DIY

A sustainable guide to thrifting

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 16:48:31 +0000

A sustainable guide to thrifting Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:48

Lauren Mullen and Kate Huun

Thrifting goes hand in hand with a sustainable lifestyle. With Americans throwing away over 13 million tons of clothing each year, fast fashion and overconsumption lead to excess waste in landfills, carbon emissions from textile manufacturing and depletion of resources. Thrifting promotes sustainability by diverting clothing from landfills for reuse. You can participate in thrifting by donating unwanted clothing and purchasing used clothing instead of buying new.

The importance of thrifting for sustainability

Less clothing in landfills: Most clothes are made from synthetic materials, which take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. When you thrift, you help extend the life of clothes, which can reduce the volume of clothing sent to landfills each year.
Fewer wasted resources: Making clothes takes a lot of water. One pair of jeans is estimated to use about 1,800 gallons of water in the manufacturing process and cotton growth. Thrifting keeps clothing in use for longer, which can help limit wasted resources through decreased demand for new products.
Reduce chemical pollution: Most cotton used to make clothing is genetically modified, which means the growing process is pesticide-intensive. Pesticides can lead to soil acidification and water contamination. Textile manufacturing can also involve harmful dyes and crude oil by-products. The environmental risk increases when excess chemicals leak into areas surrounding the manufacturing facilities, which can contaminate surface and groundwater.

The benefits of thrifting for consumers

Thrifting benefits not only the environment but also consumers. Here are ways you can benefit by participating in thrifting.

Save money: You can save money by purchasing secondhand clothing. Thrift stores often have much lower prices than buying new items.
Update your style: Thrifting offers a wide variety of clothing types and styles to help you develop a unique and functional wardrobe.
Lower-cost luxury: Thrift stores often have vintage items or designer products at a fraction of the initial cost. You can elevate your wardrobe on a budget.
Social responsibility: You can feel good about disposing of unwanted clothing by donating to a thrift store instead of throwing items away.

Alternatives to thrifting

Thrifting isn’t the only way to keep unwanted clothing out of landfills. The EPA estimates that 84% of donated clothing ends up in landfills and incinerators. When donating, consider whether the items are functional to avoid passing the burden of disposal on to others. Here are other ways to give your clothing a second life.

Make a trade: Plan a clothing swap with your friends, residence hall, student organization or another group.
Alternative donations: Donate directly to those in need, like to a homeless center or domestic violence shelter. Often, these organizations have information on their websites about how or where to donate.
Repair and repurpose: If you have clothing that isn’t in good condition, consider making repairs or reusing the item for a different purpose. For example, you can use old T-shirts as cleaning cloths.
Make it last: Save and store unique items that you may not wear regularly to use for costumes or theme parties.

Things to keep in mind before going thrifting

It’s easy to over-buy when thrifting due to cheaper prices. However, buying things you don’t need just continues the waste cycle. Make sure nothing you purchase ends up back in the donation box. Before you buy an item, consider the following:

Would I buy this if it were brand new?
Do I have things in my closet that I can wear with this?
If I plan to repair an item, do I have the time and materials to do so?
Do I have something like this in my closet already?
Will this fit me? (size, style, etc.)

Start thrifting

Boulder has many local thrift stores within walking distance of campus. Check out this map of thrift stores in the Boulder area.

Behaviors like thrifting instead of buying new can positively impact our environment. Join the Sustainable Buffs community to get more involved.

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Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:28:40 +0000

Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/12/2024 - 13:28

Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to do something nice for anyone in your life you appreciate! As you celebrate, remember to keep sustainability in mind.

Why leave the planet out?

Valentine’s Day is heavily commercialized, with stores carrying a wide array of chocolates, cards, flowers and stuffed animals. While many people enjoy exchanging gifts, the environmental impacts are lofty. According to a video by Waste 360, on Valentine’s Day, U.S. citizens buy:

36 million heart-shaped boxes.
180 million cards.
198 million roses.
881 thousand bottles of sparkling wine.
58 million pounds of chocolate.

