How to Wash and Care for Your Organic Clothes? (Part 1)

Do you have ecological garments in your closet but don’t know how to wash or take care of them so that they last longer? Today in the post, I will teach you how to care for and wash ecological clothing to look like the first day. Something as routine as washing clothes can have a tremendous negative impact on our environment, in addition to punishing and damaging our clothes. Garments deserve to be treated and cared for in a respectful way to extend their useful life.

In this post, you will find some tips to reduce the adverse effects of washing your clothes. It is used for both ecological garments and conventional clothing. You will learn how to put a washing machine more sustainably, thus extending your clothes’ life, saving energy, water, and money. The washing machine is one of the appliances that make our lives more comfortable and one of the most energy and water consumption. Also, in each wash, residues are generated from the detergents and softeners we use because their composition is highly polluting and non-biodegradable. If we add up all these impacts, we conclude that washing clothes have environmental consequences that we cannot ignore.

 

Read the Labels Well

Organic Fabrics: Need of a Safe Environment - TEXTILE VALUE CHAIN

To care for and wash organic clothing, first of all, read its interior label very well. The garments have a label that explains how that piece should be cared for and washed. It seems silly, but reading it before putting it in the washing machine will save us more than one annoyance. Who has not ever put a garment in the washing machine, and it has come out two sizes smaller? I know that they are often a nuisance and that it is almost inevitable to take a pair of scissors and take the initiative to cut them, but before doing so, read it carefully!

 

Wash Your Clothes Only When Necessary

Doing laundry during the Coronavirus outbreak - OsloMet

Before deciding to put the garment in the washing machine, see if it really needs it. Is it dirty? Perhaps with just airing it out for a while, there is more than enough. We must lose that habit of washing clothes with just one use and throwing them in the dirty clothes bin, but many times, that garment does not need to be cleaned. By reducing laundry, energy, and detergent, we prolong the garment’s life, its fibers remain intact, and it does not lose its color or shape.

 

Bet on Eco Washing Machines

North Carolina Town Asked Not to Do Laundry for 5 Days | PEOPLE.com

If you have the opportunity to get a new washing machine, before buying, look at its energy consumption. In the long run, washing machines with the A ++ energy efficiency system always become more profitable. Look at its energy label. It will inform you of the energy and water consumption values ​​of the appliance. Thus, you will quickly know the device’s energy efficiency and the sound power both in the washing phase and in the spin phase, avoiding noise pollution.

 

Fill the Washing Machine Without Overloading the Machine

How long can you wear clothes before washing them? Save water and energy by checking labels | South China Morning Post

Many of us think that to be greener, we must fill the washing machine to the brim, but this is not true. If you overload the washing machine, the only thing you will get is a poor wash since there will be no space for the clothes to move freely. If it is better, then it is fully loaded but always with enough leeway so that the clothes come out clean and you do not have to rewash them. The washing machines have a limit measured by weight, usually 8, 10, and 12Kg. Overloading the washer saves neither water nor energy, but it can damage components and shorten the washer’s life.

 

Check out the second part of this article for the complete list of ways to wash your clothes sustainably!

 

How Do Solar Panels Work?

We all know that solar photovoltaic (PV) panels transform sunlight into usable electricity, but few people know the actual science behind the process. In this article, we are going to get into the nitty-gritty science behind solar panels. It may seem complicated, but the process basically boils down to the photovoltaic effect; the ability of matter to emit electrons when bathed in light.

First of all, let’s take a look at the basic flow of electric generation:

Basic Steps in Solar Energy Generation and Transmission

Firstly, sunlight hits the solar panels, and creates an electric field. The electricity generated flows to the edge of the panel, and into a conductive wire. This conductive wire brings the electricity to the inverter, where it is transformed from DC electricity to AC, which is used to power buildings. Another wire transports the AC electricity from the inverter to the electric panel on the property (also called a breaker box), which distributes the electricity throughout the building as needed. Any electricity not needed upon generation flows through the utility meter and into the utility electrical grid. As the electricity flows through the meter, it causes the meter to run backwards, crediting your property for excess generation.

