Climate Change and Lifestyles Guidebook - UNEP
Climate Change and Lifestyles Guidebook - UNEP
Climate Change and Lifestyles Guidebook - UNEP
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Shopping for stuff<br />
îCase study<br />
The Freecycle Network is a free Internet<br />
service linking people who want to get rid of<br />
something with other local people who might<br />
want it. It now has nearly 6 million members in<br />
over 85 countries, having started in the United<br />
States in 2003.<br />
Clothes <strong>and</strong> textiles<br />
Clothes <strong>and</strong> textiles make up a small part (about<br />
2 per cent in developed countries) of your carbon<br />
footprint. However, for some young people, these<br />
are their biggest purchases. So, it is important to<br />
choose wisely.<br />
A whole new re-use industry has developed around<br />
re-fashioned <strong>and</strong> secondh<strong>and</strong> clothes <strong>and</strong> other<br />
previously owned products, clearly extending the<br />
life of these products. These obviously extend the<br />
life of the garment, but only if they are alternatives<br />
to buying new clothes.<br />
The choice of fabrics have their pros <strong>and</strong> cons.<br />
Clothes made from natural fibres such as cotton<br />
<strong>and</strong> wool can have a carbon footprint more<br />
than 20 times their weight. Their cultivation,<br />
processing <strong>and</strong> transport may involve heavy use<br />
of fossil fuels. Synthetic fibres, such as nylon<br />
<strong>and</strong> pvc, are used for waterproof, stretchy <strong>and</strong><br />
light clothing. Although they are made from fossil<br />
fuels they may not need so much washing <strong>and</strong><br />
drying which can use loads of energy. In many<br />
cases the washing <strong>and</strong> drying of clothes produces<br />
more carbon emissions than the production <strong>and</strong><br />
processing of the clothes.<br />
Packaging<br />
Packaging from plastic is made from carbon-rich<br />
petroleum oil – one of the fossil fuels. So when<br />
it is burnt or dumped, it releases greenhouse gas<br />
emissions into the atmosphere. Packaging from<br />
paper <strong>and</strong> cardboard uses vast amounts of water,<br />
chemicals <strong>and</strong> electricity, even if it is recycled<br />
paper <strong>and</strong> cardboard. Sustainable packaging,<br />
is most climate-friendly when it is made with<br />
minimal, recyclable or renewable materials, has<br />
most potential to be reused or recycled <strong>and</strong> has<br />
least effect on the environment.<br />
Flickr: fmg 2001<br />
Flickr: Adam Foster<br />
44<br />
Labels<br />
Labels are important in helping us to easily spot<br />
the truly climate-friendly products <strong>and</strong> services.<br />
While green shopping guides can help, choosing<br />
between different br<strong>and</strong>s can be complex <strong>and</strong><br />
Y o u t h X c h a n g e - C l i m a t e c h a n g e a n d l i f e s t y l e s
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