How to Become a More Sustainable Shopper

What do you think of when you hear the term, "fast fashion?" The little scene that pops into my head is of me walking into a McDonald's, ordering a cheap-as-chips outfit for my next night out, and it being served up on the counter within a matter of minutes by an underpaid cashier who would really rather be somewhere else. Because, yes, whatever the subject - I will not stop thinking about food. 

But fast fashion and fast food do ride on a similar wave: both provide a service that pride themselves on two things they know their customers love - speed, and a low price tag. So their products are made as quickly and as cheaply as possibly to get ready for millions of customers who want the latest thing now, now, now, with a price equally as exciting. Here lies the big problem with fast fashion: that slinky £6 bodycon dress isn't made to last many a night out (much like myself), or that £10 pair of jeans might not even see you through the season. They are manufactured so cheaply they break in a heartbeat, but the price is so attractive customers go back for more. The even bigger problem here is what happens to those clothes: it is estimated that £140 million of clothes goes to landfill every year. In 2015, 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions were produced by the global fashion industry. And let's not forget about the damage being done by distribution, our transport to the shops, non-biodegradable packaging, and the plastic bags we use to take our spend-up home. All of it contributes, and I, for one, want to start making the way I shop a little bit friendlier to my guy, planet Earth. So while I'm not expert and I'm definitely not the queen of sustainable shopping just yet, these are some helpful tips to make your next shopping spree an eco-friendly one.

1. Prioritise Eco-Conscious Brands 

When I started thinking about how to make my shopping habits more sustainable, I was worried I was going to have to kiss goodbye to some of my favourite high street brands. And, to be honest, I find it difficult to source shops and online stores that make their products and distribution truly sustainable (apart from one angel of a brand, more on that later). However, I was in H&M over the weekend and discovered something I never knew about them until now: since 2013, they have had a Garment Collecting scheme  - a global initiative, which aims to stop old clothes going to landfill by recycling them. Any item - not just H&M clothes - can be handed in to be either reused, recycled or reworn, and in return you will receive a £5 voucher. This scheme is game.changing. H&M also have their 'Conscious' range - identifiable by a green 'Conscious' label, these clothes are made with at least 50% recycled materials, organic materials, or lyocell fabrics. Another high street favourite of mine, Zara, also have their 'Join Life' range, with items being made from "forest and animal friendly materials." Their passion for sustainable fashion doesn't just stop their: their goal is to stop sending anything to landfill from their headquarters, logistic centres, stores or factories by 2020.

It isn't just fashion retailers looking to the more eco-friendly side of life either. In my 5 Little Sustainable Changes post, I spoke about Costa and their recycling initiative - the coffee chain has pledged to become the first in the UK to recycle as many takeaway cups as they sell by 2020, and if you take your own flask with you to one of their branches, they'll take 25p off your order. My favourite skincare and bath-time-treats store Lush also offer a free face mask to those who return 5 of their plastic pots to store to be recycled. I'm sure there are many other cool sustainable initiatives I'm not aware of yet - these are just from the stores I frequent the most.

As a high street store, I bet its hard to be hugely sustainable, but these brands are actually working towards making their products, distribution and outlook as eco-friendly as possible. It's all about supply and demand: if you demonstrate through your purchase that you are for sustainable fashion, that will shine through in statistics, and brands will start paying attention to it's popularity.

2. Re-purpose What You Already Have 

I know I'm guilty of thinking I need to buy something new for every occasion I'm invited to - and if you say you don't do that, you're lying. Before you click onto ASOS milliseconds after the mention of a party, have a look in your wardrobe and try outfits you hadn't thought of before that could work. Like maybe that top with that skirt. Also, an idea I got from the lovely Fleur de Force's 'Re-Hauling' video is rather than buying new and expensive things to replace broken or damaged goods you already own, take them to a seamstress and get them mended. It will probably end up much cheaper, and you can fall in love with your wardrobe again without buying a whole new one.

3. Research Whether the Brand Uses Sustainable Materials in Their Clothes and Delivery

I've already mentioned some brands above that have specific ranges dedicated to using sustainable materials in their products. However, some of the items you already own may be more sustainable than you think. Money Crashers has an excellent list detailing the most eco-friendly materials brands can use in their clothes, but the one that I'm most aware of on the high street is probably linen. This is made from flax, which needs a lot less energy to manufacture than other materials due to the fact it needs less water, pesticides and fertiliser, and can also be composted or recycled. Others you may know about include organic wool, bamboo and silk. And it's not just the materials in the clothes themselves that are important - if you're getting your items delivered, it's worth checking out the packaging they use. A wonderful, wonderful example of a brand that is committed to being eco-friendly both in their products and their distribution is Lucy and Yak (this was the angel of a brand I was on about earlier). No plastic is used in their packaging; instead, their items are packaged in bags made from 100% recycled materials, which are delivered inside biodegradable mailing bags. So more brands like this please! 

4. Shop on the High Street 

It's difficult to discern whether shopping on the high street or shopping online is more eco-friendly. Of course, with an online order there are perhaps less places for your purchases to stop before they get to your door, but - especially with next day or express delivery - a lot more work is involved in getting your items to you. And I know clothes delivered to stores to be put out on their shop floors are covered in plastic packaging, and the means of getting to those stores can be polluting.  However, there are little changes you can make to ensure your high street spend-up is a bit more sustainable:

a.) Take a tote bag with you to avoid those pesky 5p plastic bags. 100,000 marine animals are killed annually because of plastic bags. So don't buy 'em. 

b.) Take public transport. Taking a bus or train into a big shopping city or town will reduce the amount of polluting cars on the roads. In the US, its estimated that one third of the air pollution that produces smog is due to motor vehicles. And if you're only going down the road, hop on your bike or take a little walk.

c.) Use cotton mesh bags for loose groceries. These can be super duper cheap and eliminate the need for more plastic bags when it comes to doing your food shop. Just pop your loose fruit and veg into these reusable bags and Bob's your uncle. 

5. Don't Just Throw Your Clothes Away 

You may be done with your old clothes, but that doesn't mean someone else wouldn't be able to show them some love. If its difficult for you to get to a H&M, or any other stores I'm unaware of that offer a similar recycling system, there are many more options to avoid your old 'fits from going straight to landfill. Giving your items to charity shops ensure they continue to live a long and happy life while also giving money to the less fortunate. If you wanted to make some money for yourself, eBay, Depop and the Facebook marketplace allow you to sell all sorts of goods to anyone who might need them. Looking on these sites, or in charity and vintage shops for your next purchases are also fab, sustainable ways of shopping, by eliminating landfill altogether and giving some old clothes a new lease of life. Plus, who doesn't love a good second-hand bargain? 

I've tried a fair few ways of trying to lessen my impact on the planet, but when you have a spending habit like mine, it's not always easy to cut down on the fast and unsustainable fashion. Hopefully these tips will help you as much as they help me!