Now that we have a basic idea of the generation and flow of solar electricity, let’s take a deeper dive into the science behind the solar photovoltaic panel.

The Science Behind Solar PV Cells

Solar PV panels are comprised of many small photovoltaic cells – photovoltaic meaning they can convert sunlight into electricity. These cells are made of semi-conductive materials, most often silicon, a material that can conduct electricity while maintaining the electrical imbalance needed to create an electric field.

How Panels Work

When sunlight hits the semiconductor in the solar PV cell, the energy from the light, in the form of photons, is absorbed, knocking loose a number of electrons, which then drift freely in the cell. The solar cell is specifically designed with positively and negatively charged semiconductors sandwiched together to create an electric field. This electric field forces the drifting electrons to flow in a certain direction- towards the conductive metal plates that line the cell. This flow is known as an energy current, and the strength of the current determines how much electricity each cell can produce. Once the loose electrons hit metal plates, the current is then directed into wires, allowing the electrons to flow like they would in any other source of electric generation.

As the solar panel generates an electric current, the energy flows through a series of wires to an inverter. While solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, most electricity consumers need alternating current (AC) electricity to power their buildings. The inverter’s function is to turn the electricity from DC to AC, making it accessible for everyday use.

After the electricity is transformed into a usable state (AC power), it is sent from the inverter to the electrical panel (also called a breaker box), and distributed throughout the building as needed. The electricity is now readily available to power lights, appliances, and other electrical devices with solar energy.

Any electricity that is not consumed via the breaker box is sent to the utility grid through the utility meter. The utility meter measures the flow of electricity from the grid to your property and vice versa. When your solar energy system is producing more electricity than you are using on site, this meter actually runs backwards, and you are credited for the excess electricity generated through the process of net metering. When you are using more electricity than your solar array is generating, you pull supplemental electricity from the grid through this meter, making it run normally. Unless you have gone completely off-grid through a storage solution, you will need to pull some energy from the grid, especially at night, when your solar array is not producing. However, much of this grid energy will be offset from the excess solar energy you generate throughout the day and in periods of lower usage.

While the details behind solar power are highly scientific, it doesn’t take a scientist to convey the benefits a solar installation can bring to a business or property owner. An experienced solar developer, like the team at Born Again Batteries, can walk you through these benefits and help you explore if a solar solution is right for your business.

Biodegradable Burials for the Eco-Friendly People

People choose to live environmentally friendly or green lives, so it is not surprising that they also select an environmentally friendly or green funeral. An eco-friendly funeral can be the deceased’s choice, or the next of kin can take their initiative. A green burial ensures that the body decomposes naturally and entirely and becomes one with nature. This is in line with the adage “ashes to ashes and dust to dust.” Some people may see it as a new-age fad, but it is a return to ancient practices that our ancestors practiced.

If you want to plan an eco-friendly or green funeral, you should look for a funeral home that offers green burials as part of its services. They may be specialists, or a green funeral may be one of several services they offer. There are several green funeral homes around the country. They provide complete services as well as a funeral in the woods. This means that no particular place is designated as a burial site. Instead, the body is buried in a natural setting, with local trees and green vegetation surrounding it.

Organic Biodegradable Pod Is An Alternative To Traditional Burials -  Art-Sheep

An eco-friendly or green burial turns out to be much cheaper compared to the now traditional funerals. One of the first aspects of a green burial is that the body is not embalmed. This ensures that no toxic chemicals used during the embalming process end up in the sewer system. The next step is to choose a wood-only or cardboard casket that will completely decompose over time. The eco-friendly coffins have no metal parts. Some families may also decide to bury the body without a casket, using only a shroud to cover the body. The next step would be to avoid a burial vault, so the casket and its contents decompose naturally with time.

