Responsible Consumption

When you do need to buy something, it's important to always consider secondhand options first, as purchasing secondhand doesn't increase the demand for fast fashion companies to produce more. 

If you can't find something used, or if it has to be bought new, there are some things you should consider when choosing a brand to buy from. Not all companies are equal, and there are many that choose to prioritize sustainability in their business models. 

Reparability and longevity are important factors to consider when choosing a product. For example, when picking out a pair of boots, looking for a pair that is reparable by a cobbler will help keep potentially several pairs of shoes out of the landfill. Learning simple mending procedures can also be extremely helpful in keeping clothes out of the landfill as well, for example knowing how to patch up an item if it rips. 

Third party certifications can also help consumers identify which companies are legitimately following sustainable practices, and which are just greenwashing, or marketing their products as sustainable when they aren't really. 

Third Party Certifications

There are lots of different third party certifications that companies can obtain, here are a handful of common ones and what they mean. It's important to note though, that just because a company has sustainability certifications, doesn't mean that you need to buy from them or that their products are something you need. They also don't certify that the company is perfect by any means, or that they don't have room for change and improvement. The same goes in the other direction as well, just because a company is lacking some of these certifications doesn't mean you cannot buy from them or that they are automatically bad companies, but that more research would need to be done to determine if they are a company you should be buying from. For example, some small businesses don't have the funds or resources available to them to gain official sustainability certifications, even if they are following good practices. 

B Corporation: Sort of an all encompassing certification, B Corp aims to certify that companies are following standards on their environmental and social impacts. 

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Sets standards for responsible forest management, FSC certification is especially important when a company uses materials like bamboo in their products. 

Oeko Tex: Certifies that products don't contain or use in their production harmful chemicals, such as PFAS. 

Fair Trade: Encourages sustainable development, and ensures fair social standards throughout production.

Sources used on this page