Sustainability - CADS 2003

[hannahcurrens]

Professional Life: Minimilist Design is the most Sustainable

To incorporate sustainability into interior design, creating a minimilast design is an essential step to going more sustainable. Minimalism allows for a space to be decluttered and more organized, therefore using less items and ultimately using less waste. Minimalism has a clean look and feel into your space while positively impacting the environment. 

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Professional Life: Upcycle Old Garments

Upcycling is along the lines of utilizing sustainable fabrics, however it requires much more creativity on the designer’s part. Upcycling is turning older garments into a new one of higher value. The product’s life cycle increases and a new and unique garment is then created. Upcycling can add a unique twist to any collection while conserving the product instead of wasting it. 

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This infographic provides helpful tips for making the fashion industry more eco-friendly. Shopping local or second hand, as well as purchasing clothing made from sustainable fabrics, will leave a much a larger impact on the environment than what you may realize. 

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Professional Life: Sustainable Fabrics for Eco-Friendly Clothing

Clothing that is harmful to the environment is primarily because of the toxic chemicals and dyes that make up the fabric that the clothing is made of. When selecting what fabric to use for your designs and future collection, it is importantg to select sustainable fabrics. Organic cotton, hemp, and linen fibers as well as non-GMO soy clothing will have a much healthier impact on the environment. Additionally, these fabrics are made well and will create durable and comfortable clothing. 

[hannahcurrens]

Professional Life: The Elimination of Fast Fashion

The fashion industry may appear very glamourous, but it has a detrimental impact on the health of the environment due to the practice of fast fashion. Fast fashion is cheap and trendy clothing that cycles out nearly every week and made from toxic chemicals and dyes. Since it cycles out so quickly, the pressure speeds up production which causes greater emission of greenhouse gases, depletion of non-renewable resources, and high use of water and energy. It is important to shop less at stores such as Forever 21 and H&M because their production methods leave a toxic effect on the environment. Shopping at brands that are more sustainable, such as Levi’s or Athleta, will be a much healthier choice for the environment.

[hannahcurrens]

Personal Life: Recycling

As simple as it may sound, always be sure to recycle! Placing a recycling bin in your house, perhaps right next to a garbage bin, will allow you to recycle more products each and every day. Purchasing products with recyclable containers is another important thing to keep in mind when shopping. Recycling will massively benefit the environment and the more people that practice it, the larger impact we will have on the environment.

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Composting adds necessary nutrients back into soil to improve the overall soil quality. Composting can be done from home after cooking and eating to better reuse essential nutrients. Above provides you information about what to compost and why it is so important. 

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Personal Life: Start a Garden

Unleashing your green thumb can have a significant positive impact on the environment. Growing your own fruits and veggies reduces the amount of harmful chemicals released into the environment while also saving energy and improving air and water quality. Your personal carbon footprint will be massively reduced by growing your own food from the comfort of your own backyard. 

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Personal Life: Take Advantage of Carpooling

Always take advantage of carpooling with friends and family when you are all arriving to the same destination. Cars individually release a large amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere daily. Carpooling reduces the emmissions of dangerous greenhouse gases and overall improves the air quality by causing less cars to be on the road. Plus, it gives you a great opportunity to have a carpool karaoke with friends as a bonus!

[hannahcurrens]

Personal Life: Make the Switch to Metal Straws

#savetheturtles right?!! Metal straws are another eco-friendly choice that while it is a small and simple change, the more people that do it, together we can make a major change. Plastic straws are widely used, but are not healthy for the environment. Additionally, metal straws look so much cuter and fun and can also motivate you to drink more water!

[vibing-vegan]

I’m definitely not zero waste, but I am trying my best.

Instagram: vibing.vegan

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Making a trip to the grocery store is a very essential part of everyone’s lives, however it can easily turn into be extremely wasteful. Using resuable grocery bags instead of plastic ones, using only one or reusable produce bags, and purchasing items that have recyclable containers. This post provides sustainable changes that you can make on your next grocery run. 

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Personal Life: Always use a resuable water bottle or coffee cup

A very simple step that every person can do to live more sustainable is to only use reusable water bottles and coffee cups. Plastic water bottles contribute to a large portion of the environment’s landfill and are unfortunately consumed daily by so many people. Keeping a reusable water bottle handy will allow for less trash and could also keep you more motivated to drink water- especially if it is aesthically appealing! Coffee cups from various coffee shops and fast food restaurants also contribute to a lot of landfill because they are thrown out after every use and ultimately cumulates into a large amount of trash, especially because our society relies so heavily on caffeine. Many coffee shops offer rewards if you fill up your reusable cup after a certain amount of times, which is a huge perk on top of helping the environment. Additionally, resuable water bottles and mugs can make your drink last hot or cold for a much longer amount of time. Reusable cups are simple way to make a big difference that we can do every day. 

[hannahcurrens]

Personal Life: Plant-Based Substitutions

I have been a vegetarian for three years now and I am an advocate for plant-based living. Plant-based living is especially great for the environment because it uses fewer natural resources and is overall less toxic on the environment’s health. While you do not have to go fully vegetarian or vegan, small substitions make a big difference. Switching from dairy milk to plant based milk (such as oat or almond) or perhaps eating dairy free ice cream (such as Halo Top) can already have a signifcant impact on the environment and create a more sustainable life. I am not vegan, but I refrain from consuming dairy milk and dairy creamer in coffee and use plant-based milk instead. 

[hannahcurrens]

Personal Life: The Importance of thredUP and Poshmark

thredUP and Poshmark are two online consignment stores that allow individuals to sell their gently used clothing and purchase new items. The fashion industry is one of the largest polluting industries in the world and it is primarily because many consumers throw away their clothes after they are done wearing them. Gently used sites allow consumers to extend the lifecycle of their clothing and reduce the amount of clothes and textiles that are constantly being thrown away. I am personally a Poshmark user and I have bought and sold clothing on the app. I believe this is an essential step for all consumers to take seasonally or whenever they are done with clothing so that together we can reduce pollution and waste from the fashion industry. 

[hannahcurrens]

Personal Life: Vera Bradley Bags

Vera Bradley has their own sustainable collection called the ReActive collection that includes backpacks, totes, and cosmetic bags all made out of recycled plastic water bottles. Plastic bottles make up a high percentage of the Earth’s landfill, and Vera Bradley has been able to recycle and rethink millions of bottles. I find this very inspiring of Vera Bradley and I believe that it is very important to persuade consumers into buying more recycled products.