POLLUTION AWARENESS AND ACTIVISM
Shopping Habits
In the past, goods have been delivered to stores in bulk packages. However, they are now being sent directly to individual consumers' houses. Transportation vehicles have a much lower fuel efficiency than a consumer's car when driving to a store, leading to an increase in emissions every time someone orders online. Driving to a store to buy something rather than ordering online can help decrease carbon emissions. Shopping locally also helps minimize a person's carbon footprint, as these goods often avoid the emission-producing journey across hundreds of miles before they reach the store.
Although previous studies about the carbon emissions of online shopping have found that it's better for the earth to shop online than to drive to multiple stores, more recent studies have realized online shopping can have a greater impact than it seems due to returns and delivery methods. One study done by researchers from Britain and Amsterdam reached the resolution that local stores offering delivery are the most environmentally friendly as they generate the least amount of carbon emissions. Because products from online stores must travel a greater distance to the customer's home and back, they produce more carbon dioxide than an item shipped from a physical store to a customer's home. The study found that shopping entirely online and having items delivered can produce twice the amount of greenhouse gases as driving to the store and purchasing items there. Online shopping and delivery can also produce up to five times as many emissions as having an item sent from a nearby store to a customer's home.
The researchers discovered that the most environmentally friendly way for a consumer to shop is to visit the store on foot or on a bike, rather than using a bus or car that emits greenhouse gases, and purchase the items they need while at the store before bringing everything back to their home. Stopping by the store while on the way from one place to another, such as while traveling from work to home, can also help reduce emissions as a special trip to the store is avoided. Planning out purchases for a shopping trip beforehand and buying multiple items in one trip can also reduce a consumer's carbon footprint as they are able to make fewer trips to the store within a certain time period. The same is true when online shopping-- purchasing multiple items for delivery from the same store reduces the amount of trips made by the delivery vehicle and can sometimes reduce the amount of packaging used by the company.
Clothing production and waste is another factor that can contribute to pollution. One of the biggest ways to reduce excessive clothing waste is to simply purchase less. Consider how often you will wear the item and if you will get tired of it after a short period of time. Buy clothing from sustainable and eco-friendly brands. Although you may be spending more money, the clothing will be higher quality and better for the earth. This will ensure your purchases last longer and can be worn for years rather than months, and will also encourage other companies to sell higher quality clothing and reduce textile waste.
Instead of throwing away your old clothes, which will leave them to sit in landfills for years without breaking down, consider alternate options. You can repair them, use them to create something new, donate your clothing to friends, family or thrift stores, or recycle them through a textile recycling program.
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Instead of buying new clothing, which can be expensive and lead to more waste, look in to other options. You can buy lots of clothes secondhand, both in stores as well as online. You can also participate in clothing swaps where you and a friend exchange clothes you no longer wear. In addition, renting clothes is a sustainable idea as you can borrow an outfit for one special occasion rather than buying it yourself. Resale and buying used clothing can reduce waste, overproduction, and water usage, and also help buyers save money.
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