-30%, -50%, -70%:with enticing discounts, it's impossible to resist the sales. Dressing, decoration, furniture, everything goes. However, for the sake of our planet, don't indulge in an out-of-control shopping spree. There is an urgent need to consume responsibly and waste less! Discover the reflexes to adopt to have fun while being green.
Sales:don't give in to shopping fever
If you are like 6 out of 10 French people, you are looking forward to the sales period. Indeed, in 2018, no less than 38.3 million people made a purchase during these six weeks. Average basket amount? €197. So buy, why not? But buying smart is better. Just consume less with good tips.
1-Take stock of what you already have
Before buying, sort through your cupboards. Seriously, do you really need that umpteenth navy blouse? Your wardrobe should reflect your way of life. If you work all week, check that you haven't run out of blouses or blazers. For jeans and sneakers, we'll see later. Do the same throughout the house:That state-of-the-art screwdriver, do you really need it? This point will probably be the occasion to realize that in fact... you don't miss anything!
Textile industry figures
In France, 2.6 billion textiles are put on the market every year, or 9.5 kg per year and per inhabitant. 40% of these clothes are actually worn and only 36% of these textiles are collected. Even more incredible:the manufacture of a single T-shirt requires 2,720 liters of water! The production of one pair of jeans:11,000 litres[1] .
2-Sort, classify, ship
What's the point of cluttering your home with things you never use? So we declutter and keep what is really useful. For the rest ? Several possibilities:
3-Turning towards eco-responsible brands
More and more brands are advocating ethical fashion by ensuring respect for labor and the quality of the materials used. This is the case with Ekyog, La Gentle Factory (a French company that works with local producers), or the eco-friendly lines of traditional brands such as Conscious from H&M, which also offers to take back your old clothes in exchange for a discount on your next purchases.
Do you want to consume in a reasonable way?
Why not turn to sewing, knitting or making DIY furniture, jewelry? You can even resell your most beautiful creations online on sites like Etsy.
4- Rent, rather than buy
If you can't remember the last time you used your jigsaw, you may not have much use for it. In this case, consider renting. This mode of green consumption applies to DIY, but also clothing, means of transport, childcare equipment, etc.
The best sites dedicated to rental
-Bricolib is a collaborative site reserved for individuals where you can rent or rent your DIY and gardening tools. Create an account, search for an ad, contact the rental company directly.
-Le Closet is a clothing rental service that allows you to renew your wardrobe regularly. You choose your clothes from a selection, you wear them as long as you want, you return the items, and Le Closet sends you another selection.
5- Adopt second-hand products
Gone are the days when buying second-hand products was frowned upon. Today, even fashionistas are getting into it. As proof:online barter is a hit! Yes, it is much smarter to exchange your old books, DVDs, toys or clothes than to buy new ones. And to unearth little treasures for the home for free, two applications to download right away:
Consuming less but better is more than an attitude to adopt during the sales, it is a way of life. No more excuses today:with all the eco-responsible applications, acting for the environment has never been so easy.
[1] Eco TLC, ADEME.
