New Year's Resolution: 5 Ways To Be More Sustainable In 2020
2020 is the year for being better and doing more. As we head into a new decade, we implore you to find ways to help the environment and local community. From shopping local to consuming less, there are a wide variety of ways that you can be more sustainable in 2020.
Looking for eco-friendly New Year’s resolutions? Here are a few of our favorites.
Consume less
The number one thing you can do for the environment is to buy less stuff in 2020. According to TBD, a European-based digital company looking to change the world through helping support mission-driven companies, if everyone lived like the average American citizen, we would need 4.6 earths to support us.
That’s because we all tend to over-consume, buying tons of stuff we don’t need and, in turn, expending tons of energy and waste. At MADI Apparel, we’re dedicated to making ethical and sustainable clothing that can be worn time and time again, meaning you don’t have to keep buying more and more.
Of course, not buying anything can seem impossible—so the next step would be to change what and how you buy. When you do need to consume, try to buy local or buy sustainably. This includes clothing stores, farmers markets, local restaurants, and more. This reduces your overall carbon footprint while also giving back with your money.
Create a capsule closet
A capsule closet is basically a small, condescend closet that consists of all your favorite versatile clothing items. Typically a capsule wardrobe is created out of a handful of well-made, long-lasting basics that can be used in a variety of different ways. Typically you will create a capsule closet for each season, made up of between 30-40 pieces from pants to shoes to jewelry.
This is a great way to see what you have and understand that maybe you don’t need more. A capsule closet won't change the world, but it will change the way you look at it. You’ll start to realize that you really don’t need as many pieces of clothing that you think you need and you’ll get more creative with the ones you already have!
Shop our ethical basics for your next capsule closet.
Donate what you don’t need
The average American throws away approximately 68 pounds of clothing and textiles each year. Give your clothes a second life and a purpose by donating them to a good cause!
After you create your capsule wardrobe, donate all the clothes you decided you don’t need to people who do need it. We partner with a few local and national women’s shelters that are always looking for clothes and other items to give to those in need.
Trying to figure out where to donate clothing in Kansas City? Check out some of the places we give to and where you can give too.
Say no to plastic
Nearly every single piece of plastic you have ever thrown away is in a landfill or in the ocean. Plastic doesn’t just disappear—it goes somewhere. You can make a big difference by simply saying no to plastic.
Most of the time, we buy things with plastic because of the convenience. We forgot to bring our water bottle to the gym or our reusable shopping bag is in the trunk, not in our shopping cart. In these moments, tell yourself that it’s your mistake and buying plastic isn’t the solution.
Be prepared for your next outing with reusable produce bags, water bottles, and all the like and see how much better you feel and how much of a difference you can make just by simply being prepared.
We use reusable, eco-friendly reusable muslin bags and recyclable tissue for our packaging. We also hand-stamp every bag in person to give that personal touch!
Another element that sets us apart : we don't use any elastics in the waistband or legs of most of our underwear, unlike most of our competitors. The only elastic we use is in the blend of the 95% bamboo, 5% spandex in our fabric.
Reuse what you can
Sometimes, avoiding plastic is just not an option. If this is the case, figure out where and how you can reuse your plastic! This is the case with nearly every kind of packaging. From glass to our muslin bags, there are a variety of ways you can give these items new life and make them more useful for you in the future.
For example, we love using our muslin bags for packing our undies and bras when we travel! It keeps them from getting wrinkled and helps us stay organized. They’re also great for giving gifts to loved ones or using as a purse organizer.
Here are a few other easy swaps you can make to be more sustainable in 2020:
- Use empty candle jars as bathroom organization
- Use plastic packaging as toy organization
- Ditch paper towels and use reusable rags instead
- Save food/veggie scraps for vegetable stock
- Use paper towel/toilet paper rolls for storage
What are your sustainable New Year’s resolutions? Share them with us on social media or in person and let us know how you’re making the world better through your actions this decade!