Welcome to another week of the 30 Day Plastic Free/Less Waste Challenge.

This week in addition to more tips, I would like to share my impressions of a recent trip to the Textile museum.

The current exhibit is about more responsible consumption and features beautiful displays of what creative people have produced from clothing and fabric bits and pieces that would have landed up in landfills or incinerators.

For example, some artists used clothing that was stained or discolored and would have been tossed, and redyed them for a new look. Some mended items with embroidery, or patches that gave the items a new and interesting appearance.  And others used scraps of fabric to make totally new items. A company in Pennsylvania is making all their clothing out of end pieces of fabric from other factories that would have been considered waste.  

So, it might be helpful to rethink the materials, labor and environmental impacts of your decisions.

Here are few ideas from the museum that I thought especially worth sharing

The most sustainable outfit is the one you already own.  

Fix holes and fasteners by using visible or invisible mending. If you are not very handy, like me, find a friend who is.

Research how to clean garments responsibly with cool water and non toxic cleaners

Shop secondhand.

Have a clothing swap with friends.

Buy local if you can.

Consider ways your purchase supports or harms the people and animals involved in its production

The negative impacts of fashion continues after we have finished with our clothes. To decrease pollution and buildup in landfills, question the end of life of a garment

Reconsider if a damaged item can be mended or fixed and do it.

Reuse:  Think of creative ways to use the material for another project.

Recycle:  Consider companies that recycle unusable garments through textile shredding.

Donate: Choose donations to charities that sell or redistribute items locally.

Be careful not to contribute to the mass quantities of garments offloaded as waste to Global South countries who have no infrastructure to handle it

Are you thinking, “What has this to do with living a more plastic free life?"

If you take a good look at your wardrobe, you will find that a great deal if not most of your garments and accessories are made from plastic, like polyester or other plastic based materials.

1.  Consider using fabric napkins instead of paper napkins. They can easily be found in thrift stores, and not only do they save paper waste, they save the plastic packaging many paper products come in.

2.  Use glass or reusable containers for beverages. If you are having a large gathering consider renting glasses, or asking people to bring their own glass instead of using plastic drinkware.  

3.  Try to use reusable items whenever possible. Take a good look around your house, cupboards etc. What about using a reusable coffee filter instead buying packages of coffee filters? Instead of disposable mop cleaning sheets, like swifter sheets, how about using one that can be reused and thrown into the wash?

4. Gift giving.  Think about giving gifts of experiences instead of material gifts, or if you need something material, how about gifting sustainable items. Share the story of the item, and your information about living a more plastic/waste free life.

5.   Speaking about gifts, what about using sustainable wrapping?  Wrap your gift in a tea towel, or leftover fabric, or handmade paper. Be creative

Hope your week is going well. Thanks for participating in our Challenge.

Sustainably yours

Helene