In the world of furniture, a concept called ‘slow design’ is beginning to make itself known. And it seems as though it’s none too soon.
This from CNN:
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans threw out over 12 million tons of furniture and furnishings in 2018 (up from 2.2 million tons in 1960), and over 80% of it ended up in landfill. Add to that the carbon emissions caused by manufacturing and shipping, and the furniture industry is looking like the next big elephant in the climate crisis room”
It is now cheaper to throw out even furniture than to repair it. The ‘pile it high and cheap’ model is still alive and well in much our consumer purchasing options, and brands like IKEA have been part of the trend to allow even the poor students among us to have nicely-designed furniture to match its functionality. But it comes at a cost - environmental and sometimes also ethical.
But, brands like IKEA are now turning to a more sustainable model and making sure that even inexpensive furniture can get a second life. For example, by 2030, the company aims to use only renewable or recyclable materials in all its products.
In fashion too, there has been a backlash to the stuffed closet and wearing only this season’s in-trends. For sure, the companies that practice ‘slow fashion’ tend to be more expensive (though not all), but the idea is that you buy items less frequently, curate a smaller closet more thoughtfully, and many brands offer second-hand options too. This list of more sustainable fashion brands has some familiar names but also a lot I’ve never heard of and will now definitely check out.
In terms of healthy, environmentally sound, and ethical fast food…..there are basically none. If there are some vegan fast food options in your town, check them out, but quick and cheap food is still a very tough trend to change into something better for you and for the environment. It still seems better to pack a sandwich or to call ahead for takeout from a full-service restaurant than to stop at any of the traditional drive-through windows. I would love to see this trend change.
So, what should we be looking for in terms of ‘slow’ products? A few thoughts:
Responsibly-sourced (sustainable, possibly recycled, ethical)
Many products now come with labels that indicate more sustainable sources.
For example, check out this list of certifications for Fair Trade, organic, and recycled content, especially for clothing materials. The MSC label on seafood and some labels for welfare of animals (be aware of non-standard labels) means that it meets standardized criteria for sustainable practices. The furniture industry is a little less standardized at the moment, but there are still a few certification labels worth checking for. Definitely look for recycled content and options for repair and research companies who are committing to sustainable and ethical practices overall.
Repairable
In the case of clothing and furniture and other items, one characteristic of moving away from ‘fast’ products is that we can repair existing purchases rather than throwing them out. A concept our grandparents took for granted of course, but now it’s often cheaper to ditch an old chair and buy a new one than to get it re-upholstered.
Re-usable and Recyclable
Some companies are offering buy-back, trade-in, and resell options (e.g. IKEA, Levi), and the more of us ask for something like this, I think the more companies will start offering it. Of course, with Facebook Marketplace and consignment stores, you can also do your own recycling and recover a little cash while giving your clothes or furniture a second lease on life.
Respectful of Employees
I always like to see B-Corp certification on companies or other indications that they treat their employees and staff fairly, with good wages, hours, and benefits (another reason why fast food chains fall off most lists of ‘good companies’). Often, when I am with an employee at a store, I will casually ask what it’s like to work there - almost as if I might be interested in looking for a job - just to see what the reaction is. You can usually tell if someone is being loyal as opposed to genuinely appreciative of the company.
My general view is that if a company values its people, its goods and services will also be better quality and the customer service will be more responsive if something needs repairing or other attention.
So there are a few ideas to start to ‘slow’ your consumption and align with companies trying to reduce waste and provide us with better experiences and products at the same time.
It seems small, but our individual purchasing power really does add up to change what gets made, sold, and ultimately trashed.
Happy Monday!
Having worked in photo editing to some degree I'm curious to see how they're going to make these digital styles look authentic. Fascinating for sure. And, I've decided that for the next few years at least, I'll be dressing in "Bellingham style" which means I'll just need one really attractive rain jacket and a puffy coat.
I was listening to an interview the other day about an app being developed where you can purchase "digital clothes." So, you can swap out your outfits posted to social media so you don't appear to be wearing the same thing all the time. Social media posting is evidently leading people to spend on fast fashion because they want to appear on-trend and fashionable online. I'm all for this new way to purchase fashion if it takes off!