How to Shop Responsibly

With so many modern advantages coming from technology we have become a throwaway culture and this is most definitely not a good thing. One area in which this is incredibly obvious is our wardrobes. Rather than shop by investing in quality clothing that lasts for years we purchase cheap fashion and dispose of it quickly.

Even worse, we throw it all in the garbage, even though a large percentage of textiles can be recycled.

That’s why we need a serious global talk about responsible consumption and production.

It’s a topic that needs more attention as we are in real danger of trashing the planet. It also happens to be Sustainable Development Goal 12.

It’s safe to say it’s impossible to expect humankind to stop being so materialistic or reliant on an endless number of things but obviously there are things we can do to shop and own more responsibly.

Let’s look at how.

We all know the refrain “reduce, reuse, recycle.” The truth and promise in that refrain should be burned into all of our heads, and we should be doing everything we can to follow the mantra.

Believe it or not, this extends to our clothing. The good news is there are companies now seeking to follow this mantra.

Let’s start with the R that tends to be the hardest for humanity to follow: reduce. In order to reach a level of responsible consumption and production we need to dramatically reduce the product and waste we produce.

Not surprisingly, AI can help with this goal and Rubikloud is using it to help clothing retailers make smarter stocking decisions, in turn reducing the amount of (unsold) clothing being discarded.

Reducing product so fewer pieces sit as simple placeholders in stores before simply being discarded. This is something that desperately needs to be done as we are producing too much waste.

When it comes to the next R, reuse, most people would think immediately think of donation bins and second-hand stores or the thrift shop, but this is far from the only route to take.

If you have ever sewn clothing or investigated how it’s made then you know how much fabric is discarded in the cutting process. This is an enormous waste.

There is an easy and logical way to reuse that fabric and Nudnik shows us how. Founded by two women with a strong knowledge of the waste industry and the overwhelming presence of textiles in the refuse the company takes in the discarded fabric and uses it to create unique clothing items for children.

This is exactly where the clothing industry should be going. If so much fabric needs to be created to feed modern fashion’s needs we need to know it’s being used in a way that’s eco-friendly and responsible so we limit the damage that’s inflicted on the planet.

Then we reach the R most people think of when mulling over environmental matters: recycling.

So much trash could be averted if we managed to create a widely-used clothing recycling system like we’ve been doing with paper and plastic.

The good news is this is definitely possible. Old pieces can be torn apart and recycled into new ones and this is what Evrnu is setting out to do.

The company has created a textile called NuCycl. As its name implies, it’s introducing a new cycle to the lives of fabric by taking in discarded clothing, disassembling and purifying the elements, turning it back into yarn and then fabric and finally creating a whole new piece of clothing.

This sustainable fabric, if adopted by all the major brands, would go a long way in reducing air pollution and waste. Brands are already signing up and now we just have to hope this continues.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. It’s a process that’s been drilled into our heads for much of our lives. It’s also very important for the future of the planet.

There are numerous companies out there waiting to help you embrace the 3 Rs and live a greener life–while still getting to shop. This means you have no excuse for not living an eco-friendly life. So if you’ve already embraced it, congratulations, you’re doing the right thing. If you haven’t, it’s definitely time to start.