The environmental impact adds up to more carbon emissions than would be created from driving around the world 3,993 times. That’s not a reason to swear off the holiday altogether. It’s just a big incentive to celebrate more sustainably. Here are ideas for zero-waste gifts this Valentine’s Day.

Make your own card

Sure, it’s easy to buy a card at the grocery store. But while those pre-made slogans and heartfelt messages look nice, they lack originality and thoughtfulness. You don’t have to be artistic to make your own card; colored pencils and paper are enough. And if you’re still doubting your abilities, websites like Canva have online card creators you can use to personalize and print out cards in five minutes or less. Making a card cuts down on the paper waste produced by card companies and hopefully will create less demand for premade cards in the future.

Bake your own desserts

Often, a hand-made dessert will be more appreciated than a box of chocolates from the store. There are a ton of cookie recipes online that use five ingredients or less. Plus, baking can be therapeutic in and of itself, not to mention a bonding experience if done with others.

Make your own candle

Everyone likes getting candles. You can take a zero-waste spin on this classic gift by making someone an entirely hand-made candle. The three primary materials you need are soy wax, a wick and a vessel for the candle. Soy wax is a great, 100% natural and biodegradable alternative to other candle wax, such as paraffin, which has a more considerable environmental impact. On top of that, you can reuse any container you want in the process. You can use mason jars, metal tins, fun glasses from a thrift store and even halved lemon peels.

Make your own blanket

It’s surprisingly simple to finger-knit a blanket. You can learn to make the blanket in less than two hours using your own two hands and approximately five to seven skeins of chunky yarn. You can pick whatever color scheme you want for a cozy and cute homemade gift.

Buy sustainable options

If you don’t want to give homemade gifts, you can still choose a better present for the environment. Purchase fair trade chocolate. Look for the fair trade symbol on the packaging. Fair trade means that workers are paid fairly, have safer working conditions and have more rights.

Give ethically sourced jewelry. Unethical gemstone mining can cause soil erosion and deforestation. By going the extra mile to uncover the history of the products you buy, you can stand up against these harmful practices.

Skip the commercial flowers

Flowers are one of the most visible and well-known Valentine's Day gifts. In the U.S., 80% of cut flowers are imported from foreign countries. The International Council on Clean Transportation estimates that flights importing flowers “burn approximately 114 million liters of fuel, emitting approximately 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.” Once the flowers make it to America, they are transported to stores using refrigerated trucks, which use 25% more fuel than non-refrigerated trucks. These trucks also use diesel fuel, which produces more emissions than gasoline-fueled trucks.

Instead, buy local. Several local Boulder florists grow their flowers or are part of a local collective that allows them to source flowers from different florists or growers within the state.

Zero-waste date ideas

The best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably is to plan for unique experiences. There are many options for dates that are fun while still being environmentally friendly.

Spend time in nature. Go on a hike or a short walk at sunset to appreciate nature together. You can also have a fun photoshoot outdoors in pretty scenery, with the bonus of having a way to remember the day forever.
Go ice skating. It’s a fun winter staple activity and an excuse to hold hands.
Candlelit dinner at home. You will have more privacy and more options than in a restaurant when you do it yourself.
Movie night. Stay in and watch a romantic movie for a relaxing and cozy holiday.

Choose to celebrate sustainability

Holidays don’t have to mean going over your budget or harming the environment. You can find creative ways to recognize the special people in your life.

If you want to learn more about how to live sustainably, check out the Environmental Center website.

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Sustainable Halloween ideas

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:53:08 +0000

Sustainable Halloween ideas Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:53

Celeste Robinson and Karlie Conzachi

Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season. However, the excitement of the holiday can make it easy to ignore zero waste and sustainable habits as you decorate and celebrate. Costumes are often bought specifically for the holiday and then never worn again. And candy comes in small, individually wrapped pieces, which produce much waste that is not recyclable. Halloween can be a time to celebrate and have fun. Yet, with some planning and intention, you can make choices that protect our environment. Here are ways to enjoy Halloween sustainably.

