While Goodwill NCW is dedicated to sustainability every month of the year, Earth Month is a great time for us all to pause and reflect on our sustainability efforts. Here are 7 sustainability tips for Earth Month to reduce your carbon footprint and make more sustainable choices. 

1. Ditch Plastic

Let’s face it, plastic is everywhere. Getting rid of it completely would be impossible but reducing our usage when we can is a great first step. Did you know that a single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 YEARS to decompose in a landfill? Goodwill NCW got rid of all single use plastic bags in 2023 as part of our commitment to sustainability. Bring your own bag to shop with or grab a reusable bag from Goodwill! Other ways to reduce your plastic use include skipping drinks that come in plastic bottles, choosing glass containers, and wearing clothes made from natural fibers.

2. Reject Fast Fashion

“Fast fashion” has been on a major rise in the past several years, and its impact is hard to ignore. Fast fashion refers to cheaply produced and priced clothing, designed to copy the latest runway styles. Because these pieces are rapidly and inexpensively made and highly trendy, their lifespan is typically much shorter than that of a well-made piece, resulting in approximately 92 million tons of textiles thrown away globally each year. Beyond this, the environmental footprint of the production process is enormous, accounting for 20% of global wastewater and 10% of global carbon emissions each year. Trendy clothes at affordable prices can be hard to pass up but being aware of the impact our purchases make can help us to make more sustainable choices. Shopping secondhand is a great way to disrupt the fast fashion cycle and prolong the life of usable goods, often at an even better price!

3. Carpool

Heading out for an afternoon of shopping at your Goodwill NCW? Grab your friends and make a date of it! Carpooling is a great and super simple way to reduce your carbon footprint. 

4. Build a Capsule Wardrobe

In a time when social media is constantly bombarding us with the latest “must have” fashion trend, it can be hard not to get sucked into the previously discussed fast fashion craze. But building a capsule wardrobe is a great way to stay focused when shopping and do more with less. A capsule wardrobe is a wardrobe consisting primarily of color coordinated basics that are easy to interchange. Simply put, “everything looks good with everything.” Sticking with a clothing plan leads to fewer impulse purchases, and more items that you will love for the long haul. Read more about capsule wardrobes here Building a Capsule Wardrobe | Goodwill NCW.

5. Look for Secondhand Furniture

If you’re looking to add a few furniture pieces to your home, don’t forget to shop secondhand! Just like clothing, many furniture companies are producing pieces at a cheaper and faster rate than ever before, leading to poorly made items that often don’t hold up well. Instead of buying a mass-produced item that might fall apart in a few years, take the time to search for vintage or antique furniture that has already stood the test of time. Found something that fits the bill, but it’s not quite your style? Give it a makeover and add a truly one-of-a-kind piece to your home! For more tips on buying secondhand furniture, check out Giving a Second Life to Furniture | Goodwill NCW.

6. Donate What You Don’t Want

It may seem obvious, but donating your unwanted items is a great way to prolong their life and keep them out of the landfill. As an added benefit, regularly evaluating what you actually use and don’t use in your home can help you to avoid buying things you don’t really need. Having fewer items allows you to keep better track of what you have.

7. Sustainable/Recyclable Fabrics

Wearing clothes made from natural fibers instead of synthetic materials not only cuts down on the use of plastic, it also prolongs the life of your clothing. However, clothes made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and wool can be expensive. Shopping your local Goodwill NCW store is great way to buy sustainable fabrics for a fraction of the cost!

Earth Month serves as an important reminder for all of us to evaluate and enhance our sustainability practices. These 7 sustainability tips for Earth Month can help you make simple changes that collectively contribute to a healthier planet. Let Goodwill NCW support your journey in making conscious choices—not just during Earth Month, but all year round!