shoppingMany people get put off by the thought of going green.  Many I’ve talked to believe  it’s going to be a huge task and then simply decide they don’t have time for it.  Yes, depending on your lifestyle, there may be many things you will have to do but it doesn’t have to be a huge task.  It doesn’t have to consume your life and it doesn’t have to be mundane or boring.  Actually going green can be simple, easy and fun!  

So let’s start first with choosing one day out of the week to do something green.  I usually find it easier to tackle my ongoing tasks by assigning them a day.  For example, Fridays are usually my ‘home admin’ days or Wednesdays are bill paying days….get the idea.  So lets say you have chosen Mondays as your day to start the week off green and focus on doing something green.  My suggestion is to go shopping!  Buy a new shirt or a pair of shoes….at the consigment store, thrift store or an online exchange store.  You will be amazed at the deals you can find when you get the right stores!  How about buying an authentic Kate Spade purse in great condition for $10, or an Ellen Tracey blazer for $7?! Deals like this are out there in abundance!  Not only will you save the ‘green’ but you will save the landfill and the earth.

If saving money is not enough to convince you, here are some clothing facts that may interest you (From Natural-Environment.com):

  • Cotton: The production of (non-organic) cotton destroys farmland and pollutes waterways. The production of a simple T-shirt requires two pounds of pesticide!
  • Dyes: Most common dyes that are used in fabrics contain heavy metals that can be harmful to animals, the natural environment, and ourselves.
  • Synthetic polyesters and nylons: These are made from petrochemicals via a process of refining crude oil, which creates horrible pollution.
  • Silk: Commercial silk is made by boiling the silkworms’ cocoons, then unwinding the single silk strand onto reels. This results in the silkworms being boiled to death in their cocoons.

What’s more, many fabrics cause further environmental problems when they’re dumped in landfill. Fabrics can typically take hundreds of years (or more) to break down in landfill.

If you don’t want to go to the thrift store then I encourage you to consider buying organic or natural clothing.  Look for local vendors or check out the many online vendors of eco friendly clothing.  Have fun shopping!