Costumes

Buy or make costumes from local thrift stores. Often, thrift stores bring out items specifically for Halloween, making it easy to find costumes. Shopping at thrift stores is also typically cheaper than buying a premade costume.
If you’re not thrifting your costumes, buy reusable costumes like an animal onesie or other items you may wear again.
There are also costume rental services, so you can get the exact costume you want without buying it for only one occasion.
You can make your costumes. Homemade costumes often use cardboard, clothing you already have or scrap fabric. You can reuse or repurpose materials and spend less money on your costume this Halloween.

Treats

Choose candy to hand out that has paper packaging (like nerds, pixie sticks, etc.)
Choose candy with aluminum foil packaging (like Hershey’s kisses)
Both paper and aluminum foil are recyclable, whereas candies wrapped in plastic are not. While it seems like a slight difference, so much candy is handed out and produced for Halloween that this subtle difference can have a significant impact.
While making treats to hand out on Halloween produces the least waste, this may not be feasible for trick-or-treaters. However, if you're getting treats to hand out to close friends and family, make treats like cookies or homemade candy.

Decorations

Keep decorations simple.
Instead of fake spider webs and plastic spiders, stick to the classics and put a carved pumpkin on the front porch. Pumpkins are entirely biodegradable, and it is fun to carve them with your friends or family. You can roast the seeds to make a delicious and nutritious snack.
Choose better quality decorations that you can reuse each year. If you decide not to store your decorations for the future, consider donating them to a thrift store.
Get creative and decorate your house using things you already own. Look for ideas online or plan a DIY night with friends. This way, you don’t have to buy anything new, and you don’t have to throw anything away after the holiday.

The positive impact of a sustainable Halloween

There are many habits you can choose to make this Halloween season more sustainable. As we continue to learn and become more eco-conscious as a community, we also continue to grow as individuals and figure out the impact of our actions. Advocating for sustainable practices goes much further than protecting wildlife and our environment. Being sustainable encompasses us and how our interactions with one another can impact our future generations and human life. When you end up composting your locally bought pumpkin, thrifting and reusing clothing or decorations, you benefit yourself, others and the environment.

During this Halloween season, we encourage you to be mindful of how you can implement sustainable practices into your life. Sustainability can look like saving money and reducing waste when celebrating Halloween this year.

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Household eco-conscious living

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Household eco-conscious living Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 03/14/2023 - 00:00

Karlie Conzachi

Are you new to living on your own in a dorm room or with your friends off campus? Is inflation getting the best of you? Same! My name is Karlie, and I'm a senior on the Zero Waste Outreach Team at the Environmental Center. During my time working at the E-Center, I have learned many tips and tricks for eco-friendly living, so I am here to help! In this article, I will provide you with household and lifestyle DIYs that will help you take care of yourself, your home and other lifestyle necessities with the earth and your wallet in mind. These easy (and fun!) hacks will save you time and money, including utilizing items you may already own.

Bathroom

Let’s start with the place you go first thing each morning and each night right before bed. A lot of bathroom items can be recreated to save time and help you adapt to living a more zero waste lifestyle. Here are some of my favorite swaps and DIYs for your bathroom:

