11. Stopping Shopping
Not sure which way you make the most pollution? Find out.
The average American generates 1,700 lbs. of municipal waste each year.​​​
​ No one can stop shopping entirely, but if you could kick the habit - it would help. ​​​​​
Clothing
Fashion "is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions."
Animal Skins:
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By Nina Bazza - https://www.four-paws.org/, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77747637
Cotton:
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“Cotton defoliants are ‘the most toxic farm chemicals currently on the market’.”​​​​​
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Synthetic fabrics:
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Garment workers:
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The "industry ... employs every sixth person on Earth ... ​
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The apparel trade has exploited labor [and] the environment.”
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“Human rights abuses are systemic.”​​
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Colors:
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​"Textile dyeing is one of the most polluting aspects." (see photo)
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The "fabric-dyeing industry ... uses trillions of gallons of water a year."​​​​​​
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Fast Fashion:
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The "fast-fashion sector … has become notorious," "for chemicals ... in landfills and oceans.”​​​
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... "as long as consumers continue to ... buy.”
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People "refuse to grasp that cheap clothing comes at a very steep price to other humans."​​
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"‘We’re doing harm ... with a lot of [fashion] business' ... And yet, consumers continue to consume." ​
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Social Status: ​
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"After basic needs are met, consumers [buy] items for social status;
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As people try to acquire more ... status, more ... expensive status-products are needed.
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Producing all these things generates [pollution] … We consumers are complicit. We demand the products." ​​​
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Delivery
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Trucks:
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“Heavy-duty trucks are responsible for nearly a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions."
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Medium and light-duty vehicles contribute more than their fair-share as well.​​​​
It "contributes to climate change, pesticide pollution, and waste."
"The port of Los Angeles...shows apparent increases in NO2 [pollution] in October
2021" due to "record-breaking backlogs of container ships idling offshore."
Ships:
​Container ships may be “the biggest and dirtiest machines on the planet.”
​Cargo ships "burn some of the world’s dirtiest ... fuels.”
Dumping rubbish isn't great either: "illegal dumping ... is ... ongoing."
Ocean accidents:
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“The Sri Lankan … Navy said ... The ship’s crew were aware of [the nitric acid] leak ...
and had sought to dock in Qatar and India but were denied permission." June 2021
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"An abandoned cargo ship packed with cars is adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, after a rapidly- spreading fire ..." February 2022
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What To Do?
Recycling?
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Except for paper/cardboard, bottles & aluminium, many "recycled" materials get incinerated or dumped.
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Reuse or Repair:
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Support Right-to-Repair legislation. ​
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Want something fixed? See if there’s a Repair Cafe near you.
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Note the clever corporate concept of planned obsolescence:
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"The ultimate goal is to make you buy products again and again".
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For more info, read about Buy Nothing Day.
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Buy 2nd hand:
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You can find good-quality clothing at local second-hand stores.
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Regarding tech items: buying-second-hand-tech​
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Consult the scorecards:
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Compare different apparel companies at an ethical fashion scorecard.
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For electronics, go to: ethicalconsumer.org/technology/shopping-guide/laptops
George Carlin:
"Everybody's got ... their stuff. This is my stuff, that's your stuff, that'll be his stuff over there."
