am sure that we would appreciate the value of things more if we paid more attention to their nature, to how they are made and what they are made of.
I loved this quote by stylist Tina Hellberg in The New Era magazine: „We will value people that know how to repair things more and we will realise the importance, and joy, of taking better care of our things.” […]
The 5 „R’s” – Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot
Take your time!
Creating a more sustainable environment, be it your wardrobe or household takes time. Use what you have until the end of its life cycle and then buy an environmentally friendly alternative instead of replacing every item at once.
These things on the other hand can be arranged quickly:
Choose an ecological bank and green electricity, ride your bike or take public transport instead of taking the car whenever possible, unplug your chargers when you are not using them, avoid the stand-by function of your devices.
Support local. Support small businesses.
Choose seasonal and local food.
Consider buying second-hand
„In the past 15 years, the average number of times a garment is worn before it’s trashed has decreased by 36%” says Cosette Marie Joyner Armstrong, an associate Professor of Fashion Merchandising at Oklahoma State University in an article that was published in November 2020. She also points out that „the textile industry produces more carbon emissions that the airline and maritime industries combined and about 20% of water pollution across the globe is the result of wastewater from the production and finishing of textiles”. If that is not a reason to think at least twice before buying a new piece of clothing, then I don’t know. Second-hand clothes also cost resources, but by buying vintage or pre-loved you extend the life cycle of a piece. I love buying second hand. The feeling of finally finding that one piece by an American brand that you can't buy almost anywhere in Europe is pretty darn good.