The winter season and the transition to a new year, in particular, is a time to reflect and reset. It’s a time when we set resolutions to improve our health, our wealth, and ourselves. This year, make a habit out of doing what you can in your personal life and everyday decision-making to limit your impact on the environment and make 2020 the most sustainable year yet.
Invest in garments you will wear for decades, not days
Rather than purchasing fast fashion, clothing that is produced and sold cheaply, exploiting workers, creating waste, and wrecking an enormous toll on the environment, be a conscious consumer. You can read more about slow fashion and Karukina’s ethical approach to clothing productionhere.
Because we believe in creating garments you will wear for decades rather than just a handful of days, Karukinka offers a lifetime warranty on our entire collection. You can shop the lookhere.
Avoid anything you just use once
As a conscious consumer, you are probably aware of how to avoid single-use plastic water bottles and straws. But take your commitment to sustainability a step further by seeing what else you can do to eliminate waste from your everyday life. Bring your own containers for leftovers when you go out to eat. Use beeswax or silicon wraps instead of plastic baggies. Shop from bulk bins to minimize packaging and avoid produce wrapped in plastic.
Consider what you consume
The food you put in your body came from somewhere and was grown by someone, and it’s far better for the environment and your health when you buy local and seasonal. Consider signing up for a winter CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box in your area or make a weekly trip to a farmer’s market. If you live in areas where this seems harder to find, ask the folks at your local health food store about where their organic produce comes from. It’s likely the employees will have a pulse on the local produce scene. And if you eat meat (consider becoming a vegetarian if you aren’t already to really reduce your carbon footprint), consider not only where your meat comes from and if it was raised humanely, but how some meat has a smaller impact than others. Orderingchicken rather than beef, for example, dramatically minimizes your impact.
Use all-natural personal care and cleaning products
If you wouldn’t put it in your body, do you really want to rub it on your skin or use it in your home? Read the label on your shampoo, make-up, soap, and home cleaning products. In many homes, there’s not a lot on these labels that are natural. This means these manufactured chemicals will inevitably make there way into our environment and into our bodies. Plus, there’s the waste associated with production and the packaging that goes straight to landfills to consider as by-products of these modern conveniences. But natural if you can and also consider DIY solutions that are all over the internet as replacements to these items.
Think about how you travel
Reconsider everything from your daily commute to your annual vacation. Is there a bus route that you can take instead? How about incorporating biking to work at least a couple of days a week or to the store for groceries? And if you like to spend time abroad (who doesn’t?), don’t fret. Air travel has an enormous carbon footprint but you can purchase carbon credits (which means your money will be invested in carbon-reducing projects) to offset your impact on the climate. And book your stay at eco-friendly lodging options or travel with a sustainable tour guide.
Embrace minimalism
Be honest with yourself. How many of your possessions do you actually use on a daily basis? What on your wish list do you actually need and what do you merely want? Will one ethically and sustainably produced item that lasts be a better buy than four or five cheaper versions you will continue to replace over the years? Simplifying will bring you peace of mind, save you money in the long run, and help you do your part to minimize humanity’s impact on the planet.