Burial in a forest is an entirely environmentally friendly or green burial. Usually, a small tree is planted to mark the hand-dug grave, slowly taken over by the natural vegetation around it. You can opt for a simple headstone if you wish.

If you are looking for a more environmentally friendly method of managing your remains after death, consider the following five alternatives:

Bios Urn: Biodegradable funeral urns are cremation urns for storing ashes designed to decompose over several weeks, once buried in the ground. How long it takes for the average biodegradable urn to decompose depends on the soil’s richness and quality. Buried in good quality soil, a biodegradable cremation urn can decompose in as little as three weeks, with the ashes of the deceased mixing with the soil in which the urn is buried.

Alkaline hydrolysis: This procedure may seem a bit industrialized and consequently harmful to the environment, but in reality, it is probably the most environmentally friendly way of handling human remains ever developed. A person’s remains are immersed in a tank of chemicals that quickly break down the tissue and turn the bone tissue into a mealy compound.

Corpse-eating mushrooms: Fungus grows on decaying organic material, making it a perfect solution to eliminate humans naturally.

Flesh-eating mushrooms: Fellows Friday with Jae Rhim Lee | TED Blog

Green burials: Conventional burial is not necessarily harmful to the natural environment. It is just the additions we have created, such as complex embalming procedures and “secure” burial containers. By choosing a more naturally biodegradable casket and demanding that funeral directors not embalm but use other options, you can still have a “traditional” funeral without making it bad for the environment.

Donate to science: Whether it is for use by a school of medicine or even for observation at a human body farm, donating someone’s body to scientific research is not only environmentally friendly.

Living in an environmentally friendly way means taking into account the environmental impact of how we handle dying.

7 Basic Eco-Gestures on Vacation

 Reducing your ecological footprint on vacation is possible, and it requires a few automatic measures, not very different from those used at home.

 On vacation, too, eco-responsible gestures count; let’s not slacken.

Here are a few ways you can easily limit your ecological footprint when you go on vacation.

1. Making plans as a real ecotourist

There is a multitude of ways to combine ecology and vacations. Ecotourism is not just a fad: it is a real way of living with the desire to limit its impact on the environment, in a relaxed mode even on vacation. More and more professionals in the sector are integrating ecotourism into their services at different levels, so let’s take the opportunity to encourage them.

2. Choice of accommodation

Ecolodge, ecogîtes, stay in the green in an organic farm, night in the trees… There is a wide range of choices, regardless of the criteria of comfort and budget.

3. Vacation activities

Sports and activities with less pollution, the discovery of nature, protection of endangered species, volunteer work: our vacation activities impact the environment, so we should choose them with full knowledge of the facts.

4. Sharing

Choose the local agencies whose revenues contribute to local projects’ development (environment, sustainable development, preservation of traditions…).

For green, original, ecological, or solidarity vacations, find all the top 5 sustainable destinations.

5. Be vigilant about the contents of your suitcases

Clothes, first-aid kit, toiletries, laundry: every little gesture counts!

Don’t hesitate to take with you your favorite essential oils for the little sores of everyday life. Above all, avoid cosmetic products filled with questionable substances for health and the environment – remember the plastic particles that end up in the water where we like to swim so much!

You can choose natural products such as Aleppo soap or Marseille soap. Think of alternatives to cotton swabs and the cup to replace the tampons that also line the oceans’ bottom.

Don’t bother with packaging: leave with the bottles or tubes you need but throw away the packaging in the right garbage can before you go. They will be sorted out for recycling afterward.

6. Don’t leave any trace of your passage

Packaging, cigarette butts, plastic bags: on vacation, being careful with your waste is essential. If you travel abroad, try to bring back products such as batteries for recycling. Try also to limit your purchases wrapped in plastic: prefer local craftsmen to “Made in China.” Besides, the local newspaper’s front page as packaging is an “added value” to the souvenirs that make you happy!

