| So by now, we've nearly all heard of the 3 Rs - | | | | into making these packaging materials. (You can |
| reduce, reuse, recycle and yet so much of what | | | | always be a little bit cheeky and hand the |
| many of us do is focus on the recycling. Don't get | | | | packaging to the teller at the checkout, but the |
| me wrong, this definitely helps, but we need to | | | | waste is still there!) |
| try and do more to reduce what we use in the | | | | What about all those old clothes that your kids |
| first place. If we focus on reducing what we use, | | | | have grown out of? Do you have a friend or |
| we use less energy. Although recycling helps, we | | | | neighbour that has young kids that would be |
| still need to use energy to convert our recycled | | | | grateful to receive a load of clothes? Many of us |
| waste into whatever it becomes in its new life. | | | | are happy not to have to spend a fortune on |
| The following articles shows some pretty easy | | | | clothes that are just going to get grubby and |
| ways in which we can reduce our waste and | | | | worn through. If you don't know anyone |
| often even save ourselves a bit is cash in the | | | | personally, get them down to the local charity |
| process. | | | | shop if they are still fit to wear. If they are on |
| Firstly, before you go out and buy something, ask | | | | the grubby side, what about using them as |
| yourself if you really need it. If you know you can | | | | household cloths. Saves you from having to buy |
| live without it, don't buy it. Firstly you'll save | | | | cloths to clean your floors, windows or cars and |
| yourself some of that hard earned cash and you | | | | you are prolonging the life of the use of the |
| won't end up having to deal with all of the | | | | fabric. (Did you know that it takes about 800 |
| packaging that today's products are usually | | | | litres of water to make a single T-shirt?) |
| wrapped in. If you really don't need, there's a | | | | Carry out small repairs on clothing. Modern society |
| pretty good chance that you won't even use it. If | | | | has gotten so used to throwing out really good |
| this is the case then, it will just clutter up your | | | | clothes that simply need a button sewing on or a |
| home until you throw it away or send it off to | | | | seam re-stitched. A great idea for old jumpers is |
| the charity shop requiring yet more of your | | | | to unravel the wool (into a ball) and reuse the |
| precious time and money to get it to the shop in | | | | wool to make another garment. Even if you have |
| the first place. | | | | a single hole in your knitwear, the chances are |
| Where do you buy your vegetables? Using your | | | | that the rest of the item of clothing is more than |
| local greengrocer of vegetable shop is likely to | | | | serviceable, just waiting to take on a new life. |
| save you a heap in unwanted packaging waste as | | | | Apparently knitting is hot right now, so get that |
| they are less likely to be pre-packed in | | | | creativity going. |
| Styrofoam trays and cellophane. Unless you shop | | | | So before you rush out and buy it, or bin it, think |
| at an ethical supermarket, you have a greater | | | | about how important it is to own in the first place |
| chance of buying locally sourced products at the | | | | or get creative about a second life for the stuff |
| green grocer. Think about the energy that's gone | | | | you already own. |