As days go by, the world’s population increases, along with the materials needed to make their clothes. It is definitely a food for thought as the higher the demand, the more materials are needed from Mother Earth as supply to manufacture them. So, why not implement and create a new approach towards healing the planet? One potential lifestyle would be minimalism.
Minimalism vs. zero waste
Now, what is minimalism? At first thought, first glance? It may seem a little challenging, even the word itself may intimidate a little, where one can almost never see it appear on commercials or as a trend towards modern life.
Minimalism compliments a sufficient way of living which highlights decluttering and keeping things which are essential and out of necessity, instead of an impulse. There isn’t a definitive definition to the word minimalism, as each person ranges their views from needs and wants, but to our own idea of essential and enough.
This means leaning towards having the things we only need, want, and use and to recycle materials and clothes which no longer serve us any purpose, basically removing a huge landfill of stuff, so no more waste and less spending! The things we have bought on impulse, clothes which don’t fit, or gifts we did not like, are out the door! Give it a few days, and see if it's necessary before purchasing that amazing outfit you always wanted but don’t need!
By practicing minimalism, it helps to remove any unwanted negativities along with a sense of positive and productive energy. Start new when tidying away clothes, or with clothes which have been left in the corner of a dusty room, only to be worn once a year (itchy knitted jackets, maybe?). Which means, no more competitive comparison games of who has what and with minimalism, as it helps us to reflect and keeps us in check with our own choices and what is essential to living, and to let old habits and patterns die. Result? Less consumptions.
Minimalism is taught to decrease overconsumption and create a pollution-free way of living. It is said by that people have been consuming almost 400% more clothes than before, with the high demand of new trends a harmful way to pollute the environment, which accelerates climate change.
Now let’s move towards zero waste, a concept of constantly reusing everything, and nothing is impractical. Ever heard of the slogan, reduce, reuse and recycle? The zero waste lifestyle lives and breathes that as its main purpose. Most people who are living fully with the zero waste lifestyle reuse almost everything. To sum it up, being zero waste makes everything reusable and to never use non-recyclable products; challenging the idea of waste to be obsolete.
Why zero waste, one may ask? Well, it helps the environment by implementing a lot of reusing, which creates a positive impact, along with reducing carbon footprint which is beneficial for the Earth. More so, it enhances a healthier lifestyle by limiting chemical exposures.
Can they both come hand in hand?
While minimalism focuses on disposable items and zero wasters, what about embracing reusables? How do they correlate with one another and how does one live within that lifestyle?
Through voluntary simplicity , both minimalism and zero waste come hand in hand, with both aims to limit and reduce consumption with an interest in sustainability. It is definitely easier to shop for cheap outfits whenever and wherever, but the downside of purchasing low-quality items is that they tend to break down, and often need to be replaced after a few uses.
Therefore, although it may be a little pricier to purchase higher quality items, they last longer and if they don't fit as perfect as before, then they're in good condition to be able to be thrifted or donated - thus, less buying, and less demands.
Quality over quantity
By living a more minimalist lifestyle, along with the zero waste, if possible, it helps one to feel appreciative. Studies by Harvard Medical School showed that people who implement a positive change tend to feel happier and to be more content with what one already has and to appreciate the little things in life.
It's all about personal values on what is truly enough, but by being a minimalist or zero waste or maybe both, it’s all about reducing what one is throwing away and removing unnecessary properties. So why not give it a go and help Mother Earth? Quality is much better than quantity. Need some help? Try checking out 10 Minimalist Lifestyle Tips.
Appreciate what you have, and maximise what you really need. The number of possessions does not count if the intention isn’t there, so make smarter purchases, because at the end of the day, we won't be happy with the things we have - unless the change begins with ourselves. Of course, it takes effort to make a change, but a little does go a long way.