Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Typically, the community around a suds coin laundry establishment is quite savvy with
regards to savings. Not only do we seek the best tactics to reduce daily monetary costs, but
we are also conscious about protecting our planet. At Sudz Laundromat we care about the
environment, which is why we have highly efficient washing machines to save energy and
water, and like to educate our clients on how to make the laundry process more eco-friendly.
We do love clothes, but we are aware of their huge environmental impact. There are so many
ways in which fashion affects our planet. To begin with, it generates an estimate of 2 to 8
percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. It also contributes to microplastics and
chemicals entering the ocean, which is not only detrimental to our natural resources but also
to our health. In fact, the industry produces around 20% of the global waste water. Concepts
like fast fashion promote overconsumption and overproduction, and its manufacturing
involves the use of dangerous substances as well as poor working conditions. Sadly, a big
chunk of these clothes end up in landfills or are incinerated without fulfilling their entire
lifecycle.
The carbon emissions during the fabrication and transportation processes are increased
when garments travel around the world several times along complex supply chains. With
clothes hopping from one factory to another at a frenetic pace, it is hard to track the real
impact on pollution and the degradation of numerous ecosystems. Then, there is the high
volume of non-renewable resources involved in making a garment. For example, over 10,000
liters of water are required to make one pair of jeans.
A significant amount of clothes in the world are fabricated with synthetic polymer polyester,
which ends up in our oceans with all the other plastic. Its production also uses large volumes
of oil. Yet even though polyester clothes have double the carbon footprint than cotton ones,
natural materials are not necessarily sustainable either. They require huge amounts of water,
dye, transport, and sometimes even pesticides to produce.
But the industry is not oblivious to this situation. A lot of innovation is going into developing
lower impact fabrics and procedures, such as biodegradable materials and dyes. But change
needs to come from every direction in order to make a difference. The microseason culture
that encourages the constant renewal of short lived wardrobes needs to disappear. Around
the world, millions of consumers purchase items that they never even wear, either because
they no longer fit or they have gone out of style, contributing to more emissions. Cheap
clothes, coming from ethically questionable sources, do not have the long lasting quality of
the crafted (and usually more expensive) garments. In the long term, the latter end up being
more beneficial to your wallet as much as to the environment. Online shopping also
encourages overconsumption, and often items are returned, increasing the emissions once
again.
Here are some of the things that you can do to do your part in helping the planet:
● Buy less, focusing on timeless high quality items.
● Buy from second hand shops, extending the lifecycle of an item of clothing.
● Choose organic materials which last longer and are easily repaired.
● Look after your clothes properly. Check out Sudz Laundromat blog for articles on
how to care for different fabrics.
● Buy from ethical companies, who supervise their procedures from their carbon
footprint to their work conditions.
● Consider selling your garments that are in good condition, or pass them on to
someone else.
● You can also donate your used (but usable) clothes. There are various nonprofits that
will happily receive them.
● Get creative and recycle your used textiles, making things like rugs, wiping cloths,
pillow stuffing, pet beds, and more.
Remember that whenever you buy clothes from a consignment or thrift store, you should
wash or dry clean them before wearing. Take your preloved garments to your closest
laundromat near me and we will leave your preloved items looking fresh as new.