Fashion, Reduce, Reuse, Sustainability
The Guide to Being Sustainable in 2021
For many of us out there we won’t miss 2020, but we’re looking at a high on being sustainable in 2021.
You won’t be surprised that being sustainable often has a strong correlation with our buying habits, in many instances linked to how and what we consume and the waste we create, whether it be food, products, packaging, etc. If you minimize buying any of these or are selective and mindful in what and when you buy the more likely you will have a low carbon footprint. Accordingly, if you attempt to be environmental you might even find that you save money! Who doesn’t like that?
The Big One, Try Buying Less
This is one of the major changes you can make. By choosing to buy less you don’t take on the negative effect on your carbon footprint of the materials, water, and energy used to manufacture and transport a product. This is the case with the majority of the things you can buy, from electronics, clothes, and even food. The fact is the more processed something is the likelihood the more energy has gone into creating or manufacturing it. By buying less, reducing what you use you’re on a good path to being sustainable in 2021.
Be sustainable and buy less. Only buy the necessities and products that will have true, long-term value.
Buy only necessities or products with long-term value
We need food, drink, and other such necessities there’s no argument there. But when you’re buying something beyond this you should only buy if you’re likely to get good use of it over the long-term. It should be something you’re not likely to throw away or simply replace, but something you can use and keep for years or even decades. Fashion and electronics are great examples and are things that people tend to replace time and time again.
Try rejecting the idea of disposable fashion or the urge to get that new phone with some slightly updated features.
Reduce waste and reject fast fashion.
Be Mindful of Disposal before purchase
This is very easy to forget and many people don’t consider how they will dispose of something at the beginning. Ideally, we would never to dispose of anything but can simply use it, but that often is not the case or possible.
Should you buy the product?
Question how long will it last?
When you’ve finished with it how will you dispose of it environmentally?
Can this packaging be recycled? Will it create waste?
Can someone else truly get value from it?
Don’t buy things on a whim.
For example, if there’s no food left in the house so buying a takeaway or going to the local supermarket for a microwavable dinner. Try setting reminders or organizing meals in advance if necessary to prevent unnecessary buying.
See a great deal? Don’t rush to get it, but stop and think. Ask yourself, do you need it? Will you often use it? Again, be mindful as to whether you truly get value and use out of it
Try Repairing
In years past simply throwing out something would likely have been very rare. In fact, if your favorite jumper had a hole in it the sewing kit would likely have come out. In today’s world, many of us have become accepting of products having a lifespan of only a few years with the initial reaction being to throw it away and buy another one. We at Reyo think we all need to give repairing a try to extend a product’s life.
Repair old clothes and reuse them again. Let’s extend their lifespan to make them last many years.
Try Renting. Yes, seriously
Admittedly this is not very common, but such services do exist and are becoming more mainstream in some sectors. But, should you only use something temporarily or not understand the value you will likely get from something then logic would suggest you find an alternative to buying it, minimizing both waste and money.
This is great for fashion, particularly that prom dress or suit for a black-tie event, something not likely to happen often. But some stores, Selfridges in the UK is one such business offering a fashion rental platform, that creates opportunities to rent high-end brands, of which previously we may have been unable to afford.
It’s worth highlighting that many of us are not new to renting, this was something we used to do well with VHS and DVDs at the local video store. But it’s worth thinking whether we could apply this to other such products in the future.
Try buying fresh and preparing more / Set Reminders and Be Organised.
Buying packaging or convenience foods, whether it be from takeaways or supermarkets often use excess packaging materials. This would need to be disposed of or recycled and increases our level of consumption.
Organizing meals in advance allows you to take time and prepare something from fresh, not running to the local supermarket to get that prepacked lunch for dinner.
Try Refilling and Reusing
If you need to buy, try to refill or using refill services or shops. Now, admittedly these services are still limited and few shops offer facilities to be able to refill. However, if you go for a coffee or need to grab some lunch, ask about using a refillable that reusable coffee cup or lunchbox.
It’s worth noting that smaller or more independent shops are more likely to have the flexibility to meet these requests.
For household products, Ecover has a good selection of cleaning products that can be refilled. Try contacting your local environmental store for more information.
Remember to take your reusable cup with you to prevent waste.
Eat Less Meat
Choosing to eat less meat has been identified as a change that will bring about many environmental benefits due to the extent of land use needed to feed farm animals. Whether it be simply decreasing meat intake or trying to go vegetarian or vegan on one of the major even small incremental changes here can bring about a benefit.
Commuting, remember that?
This is where most of us have seen substantial changes following the necessity to work from home. With many of us now need to go into the office less, there’s been a major environmental plus in reduced cars on the road. Although it remains to be seen whether home working will become a more permanent long-term change it does seem to be the case.
If you can, continue to push for home working where possible, yet if you need to go in try cycling, walking or if necessary public transport, while keeping safe of course.
Go for it and have a great 2021!
Go for it and good luck. These are our recommendations for being sustainable in 2021. Remember, it’s all about you and your actions.
