On 22nd April we celebrate Earth Day!
It is a yearly event held to show support for environmental conservation. The first Earth Day had a massive impact and resulted in the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. Earth Day is celebrated by over a billion people worldwide to preserve the earth from issues such as pollution and deforestation. Our voice matters and our choices do have an impact on our planet. Therefore, on 22nd April, we all should stop for a second and think about our, not so ecological habits. We should all educate ourselves on how to preserve and protect ourselves, our families, and future generations. The Earth is our home. Together, we must save it.
How the fashion industry is harming our planet?
- The fast fashion industry is harming our planet at an alarming rate. 60% of all clothing is made from synthetic fibres e.g. polyester, which includes microplastics. Washing synthetic clothes release microplastics, accounting for 35% of total ocean microplastic contamination.
- 40 million people are living in modern slavery, and fashion is the second-largest contributor, with child labour being very frequent.
- Toxic chemicals and dyes used in the fashion industry pollute water and local communities.
- The fashion industry produces 10% of global carbon emissions and 85% of textiles go to landfills each year.
What can we do?
- Build a capsule wardrobe which is a limited selection of interchangeable, basic clothing pieces that complement each other and allows you to make a variety of outfits with just a small collection of items. Buying less and shopping for quality over quantity will save you money and time as instead of buying new trendy pieces each season, you will have timeless pieces that will never be out of fashion.
- Try shopping at charity shops and vintage stores such as XXX to help you find some preloved gems
How plastic pollution is harming our planet?
- It’s estimated that we use 4 TRILLION plastic bags each year worldwide. Plastic bags can last up to 1,000 years in a landfill!
- Individual plastic utensils are thrown away at an alarming rate. Most of them are discarded after only one usage and wind up in landfills and rivers.
- With all the bottles we buy, only around 23% of the plastic is recycled each year. The majority is disposed of in seas, landfills, and towns, damaging the environment and killing thousands of creatures each year.
What can we do?
- Always carry a reusable bag with you. It will not only help the planet but also save you money as you don’t have to pay for the bag each time you go shopping.
- Always carry filtered, reusable water bottles and metal straws. This will not only save our planet but will help you save money!
Other things we can do to save our planet:
- You could start by taking a carbon footprint calculator, to see how your lifestyle impacts the environment and where you can reduce your footprint. Here’s the link to the questionnaire: https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/?&_ga=2.263652620.1220030394.1649838712-480495871.1649838712#/
- You can also plant a tree. Trees supply both food and oxygen to the environment. They contribute to the conservation of energy, the purification of the air, and the mitigation of climate change. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do it physically. Planting a tree costs as little as £1. Donations cover the purchase of materials, time spent growing in nurseries, and long-term maintenance. Here’s the link to a reliable donation site: https://donate.earthday.org/donate_to_the_canopy_project?recruiter_id=523678
Climate change is already affecting our world today, but we still have time to mitigate the worst effects. The time, to create a generation of citizens, workers, and students ready for climate change.
If you are interested in this topic, here’s the link to the official Earth Day site! You will find plenty of tips on how to contribute:
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/
