Creating a sustainable wardrobe & my favourite eco businesses for everyday stuff
It's World Environment Day - 5th June 2022
To acknowledge World Environment Day, I share some ways I try to live more sustainably and a list of my favourite eco businesses.
If you have any eco-friendly tips to share, I’d love to read them.
How to Create a Sustainable & Minimal Wardrobe
I used to buy new clothes often, not only to follow fashion trends but because I didn’t really know how to dress or what suited me. I also went through a phase of only buying from eco-friendly, organic brands but my wardrobe turnover was still high because either the style or the material didn’t last.
Then I met Personal Shopper Fifi Milne whose wardrobe philosophy is simple, stylish, and offers a way to shop more consciously.
Fifi recommends sticking with what she calls ‘expensive’ colours like white, camel, navy, brown, black, and grey - these colours are versatile, work well together and never go out of fashion. They also suit pretty much everyone. Patterns, bright colours and florals often don’t last a season and they can be hard to match with other clothes.
With these colours in mind, she then recommends just updating the shapes of clothes if you want to stick with fashion trends. Shapes have a slower fashion turnover than patterns and florals.
I now take Fifi’s philosophy with me when shopping and choose from a handful of brands that I know are making ethical and sustainable choices in their supply chain and production, for example, Country Road. (I still support smaller, local brands when possible, but only if I know the material is good quality and will last.)
While I admit, I often want to buy everything she recommends (!), I have found her philosophy a great way to minimise my purchases and create outfits that last. I look at my wardrobe now and love every piece. Even the four plain white t-shirts I wear on repeat!
Follow Fifi on Instagram to learn more about getting mileage from your wardrobe:
5 Simple Ways To Be More Eco-friendly At Home
Use red or amber light bulbs in the evening - Red and amber bulbs use less energy than normal bulbs, and as they don’t emit blue light they are better for your circadian rhythm and melatonin production at night. We have amber bulbs in all our lamps and for my son’s bedroom, as he likes to leave a light on all night, we use a red bulb that doesn’t disturb his sleep. We get our bulbs from Block Bluelight. (They also have a great blog if you want to learn more about blue light.)
Wash your clothes at 30 degrees - The only things I wash at 40 degrees are sports clothes (that nylon material, like footie t-shirts) and very soiled clothes.
Boil water in the kettle before using it in the pan - a faster way to boil and therefore uses less electricity or gas.
Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth - this should be a no brainer.
Buy seasonal produce (and from local sources when possible) - Seasonal food is cheaper and it also helps your body adjust to the season (for example, leafy greens in Spring to ‘spring clean’ the body, heavy root veggies in Winter for insulation, high carb berries in Summer for more energy in the hot weather).
My Fave Eco Businesses For Everyday Stuff
A recycled toilet paper company that put 50% of its profits into building clean water, sanitation and hygiene systems for communities that need it. I order all my toilet paper, tissues and kitchen towel on a subscription. Their marketing is pretty funny too - lots of poo jokes!
Zero Co deliver single-use plastic-free personal care and home cleaning products direct to your door. I order all my cleaning sprays, laundry liquid and dishwasher tablets from them, as well as hand wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant. All pretty good products for a non-toxic brand (and I’ve tried A LOT!)
I used to spend at least $15 per month on sanitary products, but not any more thanks to these period pants and menstrual cup.
Extra tip: go up a size in the period pants for more comfort.
Super comfy sustainable underwear that’s made from natural TENCEL™ and doesn’t look daggy. (Again, go up a size).
Boody is also a great bamboo underwear brand.
A great shop for kitchen stuff. I have the silicone baking paper, muffin cups, and bread bag.
Plus, Two Ethical Businesses I Switched To
(Australia Only)
I switched to Verve super fund because they’re a company made by women for women, and only invest in ethical businesses. They also have a great library of resources to help women understand their finances and investment options.
Up Bank is owned by Bendigo & Adelaide Bank which does not fund fossil fuel companies. The Market Forces website provides a table of all Aussie banks and where they stand on fossil fuels. Choose a bank that doesn’t invest in polluting the planet.
Something Worth Knowing
Something To Watch This Weekend
Best wishes,
Joanna