Good morning Lovelies. One thing 2020 has shown us is that we all need to care about each other and strive towards sustainability. Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources. Sustainability is important for many reasons including: Environmental Quality – In order to have healthy communities, we need clean air, natural resources, and a nontoxic environment.
We care about our community and our environment and are striving for environmental progress. As individuals we have always practiced repurposing and recycling. When we started Lookalikes and LAL we carried over those conservative practices into our business. We use paper products to package our clothing and wooden hangers instead of plastic. We are currently changing our mailers to eco-friendly mailers to help preserve the ecological balance that our earth needs. Where we can we are moving towards biodegradable and compostable materials and we are researching the use of water-based and nontoxic inks.
Did you ever wonder how we are able to offer such luxurious clothes at a fraction of the price? In LAL we repurposed electrical cable spools into display tables by sanding, staining and painting them ourselves and instead of using materials to cover the floor we spruced up the existing floor. Instead of buying new displays we searched for used displays. We hand cut, designed and assembled our own copper clothing racks and use local businesses for our signs and awnings. All this savings is passed on to you the customer to help with the economic environment as well. The less we spend the less the consumer spends and the more sustainable our community is.
Here are six ways ways you can help towards sustainability according to Alecia M Spooner in her article Ten Ways to Live Sustainability on Dummies.com (Alecia M. Spooner teaches Earth and Environmental Sciences at a community college and enjoys developing active-learning science curriculums for adults. Alecia is also the author of Geology For Dummies.)
Reduce household energy use.
Energy conservation is itself a source of energy. Here are several simple ways to reduce your household energy use:
- Turn off appliances and lights that you’re not using.
- Install energy-efficient appliances.
- Use a programmable thermostat that lowers or raises the temperature when you’re not home.
- Set your thermostat lower than usual in the winter and bundle up.
- Open windows to allow a breeze instead of turning on the air conditioning.
- Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. (I love this one)
- Use an electric teakettle rather than a stovetop kettle to boil water.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).
Eat locally.
A powerful way to live more sustainably is to eat locally. The convenience of supermarkets has changed how people think about food. You can stroll through aisles stocked with fruits, vegetables, and other products from all over the world any time of year. But these products consume huge amounts of fossil fuel energy to get from those global locations to your corner supermarket.
Dispose with disposables.
Previous generations didn’t dream of single-use razors, forks, cups, bags, and food storage containers, but these days, you can find a plastic version of almost any object and then throw that object away after you use it.
Many of the environmental health issues today stem from toxins released into the environment by trash. Even trash that’s properly disposed of, such as that in a landfill, requires careful monitoring to ensure that dangerous chemicals don’t enter the surrounding environment.
Plant seeds.
Try growing your own food. (I love this one too) Simply plant a few seeds in a corner of your yard or in a container on your porch or windowsill. You don’t need acres; a few square feet on a patio, along the driveway, or in a window box can provide enough space to grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Recycle.
Recycle as much as possible! If your neighborhood or apartment complex doesn’t offer recycling pickup, either find a drop-off location or request the curbside service. Buying products labeled post-consumer lets companies know that recycling is the way to go!
Resell and donate items.
Items that you no longer need can get an extended life through resale and donation. By extending the life of any product, you help reduce dependence on disposable or cheaply made single-use products that end up in landfills.
Try reselling clothing and children’s things through a secondhand or consignment retailer or consider donating them to a nonprofit resale organization (such as Goodwill) or charity organization (such as the Salvation Army or American Cancer Society) that will redistribute them to those in need.
From organic to recycled materials we make sustainable choices whenever possible so as to avoid the depletion of natural resources in the hopes of achieving local and global environmental sustainability. We know you deserve the best and your health and wealth are worth the fight for a clean and safe environment.
Love Janet and Sarah
Look A Likes Boutique & LaL Boutique for Men & Women
Worth More Than It Costs
Such great information for these times we live!! Thank you