Some countries are not yet ready to deal with this type of waste, which leads to dramatic situations.

These recommendations are also applicable underwater, where again, we must take care not to disturb the already fragile fauna and flora.

7. Respect the fauna and flora: the least you can do to limit your ecological footprint while on vacation

It’s so lovely to discover landscapes that are different from what we see every day. Help preserve our environment by avoiding going off the beaten track, at the risk of disturbing animals or trampling plants.

Never touch corals with your fingers, flippers, or an anchor; respect marine organisms whether they are plants, animals, or minerals; don’t pick up anything you don’t know. Comply with the regulations concerning recreational boating or fishing (or hunting) activities, and in this case, of course, respect the authorized sizes and quantities. And avoid polluting sun creams.

Wherever you are, keep the same eco-friendly reflexes! Do you pay attention to your ecological footprint all year round by favoring clean transportation, consuming locally, or avoiding wasting electricity?

Then don’t stop these good habits during your vacations, on the contrary!

Sustainable Business Practices

Sustainability is a simple concept that emphasizes human beings’ ability to meet their own needs without jeopardizing future generations’ ability to do the same. In layman’s terms, it refers to the coexistence of human civilization and nature.

Nowadays, as consumers are becoming more and more conscious about the environment, organisations need to adopt sustainable business practices. So, let’s take a look at the different practices that a business should implement.

#1. Understand and Incorporate the Concept of Sustainability

As a business owner, it is essential that you understand and incorporate the principles of sustainability into your company’s business goals and corporate strategies. After all, as the leader, you will need to set the example for your staff to follow. By prioritizing sustainability in all your business operations, you will be able to ensure that your team does the same thing.

#2. Partner with Your Workers

As we mentioned above, as a green business owner, your entire team should be aware of the importance of sustainable business practices. It is therefore vital to invest the time in training your employees on the importance of a green approach to business. Make sure to foster a two-way communication path when discussing the organisation’s aims and methods to conserve environmental resources with your employees. By doing so, you can even get some new and additional ideas from your employees. Believe me, sometimes you might even be surprised by the ideas that your workers can come up with.

Let me give you a simple example. A Walmart manager once noticed that vending machines in the employee’s lounge had lights that were always switched on even though workers could see the products without additional lighting. As a result, Walmart decided to turn off all the lights in all the employee vending machines. Can you guess how much Walmart saved in energy costs? $1 million!

Now, we’re not saying that every idea will save you that much money, but you never know.

#3. Water and Electricity Conservation

One of the best green business measures to reduce waste is to conserve water and electricity. There are a few easy ways to save big on your water bill. First of all, consider installing a rainwater harvesting system that will collect rainwater from the roof and then store it in a tank. The collected water can be used for other purposes, such as irrigating gardens, toilets, and much more.

Another major water saving measure you can introduce is installing low-flow toilets to reduce the amount of water each flush uses. This can help you to save approximately ninety litres of water a day. I’m sure you can do the math and see how much money that will net you in savings.

Now, let’s talk about the wonder of solar panels for electricity conservation. Do I really need to tell you that the sun is a source of clean and renewable energy? If you are wary of the high initial costs, let me reassure you that solar panels will save you much more money in the long run.

#4. Adopt a Recycling Program

It is recommended to develop an in-house program for recyclable products such as paper products, some supplies, fluorescent lightbulbs, electronics, and computers.

#5. Chemical Management

Even elementary students are being taught about the negative impact of chemicals on our environment. Therefore, it is essential that you start to use green and non -chemical cleaning products if you are in the pest control or weed management sectors. You can also train your workers on the proper use and disposal of chemicals through your chemical vendors.

#6. Use Only Environmentally-Friendly Products

If you want to adopt green business practices, it is recommended to purchase only energy-efficient and sustainable office material. For instance, it is recommended to buy computers and electronics that are EPEAT registered. What is EPEAT? It stands for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool and is a label in the IT field that certifies environmentally preferable electronic products.

