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SUSTAINABILITY

There isn't an infinite number of resources on Earth, nor a backup planet we can travel to once the resources run out. We need to take care of our Earth so that we can take care of future generations.

What is living sustainably?

Sustainable living is a lifestyle one may follow to reduce his/her use of natural resources and giving back to the Earth. This lifestyle includes recycling, composting, reducing plastic use, reducing food waste, making ethical and conscious purchases, etc.

Save Your Co-Inhabitants

Polar bears are one of thousands of species that are endangered. This is due to climate change which is brought on by numerous factors, but one of the major being pollution. This polar bear is stranded in the middle of the ocean on a block of ice. Ice is a major part of the polar bear's natural habitat, yet it is melting away. How would you feel if every day for years on end someone came to your home and slowly picked it apart? That is essentially the reality polar bears and thousands of others are facing. Sea animals die every day due to the overflow of landfills or oil spills. We cannot allow this to go on, for the sake of our co-inhabitants, Earth itself, and our future. "Long term exposure to air pollution...can lead to chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer and other diseases." No one wins when resources are being wasted and life, of any kind, is not protected.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/pollution

Recycle

  • reduces need for taking more natural resources

  • natural habitats are preserved

    • mining and forestry will not be as in demand

  • less energy is used

    • "more energy is required to extract, refine, transport and process raw materials ready for industry, compared with providing industry-ready materials."

  • garbage incineration need decreases

 

https://www.gov.je/Environment/WasteReduceReuseRecycle/WhyRecycle/pages/benefits.aspx

Compost

  • cut down on waste produced

  • prevents the decomposition of waste that releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas

  • increase organic matter in soil

  • helps soak up water, slowly releasing it in soil

    • do not have to water plants as much

  • reduce trash bill

  • not transporting heavy waste saves fuel and energy

  • shrink landfills (see left image, overflow of waste)

  • ​

 

www.lessismore.org/materials/72-benefits-of-composting

FAST FASHION

Fast fashion is the mass production of clothes resulting in low prices for the average consumer. Fast fashion companies produce in-style clothing for low prices. Examples of these companies are Forever 21, Zara, Uniqlo, Gap, and H&M. The quality of fast fashion clothing is cheap because the prices are low, so consumers will buy more and more since the clothing will not last long and new clothes are not expensive.
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90% of clothing in the United States are sent to landfills where they sit for hundreds of years and produce potent greenhouse gases. Toxic chemicals and dyes from these clothes can contaminate soil and groundwater.
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The clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world. The first is oil. 
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Besides being awful for the environment, fast fashion is also unethical. Factories are often in countries where the labor laws are not strict and therefore workers can be forced to work for 14 hours a day for less than a dollar a day.
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The True Cost Documentary
https://www.npr.org/2016/04/08/473513620/what-happens-when-fashion-becomes-fast-disposable-and-cheap
http://remake.world/films/evergreen-jeans/

FAST FASHION ALTERNATIVES

EVERLANE

ALTERNATE APPAREL

GROCERIES APPAREL 

MATT & NAT

FAHERTY

31BITS

TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES

ETHICAL & SUSTAINABLE COSMETICS:

LUSH

PHB COSMETICS

GREEN PEOPLE

100% PURE

JUICE BEAUTY]

REAL PURITY

VAPOUR

Littlexlittle

"a Gen Z-Led campaign in support of the Sustainable Development Goals"

C.H.I.L.D. is participating in LittlexLittle and supporting the UN's goal to reach 2 billion acts of good by 2030 in support of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. We encourage you do the same. Post a picture, video, or any other media of yourself or a friend doing an act of good for the Earth and post it on any social media. Nominate others to begin a butterfly effect.

IG: @unitednations

@littlebylittleofficial #LittlexLittle #LxL

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2018/03/little-x-little-gen-z-led-campaign-support-sustainable-development-goals/

Organizations

These organizations are dedicated to improving our planet.

The Climate Reality Project

Alliance for Climate Education

Conservation International

The Dream Corps #GreenForAll initiative

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

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What is “Fast Fashion?”

 

Fast fashion is the growing industry of clothes being produced at mass rates for low prices. The fast fashion industry manufactures clothes that are cheap in material, and --in turn-- cheap in quality. You may have encountered fast fashion in your everyday life; popular stores such as Zara, Forever 21, H&M, Uniqlo, Gap, etc. sell millions of clothes annually at incredibly cheap prices. To be able to sell at an affordable price, the big brands of America hire cheap labor in foreign countries. That “Made in China” or “Made in India” tag on your clothes indicate that your clothes were made under unsafe working conditions and a lower-than-minimum-wage salary. Many foreign countries lack labor laws, and the fast fashion industry takes full advantage of this.

 

What is the environmental cost?

 

That’s right! Fast fashion also comes with an environmental cost.

 

For more information about the environmental consequences of fast fashion, check out our 5-minute pamphlet! 

 

 

What is sustainable and ethical shopping?

 

Sustainable shopping is the act of making the conscious decision of avoiding fast fashion. Sustainable clothing is made with fair trade materials, an honest wage, and safe working conditions. As a result, sustainable clothing may be more expensive than your average t-shirt or pair of jeans, but the trade that you support with each purchase is worth the price tag.

 

How can you start making ethical purchases?

 

Start with doing research! Take the initiative to find out if your favorite brands produce ethically. For clothing items, look for keywords such as “fair trade,” “ethical,” and “organic.” For cosmetic items, look for words such as “cruelty-free,” “vegan,” “sustainable,” and “ethical.” If you’re unsure about whether a brand is ethical or not, search to see if the company is socially responsible, or contact the companies! Usually, sustainable companies will have a page on their websites that talk about their commitment to sustainability; you can find information about where they produce, whether their employees make fair wages and the materials that they produce with. Another alternative to sustainable shopping is thrift shopping! Buying second-hand clothes is a great way to start shopping sustainably and ethically. Depending on where you live, thrift shopping might be cheaper than buying from sustainable companies.

 

Sustainable shopping may be hard, especially if you’re a student! It’s important to know that it’s absolutely okay if you slip from the sustainable path. We all make mistakes! Sometimes you may be given false information, or it is difficult to find products that you truly love and support. But, if you stay committed to making conscious decisions, then it all helps with the sustainability movement in the long run! Sustainability is a lifestyle, and it takes time to adjust to! (I remember the first few months of committing to a sustainable lifestyle; It was a tough start to adjust to, especially since most of us grow up shopping at fast fashion retailers.) Remember that sustainability is a choice that you make, and it impacts the world in substantial ways!


 

There are amazing documentaries and articles on the internet that educate on sustainability and fast fashion!

 

Some of our favorites are:

  • The True Cost (Can be found on Netflix)

  • The Machinists (Can be found on YouTube)

  • Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price

June Huang 

June is a passionate advocate for sustainable living! She started her ethical journey two years ago, and hopes to make a difference in the community by educating about the advantages of sustainable living; she is still learning about ways to leave a more healthy footprint on the Earth, and hopes that you can join in the campaign to create a cleaner environment for the future.  

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Director of Community Outreach 
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