Is your face covered in streaks of mascara even after using face wash and warm water? Try these DIY makeup remover pads for gentle and effective use. This one uses old fabrics and a sewing machine to give new life to old clothes; however, you can also use old ratty towels, clothes and other unused materials to cut little rounds.
- Use a repurposed jar to store them (you can also use this jar to outline a circle so your makeup remover pads fit perfectly).
Shampoo bars are another easy item you can make yourself, and reduce plastic use while doing it. Usually equivalent to 2-3 bottles of plastic shampoo bottles, these bars are phenomenal and can be customized for your hair needs! Not only that, but making your own shampoo bars ensures you are not putting harmful and toxic chemicals into your hair. Here are two vegan and plastic-free shampoo bar recipes:
- Gentle lye-free bar: best for avoiding greasy hair and excess oil
1 cup castile soap
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ teaspoon castor oil
½ teaspoon black molasses
15 drops of vanilla essential oil, 15 drops of patchouli essential oil and 10 drops of rosemary essential oil
- Melt soap. Once melted, stir in olive oil, castor oil and black molasses. Let cool. Stir in essential oils, pour into a soap mold and let sit for at least 24 hours before using.
  - Simple custom bar:
    - ⅔ cup olive oil
    - ⅔ cup coconut oil in liquid form
    - ⅔ cup sweet almond oil (can swap for avocado oil, grapeseed oil or any essential oil blends to choose the scents you want)
    - ¼ cup lye
    - ¾ cup cool water
    - 2 tablespoons essential oil (optional)
- Combine oils in a bowl, in a separate heat-proof container, and pour the lye into the water slowly, stirring constantly. Allow the lye and water to cool to ~125 degrees, slowly pour it into the oil and continue stirring. Mix until the consistency is like pudding and stir in another tablespoon of oil and your essential oils if you choose to include them. Transfer to your mold and cover for 24 hours, then dry for a few weeks before using.
If bars are not your thing, try this simple shampoo recipe: ¼ cup distilled water, ¼ cup liquid castile soap, ½ teaspoon of oil of your choice and some container to store. Mix together all ingredients, shake before use, and feel free to add up to 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar if you are worried about oil.
If you aren’t able to DIY, you can also try bulk shampoo/conditioner. These places in Boulder County offer bulk shampoo/conditioner products:
- Nude Foods Market (Located in Boulder. Delivery available in Boulder, Central Denver, Gunbarrel, Lafayette and Louisville)
- Simply Bulk Market (Longmont)
- Here are some other places that have plastic-free environmentally friendly soap products in Boulder:
  - Lucky’s Market
  - Natural Grocers
If you want to go on a refill extravaganza, consider using your bus pass to head down to Denver (or carpool with friends) to check out some amazing refill options:

General tips for bathroom products

For those who have a period, consider investing in menstrual cups.
Brush your teeth with baking soda (put it in an Old Spice shaker).
Or mix with water and add peppermint oil and create a paste then store in a repurposed jar.
Castile soap is your best friend for all things cleaning.

Kitchen

A kitchen is an excellent place for developing new eco-conscious habits. You can reduce your waste, become a diligent grocery shopper, learn how to store food properly to get the most out of what you buy and make life a bit easier for cooking and cleaning in your kitchen.

Swap paper towels for reusable ‘unpaper’ towels out of old 100% cotton fabrics or old towels. This works best if you can sew them together, but also works great as just a square of reusable fabric.
Compost! Sign up for a free EcoVisit and an eco-kit filled with Zero Waste essentials.
Get your produce from the farmer's market.
- The Boulder Farmer’s Market runs from April 1-November, every Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m., and from May 3-October, every Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.
- Longmont Farmer’s Market runs from April 1-November; every Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Keep your food scraps! There are so many ways to use stems, rinds, leaves and all your scraps. Here are some of my favorite ways to use my food scraps:
Make stock with skins, peels, stems and tops.
- Broccoli stems also make delicious soups and can be chopped into fries!
- Place in the freezer all together until you have enough scraps to create a delicious stock.
- Regrow produce with seeds, pits and cuttings.
- Use peels for dyes or even teas.
- Make jams with leftover fruit peels, cores and tops.
For those plant parents, use the soft side of a banana peel to remove dust and give plant leaves better health and shine! Keep your peels in a container with water for a few days to create beautiful phosphorus-rich water for your garden or house plants.
Make homemade air fresheners by boiling your fruit scraps.
For bird lovers, keep all your used cooking oils in a jar and create suet for birds, the perfect energy booster for birds in the colder months.
Use citrus peels to add to your homemade vinegar cleaning solution, which helps get rid of grease.
Any foods that will go bad before you can eat them all, freeze them for later.
Be intentional—with what you buy, what you invest in (support local if you can), what you eat, etc.
Buy your tea and coffee in bulk.

Lug Your Mug!