What do you think of these green business practices? Please share your comments!

The Rio Declaration – Part 3

Adopted during the 20th century, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development is a document that emphasises the relationships of the different states and their roles and responsibilities in protecting and improving economic development and the environment. In the second article, we were able to take a look at the first fifteen principles laid out in the Rio declaration and today, we shall learn about the twelve remaining ones.

Writing, Pen, Man, Ink, Paper, Pencils, Hands

Principle 16

National authorities should endeavour to promote the internalisation of environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting international trade and investment.

Principle 17

Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.

Principle 18

States shall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or other emergencies that are likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the environment of those States. Every effort shall be made by the international community to help States so afflicted.

Principle 19

States shall provide prior and timely notification and relevant information to potentially affected States on activities that may have a significant adverse transboundary environmental effect and shall consult with those States at an early stage and in good faith.

Principle 20

Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.

Principle 21

The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilised to forge a global partnership In order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all.

Principle 22

Indigenous people and their communities, and other local communities, have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognise and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.

Principle 23

The environment and natural resources of people under oppression, domination and occupation shall be protected.

Principle 24

Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. States shall therefore respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its further development, as necessary.

Principle 25

Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.

Principle 26

States shall resolve all their environmental disputes peacefully and by appropriate means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

Principle 27

States and people shall cooperate in good faith and in a spirit of partnership in the fulfillment of the principles embodied in this Declaration and in the further development of international law in the field of sustainable development.

Now, that you know all of the 27 principles, do you think that the Rio Declaration was able to meet the expectations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development?

However, who remembers what was the purpose of The Earth Summit? So, for all those Ghajinis out there, below you will find an extract to remind you on what we discussed in the first article:

The following issues were addressed during the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit:

• To unite the member states to cooperate together internationally and address urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development

• A systematic analysis of certain production patterns such as the production of toxic components like lead in gasoline or poisonous waste includes radioactive chemicals.

• Find alternative sources of energy to replace the use of fossil fuels.

• A change in the public transportation systems to reduce vehicle emissions, traffic congestion in cities and the health conditions caused by pollutants and dirt particles.

• The rise in water consumption and its insufficient supply.

So, what is your point of view on the Rio Declaration? Please share your comments!

Smart Ways to Make Your Website Greener

Go Green! That’s something we read and hear almost every day and everywhere – in magazines, TV news, social media, Netflix shows, online blogs, clothing tags, and the list goes on and on. While you’re a hardcore sticker for recycling and taking your reusable coffee cup everywhere, denouncing “fast-fashion,” buying solely clothes and products made from natural, sustainable materials, creating your own natural, organic clothing dyes, and even writing about living a greener life on your blogs and websitehave you ever contemplated about the sustainability of your communications or how Eco-friendly your website is?

Yes, that’s definitely not something that immediately springs to mind when going green, but it can and does have an impact. It is very easy to think of the Internet as something virtual and ethereal. It is not a physical object that we can touch or accumulate. But this does not mean that it does not leave an ecological footprint on our planet! Every little thing we do online – every Google search-uses a serious amount of energy every single click. Every time someone fires up a single web page, it emits nearly 20 milligrams of carbon dioxide per second! And for more complex sites, this can go up to 300 milligrams.

At the moment, there are about 3.5 billion web users worldwide. However, with the global population increasing unwaveringly and more and more people getting access to the Internet, the number of data centers and computers increases dramatically. And by 2025, it’s expected that the communications industry would use 20% of the world’s electricity. Simply add it all up, and the world’s carbon footprint gets worse each time a user scrolls through your website. Do I need to spell out what this means for our planet? So, let’s have a look at what you can do to ensure your website is as sustainable as possible!

