Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to fit perfectly into a circular economy. When the problem is so immense and difficult to tackle, it can be disheartening to try to take action alone. But realize that there is a bigger movement at play. When in need of hope, look at some of the following websites to keep up to date with the work being done on forming a circular economy:

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Loop

World Economic Forum

Also, keep an eye on current events. Every element of the news and societal function has a life cycle and ties back to a circular economy. Try to stay aware of this.

The roots of our mission are in fighting fast fashion, cyclical trends, and clothing made from cheap, disposable fabrics. It is always best to make pre-loved purchases from secondhand stores like Georgetown REUSE, here are some tips for mindful consumption when you are buying new items:

Try to live minimally and cut down on unneeded items. Every month, try to find five things you don’t need anymore. Ask your friends and family if they want anything or donate the goods.

The same goes for purchases you may want to make: start out by looking for unused items within your personal community or a Buy Nothing group.

Share your resources. Look for opportunities to share what you have with others. For example, consider carpooling and community gardening.

When looking to make a purchase, think consciously about how much you will use it regularly. Consider borrowing items that are infrequently used (such as a specific home renovation tool) instead of buying it new. Also, look into rental options for the items you are planning to buy.

If purchasing new, try to look for companies that meet a certain ethical or environmental standard. For clothing, the Good On You website and app rates thousands of brands. With a price tag rating, it also makes it easier to find which fashion companies are more affordable.

Sources: REI, Good On You

Lengthen the life of your clothes by taking care of them. Follow some of the guidelines below to prolong the life of your fabrics and clothing:

Shave pilling off of sweaters with a sweater comb, pumice stones, fabric shavers, or try out a velcro hair roller. (Note: washing clothes inside out can prevent pilling in the first place!)

Fold sweaters, heavy knit items, or any stretchy garments on a shelf instead of hanging them to keep them from stretching or losing their shape.

To unstretch shirt collars, tie a rubber band just below the collar and dip that part in boiling water for 30 seconds. Let it air dry on a flat surface.

There are multiple ways to get rid of stains using natural materials. While this is case-by-case depending on the type of stain, consider some methods like nontoxic baking soda, using detergent on hand, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol. Look for some specific stain-removal scenarios (like coffee, wine, blood, or sweat stains) at this link and research others online.

Sources: Peaceful Dumpling, Grove Co., Sustainably Chic