Make sure to lug your mug to Atlas Corridor every Wednesday leading up to Earth Day for some free coffee from our Zero Waste team! We will be out there from 9 a.m. until noon, or till we run out.
Eat more plants, especially local ones, to lessen your environmental impact.

For cleaning your kitchen

Use repurposed rags out of old cotton clothes or towels.
Steam your microwave with water for a couple of minutes to make it easier to wipe clean.
Use bulk vinegar (except on granite) and baking soda.
Wash produce with baking soda and water.
Make DIY cleaning spray.
Buy bulk dish detergent or make bars of dish soap.
- While washing your dishes, make a small dish of warm water with your soap for your sponge to dip in instead of having the water running.
- If you have a dishwasher, here is how you can make your own detergent.

General tips for the kitchen

Buy in bulk.
Bring bags, jars and bottles to fill your items.
- It's especially great to buy pantry items and staples, like beans, rice, lentils, canned fruit/vegetables, soups, oats, nuts, spices and more in bulk.
Make your own food (i.e. hummus, jams, cookies, dressings/sauces, etc.).
Keep your pasta water for making a sauce.
Love your tap water.
Buy bulk Castile soap (again–an essential for all things zero waste).
Thrift Tupperware, plates, bowls, mugs and all your kitchen essentials.
Reuse your aluminum foil or invest in beeswax wraps or a silicone baking mat.
Place your coffee grounds at the bottom of your garbage to stop any bad smells from overpowering.

Bedroom

Your room should feel like such a safe place, where you can go and really be at peace, rest and recover. It is the place you sleep and therefore should be a place that oozes comfortability—yet also a place to help you become comfortable in yourself. These hacks can make your bedroom feel more aligned with a zen zero waste lifestyle.

DIY air fresheners
Use about 25 drops of your favorite essential oil and combine with 2 tablespoons of baking soda; stir and pour into a spray bottle with water.
Another easy recipe is one part vinegar to four parts water and any essential oils of your choosing.
DIY candles
Zero waste glass cleaner
Decor: thrift.
Create your own art.
Use flowers to make pressed flowers or dried flower garlands before they go bad.
Try a new hobby for your decorations (2-D and 3-D). Visit Art Parts for used and saved art supplies for all your new adventures. Get crafty by searching for inspiration on Pinterest.
- Ceramics
- Knitting
- Sewing
- Embroidery
Maximize sunlight for your plants, for heating your spaces and therefore using less energy.

General tips for the bedroom

Declutter often.
Donate to shelters when possible.
Thrift furniture when you can. Use Facebook Marketplace or Buy Nothing groups.
Use energy-efficient bulbs and appliances.
Swap disposable items for reusable ones.

Laundry Room

Not everyone may have access to laundry rooms, but here are some ways to have a lower-waste laundry experience.

Make DIY dryer sheets or wool dryer balls.
Make DIY laundry detergent (powder and liquids per your preference).
- Powder: 3 ingredients; baking soda, washing soda (Arm and Hammer) and Castille bar soap.
- Liquid: use Castille soap and mix with baking soda, washing soda and essential oils of your choosing. Use around 1-3 tablespoons per load.

General tips for the laundry room

Dry on a line, drying rack or air dry as often as you can.
If you do use the dryer, keep your lint trap clean for the best efficiency.
Do full loads, cold water cycles and use laundry detergent in bulk.
For stains: use chalk, lemon, vinegar and/or dishwasher detergent.
Castile soap is your best friend for all things cleaning.

These household and lifestyle DIYs will help you take care of yourself and your home with the earth and your wallet in mind.

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Sustainable habits for 2023

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Sustainable habits for 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/27/2023 - 00:00

The University of babyֱ��app Boulder is home to some of the leading sustainability programs and environmental research in the nation! As Sustainable Buffs, it is our duty to be mindful of our habits and take full advantage of the opportunities we have in Boulder to be as sustainable as possible in our everyday lives. By holding ourselves accountable with integrity, we promote a more balanced future of energy exchanges that are regenerative to the earth, rather than exploiting our environment. Join the legacy of passionate CU students on the forefront of sustainability by adopting these simple sustainable habits.