Opt for Green Web Hosting

Hosting a website means that it’s connected to a server somewhere on the planet. These servers are permanently on, using up a bunch of energy to keep your site running 24/7. Therefore, the hosting firm you opt for can have a serious impact on your website’s environmentally friendly.

Make Use of Lazy Loading

Do you know what lazy loading is? Very easy. Thanks to lazy loading, only images and other elements will be loaded when browsing when necessary. For example, only the top half of the page is loaded instantly when we enter a website. But the rest will only show up if we scroll down. That will help us on several levels.

On the one hand, energy consumption is reduced since we will not continuously load a full page. On the other, our navigation will be much faster. And if we are away from home, we will spend much less data on our devices. All are advantages! If we want to incorporate lazy loading in our WordPress, there are several plugins available. Some of the most used are Rocket Lazy Load, Lazy Load, or a3 Lazy Load.

Keep Your Web Cache at Bay

In WordPress, there are many plugins to clean the cache of your website. These plugins decrease the loading time of the website by generating a WordPress server-side cache. Among the most popular plugins are W3 Total Cache or WP Rocket. We include the latter in our article in which we showed you some of the best existing plugins in WordPress so that you can see the importance of keeping the cache on our website at bay.

Optimize Your Images

What is image optimization and why important for image SEO and websites? - DEV Community

High-resolution images look fantastic on websites. But they do increase loading times considerably. And with it, the energy consumption of our equipment.

Inserting Videos

The use of videos is possibly one of the aspects that most affect our website’s performance and efficiency. But we cannot stop using them, since it is a resource that gives us a lot. There are some tricks that we can use to minimize this negative impact. The first thing is not to use high-resolution videos when it is not strictly necessary. Nor should we make the videos play automatically. It is something that users who enter from a smartphone using a data rate will appreciate. Finally, if the video is already uploaded to a specific platform, like YouTube or Vimeo, do not upload it to your website. Use embedded codes. You will save resources and space in your hosting.

Make Browsing Your Website Easy

If your website is relatively large, navigation within it can be confusing. And it even annoys some users, as they will not find what they are looking for effectively. Increasing the amount of time they have to spend clicking, hoping they were right. Let’s spend some time thinking about our users and their needs. Let’s establish a clear and logical navigation structure. Nobody likes to be wasted our time. And if they do, they may not enter our website again.

Delete Everything That You Are Not Using

Delete Button" Micro-Interaction by Kashish Mehta on Dribbble

It may seem trivial, but we all tend to neglect this aspect. We install plugins to test their functionalities, and after time we replace them with others and leave them there. Or we just stop using it and disable it. And the same goes for WordPress templates. Not forgetting images that we upload, and perhaps they belong to pages or posts that are already deleted. Or old logos of our website that we do not use because we have redesigned them.

Everything is space that we are occupying, and that is a burden for our website. It never hurts to spend some time to see if those plugins, themes, or images are handy to us. These are all the tips that we wanted to show you today. As you can see, each one of them separately may seem like a small thing. But if we combine them, we will improve the navigation of our users. At the same time, we will turn our website into a much more sustainable place.

And you, do you carry out some of these tasks? Or if you have others, you can leave us a comment to share it with the rest of the world!

The Rio Declaration – Part 2

In the first article, we discussed the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the objectives behind the conference. We also briefly touched on the Rio Declaration. Today, let’s take a closer look at the first fifteen principles of the declaration.

Principle 1

Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.

Principle 2

States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles 13 of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

Principle 3

The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitable meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.

Principle 4

In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.

Principle 5

All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating poverty as an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in order to decrease the disparities in standards of living and better meet the needs of the majority of the people of the world.

Principle 6

The special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed and those most environmentally vulnerable, shall be given special priority. International actions in the field of environment and development should also address the interests and needs of all countries.

Principle 7

States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the earth’s ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.

Principle 8

To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people, States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and promote appropriate demographic policies.

Principle 9

States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge, and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.

