Today (April 25, 2024 ed.) is Climate Action Day - also called “Climate Action Day”. The day is dedicated to highlighting and promoting action from businesses and citizens aimed at combating climate change. The exhortations are many, but a good place to start if you want to make a contribution is in your wardrobe.
Most of us probably already know the sad fact that 10 percent of the world's total CO2 emissions come from clothing production. Even more disturbing is that TV2, among others, has recently been able to report how many of the mistaken purchases we as consumers make online end up being burned or thrown away when they are returned.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, a large part of the returned clothing is never recycled, donated or handed over to second-hand concepts such as Grade A Copenhagen. Instead, it is treated as waste due to the complex logistics and costs associated with recycling. This practice is not only a waste of resources, but also contributes significantly to environmental pollution.
Companies and politicians therefore have a great responsibility to put an end to the madness and promote the circular economy. But we cannot avoid the fact that we as consumers should also take greater responsibility for our behavior.
Firstly, it is of course about us thinking twice before we press “buy”. And when we have made a purchase that has been hanging in the wardrobe for a little too long, taking responsibility for passing it on so that its lifespan is extended. A study conducted by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) in the UK shows that extending the consumption period by just nine months reduces the carbon, water and waste footprint by up to 30 percent.
And then we can't avoid the fact that we should not only consume less, but also smarter. Instead of buying cheap clothes of poor quality, which therefore also have a shorter lifespan, we should invest in a few, good pieces of clothing. And the good news is that if you also look in the direction of secondhand, you will not only get an even lower carbon footprint, but also a lot for your money. You can thus find high-quality branded goods for far less than the new price.
A really good climate action day!
