Can you imagine what the world would look like if we didn’t have landfills? Piles of trash would line the streets, rivers would experience massive blockages, and there would be a lot more burning of waste. In fact, you don’t have to go far to see examples of this; even with landfills, litter is a […]
There are many different kinds of oils and fats – some are plant-based (e.g. sunflower seed oil), some are animal-based (e.g. bacon fat), and some are petrochemical (e.g. fossil fuels) – but they all share some basic properties. Oils and fats are primarily made up of hydrocarbons, they are hydrophobic (water repellent), and they are […]
In the words of the Big Compost Experiment, compostable plastics are: “…a subset of biodegradable plastics that are designed to break down under controlled environmental conditions into water, biomass, and gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane.” Whereas most conventional plastics are made from the byproducts of crude oil, compostable plastics are made from renewable […]
The fashion industry is notoriously unsustainable, but that doesn’t mean your closet has to be, too. That said, greening your closet can be a daunting task… Read More Selling used clothes is easier than ever to do. Plus, not only does selling your old clothes support a circular, sustainable economy, but it also allows you […]
According to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, less than 1% of textiles and materials used to make textiles are recycled back into new textiles. Though it’s such a small slice of the pie, so to speak, it’s worth touching on for several reasons. One, it illustrates precisely how non-circular the current fabric recycling industry is. Two, […]
Recycling symbols – they’re everywhere. But do they actually indicate whether something is recyclable? Not necessarily… Read More Plastic packaging plays a tremendous role in the mass production of consumer goods; it’s relatively inexpensive to produce and it keeps things clean and dry throughout the production process. However, despite the usefulness of plastic packaging, it’s […]
To understand wishcycling, we have to take a quick look at the modern recycling system. Recycling as we know it today came out of the 1970’s, around the same time as the modern environmental movement and establishment of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). While the environmental movement encouraged recycling, the first public recycling programs were […]
Plastic packaging plays a tremendous role in the mass production of consumer goods; it’s relatively inexpensive to produce and it keeps things clean and dry throughout the production process. However, despite the usefulness of plastic packaging, it’s one of the most common pollutants in the environment, endangering life on land and in the ocean. While […]
While adding the wrong items in your mixed recycling bin might result in contamination, chances are some of those items could still be recycled. For example, plastic bags are almost never allowed in commingled recycling, but they can be recycled and are often accepted around town, such as at grocery stores. Keep reading to learn […]
Remember our article on the 7 r’s of waste management? Since textile waste is a subset of waste in general, it seems only fitting to revisit these concepts in the context of fashion! Rethink: The first step to reducing waste related to the fashion industry is reframing your consumption habits. How important is it, really, […]