Principle 10

Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided.

Principle 11

States shall enact effective environmental legislation. Environmental standards, management objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and developmental context to which they apply. Standards applied by some countries may be inappropriate and of unwarranted economic and social cost to other countries, in particular developing countries.

Principle 12

States should cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, to better address the problems of environmental degradation. Trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade. Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided. Environmental measures addressing transboundary or global environmental problems should, as far as possible, be based on an international consensus.

Principle 13

States shall develop national law regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. States shall also cooperate in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop further international law regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction.

Principle 14

States should effectively cooperate to discourage or prevent the relocation and transfer to other States of any activities and substances that cause severe environmental degradation or are found to be harmful to human health.

Principle 15

In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.

What do you think of the above principles? Please share your comments!

The Rio Declaration

There is no doubt that earth has suffered a lot due to several harmful human activities. However, in 1992, the United Nations finally acknowledged the problem of global warming and came up with the Rio Declaration. In this article, we will look at the UN conference and the measure taken in the conference.

The Earth Summit

File:United Nations Headquarters, Geneva.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

In June 2012, a conference was held by the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro, which is called the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development or the Earth Summit. It was a conference created to unite the member states to cooperate together internationally and address urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development. It was known as the largest gathering of leaders worldwide, with 117 heads of state and 178 representatives of different nations. It was a platform where some treaties and important documents were signed and where different countries committed themselves to the pursuit of economic and sustainable development.

The following issues were addressed during the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit:

  • A systematic analysis of certain production patterns such as the production of toxic components like lead in gasoline or poisonous waste includes radioactive chemicals.

     

  • Find alternative sources of energy to replace the use of fossil fuels.

     

  • A change in the public transportation systems to reduce vehicle emissions, traffic congestion in cities and the health conditions caused by pollutants and dirt particles.

     

  • The rise in water consumption and its insufficient supply.

This conference was considered a remarkable achievement for both the United Nations and the whole world as it helped answer the most important questions faced by human civilisation. However, now we will shift our focus to the Rio Declaration, which is one of the most important documents that resulted from the summit.

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Declaration, was composed during the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. But what is the document about? It compiles 27 principles that emphasise on the importance of preserving the environment and achieving sustainable development. The principles serve as guidelines and a path to a more green and sustainable world.

The Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment was the predecessor of the Rio Declaration that was created in 1972 during another United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. Read the following to know what was proclaimed during the conference:

Man is both creature and moulder of his environment, which gives him physical sustenance and affords him the opportunity for intellectual, moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power to transform his environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale. Both aspects of man’s environment, the natural and the man-made, are essential to his well-being and to the enjoyment of basic human rights the right to life itself.

However, we see around us growing evidence of man-made harm in many regions of the earth: dangerous levels of pollution in water, air, earth and living beings; major and undesirable disturbances to the ecological balance of the biosphere; destruction and depletion of irreplaceable resources; and gross deficiencies, harmful to the physical, mental and social health of man, in the man-made environment, particularly in the living and working environment.

Hence, the protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue which affects the well-being of peoples and economic development throughout the world; it is the urgent desire of the peoples of the whole world and the duty of all Governments.”

Now let us come back to the Rio Declaration. Did you know that it was subjected to much criticism? Like me, you must wonder why this declaration was met with disappointment. Thing is according to Maurice Strong, a Canadian businessman that was also served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Rio Declaration did not met his expectations of producing an “Earth Charter.”

However, what are your views about the Rio declaration? Please share your comments!

Sustainable Fashion – What Can Consumers Do?

What can we do as individual customers to make our fashion behavior more sustainable? We can do several things as customers, starting with the choices we make when buying new clothes, from how we take care of the clothes we already have to what we do with the clothes we no longer need. Here are some steps to be more environmentally friendly in your clothing habits and save some money in the process:

1. Don’t buy new things unless you need them. Shopping should not become a habit but a thoughtful choice. Reducing our consumption is one of the most important first steps. It is essential to make careful choices before we decide to buy new clothes. Perhaps something as simple as taking an inventory of what we have before deciding to go to the store and get something. One of the best rules is the “one in, one out” rule, where if something new is bought, something old must go out of the closet.

