Stylish Sustainability: Being eco-friendly is no longer just a fashionable fad

It can feel like the headlines are constantly filled with warnings about the climate crisis and how we’re all contributing to it. So much so that eco anxiety has become a very real, rising phenomenon especially amongst younger generations. 

Being sustainable in your day to day living is no longer the bohemian fad that it once was; consumers are driving the market by choosing sustainable living throughout all aspects of their lives. With so much information available it’s difficult to know where to start making the changes in your lifestyle, both big and small…

Stylish Sustainability

Sustainable fashion is not a new concept. Fast fashion led by the likes of Primark and others sprang into popularity in the early 2000s. It’s resulted in 15 million tonnes of textile waste annually; of which the non-biodegradable elements end up in our oceans. Driven by consumer concerns, fast fashion brands like H&M have been addressing this with sustainable clothing lines with natural recyclable and recycled materials – but there are other bits and pieces you can do to help.

• Buy second hand – whether that be at a boutique vintage shop, a charity shop or even just on eBay. Less demand for new clothes means less are made.
• Wherever possible buy clothes made from sustainable and natural materials like cotton or wool. They degrade much faster than plastic blend clothing and they last longer anyway!
• Buy responsibly. Instead of splurging on loads of cheap items – which let’s be honest you’ll only wear once anyway – buy high quality items to last you years.
• If you’re really sick of your wardrobe, swap clothes with a friend. One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure. 

Eco travel

Of course our travel and transport choices would make an appearance in this guide. The transport industry is a major contributor to air pollution and emissions – but it’s so easy to do little things to cut down your emissions.

• You’ve definitely heard this a hundred times before, but walk more and drive less. If everyone stopped those two-minute drives to the shops, air pollution in urban cities would reduce drastically.
• Use public transport where you can. Nobody likes the bus and the trains can often be delayed, but making a small sacrifice of personal comfort goes a long way in reducing your carbon emissions.
• If you can afford it, go electric! There are so many electric vehicles available now like the Nissan Leaf, Tesla or Renault Zoe to name just a few. Better yet, thanks to government investments – there’s actually plenty of charging points.
• Don’t worry if you can’t afford a brand new EV, not all of us are so lucky! Maintaining your current car with regular servicing will help to keep your car healthy and your emissions as low as possible. 
• Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to emissions – so much so that a single flight from London to New York is a quarter of the average person’s annual carbon emissions! We would never say to not travel, but the next time you’re getting restless for a weekend break consider whether train or coach is a viable alternative instead or even do a staycation and explore some of the amazing sights the UK has on offer.

Make your home a green sanctuary

• Lower your bills by getting cosy in blankets instead of turning the heating on the second autumn hits.
• Make your ambient lighting LED – it uses far less energy.
• Instead of furniture from IKEA, invest in long lasting furniture made with sustainable materials like bamboo.
• Make your home a garden! If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you can grow plants that will encourage British wildlife and help bees. If you’re in an urban area, having indoor plants has been shown to help reduce climate hotspots in urban areas and detoxify city air.

Most importantly – don’t beat yourself up. You don’t have to do everything at once! The best way you can help is by doing your bit as best you can. Turn good intentions into good habits and eventually, you’ll be living sustainably effortlessly.