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Usually when it comes to personal environmental reforms and sustainability preferences on HN (and the tech/research community I associate with), there is always

by jsinai 6y ago

Usually when it comes to personal environmental reforms and sustainability preferences on HN (and the tech/research community I associate with), there is always a strong emphasis on air travel. Understandably one round trip across a major ocean is a huge amount of CO2 for one person to emit in a short period of time. However there is an even larger source [1] of carbon emissions that everyone contributes to on a far more frequent basis and that is the fashion industry. If anyone wants to start reducing emissions now, then changing purchasing behaviors for clothing, footwear and accessories is a great place to start. Of course not everyone is into fast fashion, but even those that only buy clothing infrequently can make a difference by a.) only buying clothing/footwear/accessories made from sustainable materials, b.) only buying clothing made locally, or that is already warehoused locally (as shipping emissions would be spread out), c.) extending the lifespan of their clothing buy repairing/altering. In general natural materials do tend to last longer than polyester/viscose, and even organic cotton is more sturdy than non-organic cotton. Finally this behaviour can be extended to other household goods, eg buying bamboo cooking utensils instead of plastic. [1] https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-ambiente https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-m...

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
> c.) extending the lifespan of their clothing buy repairing/altering. This sounds nice but requires another generation before becomes socially acceptable again. More specifically, I know no middle-level manager who would dare to adopt it. (The top and bottom of the ladder could, for different reasons.)
- pjc50 6y ago
  Invisible mending is totally a thing. Most of the common early failure points of clothes are at seams. The problem is more obsolescence than wear; "fast fashion" encouraging people to buy more new clothes leads to the old ones being disposed of.
- vanusa 6y ago
  More specifically, I know no middle-level manager who would dare to adopt it. We'll make them adopt it, then. That's what re-education camps are for. Seriously -- this is kind of like saying (in February of 2020) "Telling people to wear masks sounds nice but it just won't fly because it's not socially acceptable. More specifically, I know of no one in my office who would dare to wear a mask in public (except the low-level shitworkers whom none of us hang out with anyways)". When it's a matter of survival -- and yes, curtailing our living standards to head of the worst aspects of climate change clearly is -- there are always ways to make it "socially acceptable". And I'm not referring to coercive means - it's simply a matter of political will, and this thing known as "basic integrity". That's why (in all but the most backward places) nearly everyone (who isn't basically a jerk or an idiot) is willing to wear a mask now (at least in places where it's truly necessary), even though most of us thought it to be awkward and icky (or probably not worth the hassle) the hassle. Because enough people in positions of influence / visibility came through and said "Look, we really need to do this." Oh, and laws ("coercion") also help too. But the main thing that moves the needle is -- people (in positions of influence) having the cuts to act with integrity, and simply be open and honest about what needs to be done. And of course to back that up by leading by example.
- skinkestek 6y ago
  I am a decently paid (by local standards) sw engineer. I fix my clothes not because I cannot afford new ones but because I strongly dislike that my jeans fail after a few months of use and because I prioritize differently. I make patches from worn out pants, apply fabric glue and stitch them in place using thread with a matching colour. After doing it a few times I feel I can now make it next to impossible. There's no reason people in middle management cannot do the same - if they want :-)

by jsinai 6y ago

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago

> c.) extending the lifespan of their clothing buy repairing/altering. This sounds nice but requires another generation before becomes socially acceptable again. More specifically, I know no middle-level manager who would dare to adopt it. (The top and bottom of the ladder could, for different reasons.)

pjc50 6y ago
Invisible mending is totally a thing. Most of the common early failure points of clothes are at seams. The problem is more obsolescence than wear; "fast fashion" encouraging people to buy more new clothes leads to the old ones being disposed of.
vanusa 6y ago
More specifically, I know no middle-level manager who would dare to adopt it. We'll make them adopt it, then. That's what re-education camps are for. Seriously -- this is kind of like saying (in February of 2020) "Telling people to wear masks sounds nice but it just won't fly because it's not socially acceptable. More specifically, I know of no one in my office who would dare to wear a mask in public (except the low-level shitworkers whom none of us hang out with anyways)". When it's a matter of survival -- and yes, curtailing our living standards to head of the worst aspects of climate change clearly is -- there are always ways to make it "socially acceptable". And I'm not referring to coercive means - it's simply a matter of political will, and this thing known as "basic integrity". That's why (in all but the most backward places) nearly everyone (who isn't basically a jerk or an idiot) is willing to wear a mask now (at least in places where it's truly necessary), even though most of us thought it to be awkward and icky (or probably not worth the hassle) the hassle. Because enough people in positions of influence / visibility came through and said "Look, we really need to do this." Oh, and laws ("coercion") also help too. But the main thing that moves the needle is -- people (in positions of influence) having the cuts to act with integrity, and simply be open and honest about what needs to be done. And of course to back that up by leading by example.
skinkestek 6y ago
I am a decently paid (by local standards) sw engineer. I fix my clothes not because I cannot afford new ones but because I strongly dislike that my jeans fail after a few months of use and because I prioritize differently. I make patches from worn out pants, apply fabric glue and stitch them in place using thread with a matching colour. After doing it a few times I feel I can now make it next to impossible. There's no reason people in middle management cannot do the same - if they want :-)