Plastic Detox – Closet Edition

Written by Kajsa Ingelsson • November 25, 2019
@ Go Green

How are you all doing? It’s time for the fourth part of the Plastic Detox. By now we went thru the kitchen, the bathroom and your cleaning routine.

Feeling lighter and greener already? G O O D! Please don’t hesitate to send me a comment, email, instadirect or whatever form of contact that rocks your boat if you have any questions or feedback. We are all in this together!

Today it’s time to detoxify for one of my favorite places – the closet! Can I tell you a secret? I used to be a shopaholic. This was a while back when I was unconscious and clueless of the impact that our daily lives and consumption habits have on our planet. I thought that I needed to have all the latest “it-pieces” and colors media spoke about to feel good about myself.

Today, I’m different. While I still shop, I always lean towards buying vintage or sustainable and organic brands.

I mean, I have a whole page here on the website, VINTAGE CHIC, dedicated to all my favourite vintage stores all over the globe.

Here’s a thing you might not be aware of; a lot of clothing is made from plastic—polyester, nylon, etc.—and though it’s not single-use, it ultimately still ends up in a landfill (plus, every time you wash it, plastic leaches into the environment).

There’s a few ways to be greener when it comes to clothing; buy vintage & second hand, from companies using recycled materials, and shop for organically grown natural materials (cotton, linen etc) that are dyed with non-toxic dyes, as these won’t shed plastics or release harmful chemicals into the environment.

These are some certifications that can be good to look out for when you are shopping for new items;

  • Oeko-Tex: the global standard for safety and toxicity (good for you and the water creatures!)
  • bluesign: The bluesign® standard indicates that a textile has the smallest ecological footprint possible.
  • Certified B Corporation: Certified B Corporations believe they have a responsibility to both communities and the planet. It’s a new model for more transparent, positive business practices, not only for clothing brands, but also food growers and beyond. 
  • Fair Trade Certified: Fair Trade Certified most often applies to food, but it can do for garments, as well. It means that people in the supply chain of a product have been paid fairly for their work and products, often above current market rates, and work in safe conditions. 
  • EcoCert: This certification evaluates organic agricultural products that could comprise garments. Think: organic cotton, hemp or linen, for example.
  • Global Organic Textile Standard: It verifies the organic status of 70% of textiles,  and can be found on clothing made from organic cotton, hemp, wool or linen. Today, GOTS has 19 authorised certification bodies monitoring 1.4 million workers and 4,600 facilities operating under their conditions.

When it comes to sustainable brands, there’s really been an explosion on the market as of lately. This is of course a magical thing and it’s reflecting not only where the fashion industry is heading but also our society as a whole.

Some of my favorite sustainable brands include;

  • Tights & stockings: Swedish Stockings (they’ll also take your old pairs to recycle!)
  • Plastic-free phone cases from Pela

“Do I need this?” is a tough question to ask yourself given how much marketing goes into telling you just how badly you need all the things you own.

But with some awareness, a sober look at the bigger picture and thus the real price you can really change your outlook. Detoxing is not easy, but it’s also not as hard as it seems. Now, my former addiction to shopping (and other dangerous things..) seems insane. For the sake of my health and the health of the planet, Imma make sure it stays that way.

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