They calculated the carbon budget using data from Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change and an IPCC special report on global warming. The data suggests that if we can sustain a carbon budget of 420 Gt of CO2, we have a 67% chance to stay under 1.5°C of warming. If we can't keep the budget, it will lead to more devastating natural catastrophes such as wildfires, droughts and typhoons.
But hope is not lost. The biggest way to impact change is with the small actions you take every day.
6 Tips to Reduce Your Fashion Carbon Footprint Every Day
Here are six simple things you can do as part of your daily routine to reduce your fashion footprint—because Anne Marie Bonneau said it best:
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
+ Ask yourself if you really need an item before buying it (and ask yourself MANY times!). Reducing how much you buy is one of the best ways to reduce your emissions.
+ Instead of buying, rent your closet. Rent dresses, clothing, handbags, and accessories you know you'll only wear once. For women who love designer clothing, Style Carousel is a startup committed to providing women with a luxurious circular closet. They offer dress rentals and styling services for women to book whenever they need. Booking with their StylePass means users can enjoy a 50% discount and additional member perks like unlimited exchanges and first picks at new items.
+ Repair clothing that has minor faults. Finding smart and chic ways to restyle old pieces is a fantastic way to increase the number of times you wear a piece.
+ Donate what you no longer use. Consider local NGOs like Redress who are actively committed to making fashion more circular.
+ Choose quality over quantity. Every additional time a garment is worn means less pollution. Poor quality (and often cheap) clothing doesn't survive the wash cycle, meaning that in the long run, you don't actually save much money.
+ Encourage your household to do laundry in a smarter way. Always encourage doing full loads and use non-toxic detergents.
Together, we can all take small actions every day to reduce our carbon footprint and build a better world for ourselves and the generations to come.