2. Become familiar with the idea of a “curated closet. Try taking a closer look at your life and better understand what clothes you need and are likely to use. Do you need to have ten party dresses if the last time you went to a party, you wore jeans? The art of carefully selecting garments to create a flexible and organized wardrobe is reborn. There are several tutorials online that will help you put together a work and leisure wardrobe with garments that you can all mix and match. That way, you feel like you still have many options, that the clothes match, and that you need to own fewer pieces, which means you have more of the ones you do own.

How to Decipher “Sustainable Fashion” in 2020

3. Know where you store. Once you’ve decided to buy a new piece of clothing, it’s helpful to research whether you’re at least aware of the different, more environmentally friendly choices in clothing stores and clothing brands. I was surprised to discover that several clothing brands are being more responsible and making more significant efforts to support environmental initiatives and responsible clothing production as part of their business strategy. These clothing brands, such as Patagonia, often offer clothing at a similar price point to their less environmentally conscious competitors. It would be helpful to “vote with your wallet” and support the clothing brands that go the extra mile to be ecologically aware.

4. Buy second-hand clothing or ‘upcycled’ clothing. It takes 25 liters of water to make one t-shirt, so to be environmentally conscious, it makes more sense to reuse clothes for as long as possible: or at least the material the dresses are made of. There are many good second-hand clothing options. If size and style are critical, ‘up-cycled’ clothing, or clothing that has been remade from vintage/second-hand to get new techniques and a better fit, is an environmentally responsible choice.

5. Look at materials. Suppose one prefers to buy new clothes but does not have access to more environmentally friendly brands or cannot afford to store at a more expensive store. It would even help to make better environmental choices somewhere like H&M. You can buy a blouse made of organic cotton instead of one made of non-organic cotton or polyester. Looking for fabrics like bamboo or silk is another good step. Looking at dyes is another way to be more environmentally friendly when buying new clothes like bright fabrics that require more harmful dyes. Then buying a neutral color organic cotton blouse would be a better choice than a bright neon yellow one.

6. Ask the place you’re buying from “how is this made” and “is this environmentally friendly? Let the clothing brand know that you care about the environmental impact of the clothing.

7. Try to invest in fewer but higher quality garments so they last longer. Get familiar with the fit, stitching, and styles that will last a few years, not a few months.

EGYPT: "Vatrina", an application for sustainable fashion, launched by  students | Afrik 21

8. Once you have the new garment, be careful how you care for it. Don’t wash clothes more than necessary, because constant care of clothes also significantly impacts the environment. Learn how to care for clothes to keep them from breaking and make them last longer, such as not using too much detergent and drying flat instead of a clothes dryer. Learn how to hand wash silk, cashmere, and wool, so you don’t have to dry clean them – dry cleaning uses harsh chemicals that are bad for the earth and bad for the environment. Learn how to remove stains and how to repair clothing, so the pieces last longer.

9. If you feel that a clothing piece no longer fits in your closet, try to reuse it. If it is still in good condition, see if you can pass it on to a friend who can wear it. If not, try it at a consignment store or donate it to charity (but beware – many charity donations end up in the third world, where they can also end up in a landfill). You can also see if any reputable companies will accept the garment for recycling. If the clothing is in a bad state, use it for clean-up rugs, or turn it into scraps to stuff sofa cushions.

10. Realize that your choices do make a difference and help improve the situation. Tell your friends and anyone who will listen about how you make your clothing choices. Help others become informed. Change starts with education and small steps.

These simple steps will not only help reduce the environmental impact of clothing, but they will also save you money and free up space in your closet.