2021 is coming to a close, and what a year it has been! A whole new set of 365 days awaits, and many of us take this time to reflect on what we’d like to improve or accomplish in the coming year.
As you think about what you want 2022 to look like, why not consider setting some environmental-focused goals? Just like your clothes, our planet needs care to last. Don’t feel like you have to make a complete 180 overnight, though. Oftentimes, that’s why New Year’s resolutions aren’t kept—they’re too broad and daunting to even know where to start. Any small action to be more sustainable is a step in the right direction. Below, we explore five (achievable) resolutions for living consciously in the new year.
Skip the plastic bag
Bringing reusable bags when you go shopping is a simple yet effective way to do a bit of good for Mother Earth. Americans use roughly 100 billion plastic bags each year, which works out to about 300 bags per person annually. If you can carry reusable bags in tow on shopping trips, you’re doing your part to help reduce that statistic and support a cleaner and healthier planet. To keep your reusable bags top of mind, leave a few in your car or store them somewhere easy to reach near your front door.
Cut down on food waste
Food waste is a prevalent issue in our society, with 108 billion pounds wasted every year in the United States, according to nonprofit organization Feeding America. Buying only what you need, using ingredients you already have, and eating up leftovers are all feasible efforts you can make to send less food to the landfill.
Prioritize shopping from local small businesses
Spending your dollars at small businesses boosts the local economy, plus it’s also beneficial for the planet. When goods are bought from big-box stores or online, there are significant costs and environmental impacts associated with long-distance transportation, shipping, and storage. Much of this can be avoided just by making purchases closer to home. Not to mention, supporting small businesses keeps our community unique and oftentimes results in better customer experiences.
Avoid fast fashion
It’s difficult to avoid fast fashion entirely, but any time you have the opportunity to shop sustainably, you should. Look for quality-made garments crafted from natural fibers that you know you can wear again and again across seasons. Before long, you’ll have curated a wardrobe of timeless pieces that are as good for your closet as they are the planet.
Go green when you dry clean
Last but certainly not least, trust your clothes and household items to a green dry cleaner. We’ve made the conscious commitment to provide a clean that is safe for our customers, their fabrics, and the planet we all share. Our GreenEarth process, available upon request, is pure liquid silicone, meaning it’s environmentally non-toxic; even the EPA sees no need to regulate silicone’s use. Also being a closed-loop system, dry cleaning ensures no microplastics enter our water streams and eventually the world’s oceans. Additionally, GreenEarth is gentler on fabrics. Whites stay white, colors stay bright, and items look newer longer, so you can continue to enjoy them for many more years of wear. Having your garments and other textiles cared for by Cameo by Copeland Cleaners guarantees you’ll look good, feel good, and do good. There’s no greater way to start 2022, if you ask us!