Plan your grocery shopping

There are many ways to consciously approach shopping for food. As college students, we are just learning how to stock our refrigerators and take care of ourselves, which often results in unnecessary food waste. By planning beforehand rather than shopping impulsively, you can avoid wasting money and food. One way to shop mindfully is to plan your meals for the week and find recipes before you go shopping. Another tactic for mindful shopping is to tune into your body and what you need, versus what you may want at the moment. Rather than going to the store while hungry, try to eat before so you can shop with a clear head. A great place to shop sustainably is Nude Foods, a zero waste grocery store in Boulder. You are allowed to keep the glass jars they sell food in, which is great for storage. It's also a good idea to bring your own bags and avoid unsustainable packaging when possible.

If you are struggling to afford groceries, schedule an appointment to visit CU’s Buff Pantry, which is located in the UMC next to the bookstore downstairs. To make an appointment, first click the “Join” button on Buff Pantry’s CU Serves page to fill out the client intake form. From there, you can schedule a time to come in and pick up some free food!

Compost

Composting your food waste is a simple way to be sustainable in your daily life. When you throw food waste in the trash, it releases methane, is not as easily broken down and is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Excess methane in the atmosphere is one of the leading causes of climate change. When we compost our food waste, we create the foundation for valuable, nutrient rich soil as the food breaks down. Student environmental activists have worked hard to further composting efforts all over campus. Green composting receptacles can be found at all of the main waste stations as well as the bathrooms on campus. To learn more about proper composting practices, check out this Composting 101 guide. It is vital for the CU community to get on board with composting. Recently, students, babyֱ��app and staff have not been composting correctly. This has led compost to become an expense to our school rather than a return on our investment, which threatens the future of our composting initiatives. We all need to learn to compost our food waste properly, or we may not have the option to do so on campus in the future due to the contamination of the waste streams, which are very difficult and costly to sort.

Eat organic

Soil is alive with microorganisms that we need to grow food. Pesticides kill these essential organisms that make up the microbiome of the soil. By choosing to eat organically, we support the organic food system and farmers who are doing this vital work to help us nourish our bodies. You can purchase organic produce at the local farmer's market.

Use public transit

As a Buff, you have a free RTD pass. Boulder has some of the most clean, comfortable and most efficient buses that are constantly running to get you where you need to go. The average traffic volume in Boulder on a given day is very high as a result of students and professionals commuting in and out of the city. One of the leading causes of global warming in our atmosphere is the pollution byproducts from transportation. Not only are there environmental incentives to limit traffic on the road, but also monetary ones as the prices of gas have been volatile. Take the bus! It is so easy and you can save hundreds in gas money, while also saving energy by taking the bus to get around.

Boulder is a microcosm of sustainable opportunities for CU students in terms of transportation, compost and healthy food. We can take these values with us as we grow into our positions in a babyֱ��app in the future. Practical everyday solutions exist all around us and consumers do have power to drive the market of sustainable developments. “Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are root causes of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution" (UN SDG Report 2022). If our patterns of consumption can do so much damage, choosing sustainable habits can propel humanity in a new direction with regards to our relationship to the environment. Although one person’s choices won’t restore the earth right away, the collective effort of many can shift our economy over time as we start to value sustainability in our everyday consumption choices.

DIY project: grow your own organic herbs on the windowsill

What you will need:

seeds for your favorite herbs (cilantro, chives, parsley, basil and rosemary are some popular ones)
a well-lit windowsill or grow lights
nutrient-rich soil
containers/pots

Fill a container with soil and sprinkle with seeds, covering the seeds again with a layer of soil. Pat gently. Keep the soil moist but not too damp as the seeds germinate and follow the watering instructions specific to each herb. Make sure you label them so you remember which herb is which. If you choose to add fertilizer to the soil, make sure to use one labeled safe for edible plants. Soon after, you will sprout affordable, organic, packaging-free herbs from your home!

The E-Center can help you become a Sustainable Buff! Save money and energy through the cultivation of everyday sustainable habits to start the new year off right.

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