WHAT IS ECO-GUILT?
Many, including us here at KEEPER Denim have suffered from eco-guilt at some point, especially with the climate crisis today. Whether it’s when you forgot to bring a reusable coffee cup to your local café or you weren’t sure which plastic containers were safe to go into the recycle bin – you’re not alone!
WHAT IS ECO-GUILT?
Eco-guilt is what you feel when you think you have done something that is bad for the planet. Unfortunately, this feeling often leads to a negative chain of events as you feel inadequate and, in the end, this can lead to paralysis of taking any positive action towards the climate crisis as you feel overwhelmed. So even though you care deeply about climate change, you might feel like you don’t have the right to participate in the movement to help reverse the effects of it.
To add to this, eco-guilt can drive us to only purchase products that are marketed as eco-friendly, natural etc. This is a great start but it’s only part of the solution, as we also need to reduce our overall consumption of these products. With greenwashing alive and well today, it can be hard to determine if what brands say is true. Greenwashing is when companies provide misleading information to consumers about their products, suggesting they are more environmentally friendly than they really are. Instead, it’s important you do your research into a brand and how their products are made. Consider the transparency of their supply chain and whether they have any certifications to formalise their commitment to producing ethical and sustainable products.
THE SOLUTION TO ECO-GUILT
Whilst it is still so important that we make small changes in our everyday life to care for the planet, we must remember that these solutions might not be available to everyone due to a variety of reasons including finance, culture, and accessibility.
The solution to reversing the effects of climate change is fundamental systemic change, and the good news is, this is something that we can all be a part of! A great starting point is staying informed, and you can do this with the following incredible resources:
The Good on You App
Rates over 2,000 fashion brands on a scale of 1 to 5, in terms of how sustainable and ethical their business practices are. It also provides a summary of the key criteria used to generate the rating.
Fashion Revolution
A non-profit global movement that raises awareness of the current state of the fashion industry to help create one that values people and the planet over profit.
Eco Age
They work with fashion brands to help them develop more sustainable business practices. They have a blog on their website which is regularly updated with articles discussing the latest news in the industry.
Conscious Chatter
A podcast that provides valuable information about the garment industry and how each of us can make a positive change towards a more ethical and sustainable future.
We hope you found these KEEPER Denim tips helpful and remember – forget the eco-guilt, there are so many ways that you can take part in the action against climate change and creating a better future or our planet.