This article was written by Ceri Heathcote for posh-swaps.com, a website for swapping, buying and selling second hand and vintage clothing. Clothes swap and buying and selling second hand clothes is a great way to reduce the impact of fashion on the environment and to save money
Carbon neutral is the term which describes something that has a net zero carbon footprint. This means that it has no carbon emission associated with it. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming. By working to reduce emissions and offset carbon using methods such as planting trees (which absorb carbon dioxide), we can help to reduce global warming. One area that you can easily achieve carbon neutral status and minimize your impact on the environment is through the clothing that you wear.
The manufacture of clothing is energy intensive. Much clothing bough in the UK is also manufactured abroad and the transportation of the clothing uses further energy. This is causes the production of carbon dioxide as well as using up unsustainable fossil fuels.
A carbon neutral wardrobe consists completely of clothing that does has not used energy in it's manufacturing. Whilst second hand clothes have used energy when they were originally produced, this energy has already been used and no new energy is needed for them to be re distributed as second hand except perhaps minimal transportation costs. Buying or swapping all of the clothes in your wardrobe will give you a carbon neutral wardrobe and you can sleep easy in the knowledge that you fashion and clothing is not having an adverse effect on the environment.
You may think that it is not possible, but it is and many people do. In order to look stylish and find the best second hand clothes, it is best to look in a variety of places until you find the items that you want or need. Look for quality well made clothes that suit you body shape and will last you for a while. If you get bored or have clothes in your wardrobe that no longer fit, you can sell them or swap them, which will also minimize your waste. Textile waste that is thrown into landfill can also be environmentally damaging. Break down of natural textiles also causes the release of methane, another powerful green house gas.
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