Instead of spending your paycheck on an expensive new outfit or gadget, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store.

Thrift store shopping is just another form of recycling and regulating CO2 emissions. Not only do you get to reuse a unique or vintage item, but you also stop factories from making more items and creating pollution…

Instead of spending your paycheck on an expensive new outfit or gadget, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store.

Thrift store shopping is just another form of recycling and regulating CO2 emissions. Not only do you get to reuse a unique or vintage item, but you also stop factories from making more items and creating pollution, and that greatly reduces your carbon footprint.

Make the Most of Your Experience

If you’ve never been to a thrift store, then you may not know what you’re getting yourself into. Most thrift stores are disorganized and crowded, which may overwhelm shoppers and cause them to turn away in disbelief.

But if you’re willing to take some time to poke around the store and ask employees questions, then you may find that special something you’ve always been looking for.

Here are some tips to follow when thrift store shopping:

Go Through Your Personal Belongings

First, decide which items you are willing to donate. People don’t realize how much waste is created from items that were thrown away but could have been reused. You’ll not only make some extra space in your home for your newly bought thrift store items, but you’ll also provide someone with a reusable item.

Once you have a bag of donations, then you can see what needs to be replaced.

Make a List

Know ahead of time what you’re looking for so you won’t be scrambling to remember amidst a sea of shoppers.

If you’re getting something for someone else, like clothes, write down their sizes. (To reduce paper waste, write this down on a scrap sheet of paper that has already been used).

Choose a Location

Look up the locations of the thrift stores so you don’t get lost trying to find them.

There are usually Salvation Army and Goodwill stores in most cities, so they should be easy to locate. (The best thing about these two organizations is that they give their proceeds to humanitarian efforts.)

Bring Cash

Even though almost every store in the world accepts credit cards, there are many thrift stores that only accept cash. So go to the ATM or borrow some cash from a friend before you head out to go shopping.

Transportation

If you live close enough to a store and the weather is nice, you can walk or bike to it. That will save you gas money, reduce CO2 emissions and save you time from trying to find a parking spot.

If you have to drive, know exactly how to get there so you don’t waste gas driving around.

At the Store

When you’re searching for items, think green.

• If you don’t find the perfect shirt you’re looking for but you find a few that have certain elements you like, look for ways you can recycle the elements. You can find cool fabric from one item to add to another, or you can make something completely original from a mix of fabrics. And if something isn’t exactly your size, it can be easily altered and hemmed.
• Try not to choose items that need to be dry-cleaned. Dry cleaners often use perchlorethylene (PERC), which is a man-made substance that can damage the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. You can read more about the dangers of dry cleaning here.
• Don’t buy things you’ll never use. That means don’t buy something just because it’s super cheap and you think it’s too great of a deal to pass up. Buying a stack of books you’ll never read, some pots you’ll never cook with or a record you’ll never listen to will only wind up in a landfill later, and then you’ll just be contributing to our land pollution problem.

Also, don’t forget to check for price tags and correct sizes. Sometimes a price tag is missing or the clothing item doesn’t have a size label, so ask an employee if you need help. The more that you get to know the employees, the more you’ll be aware of cool sales or future shipments.

Back at Home

After you’ve returned from the thrift store, you need to wash any clothing that you purchased.

If there are tough stains on the clothes you can use a mixture of water and baking soda to get them out. You can also add a ½ cup of vinegar in the wash cycle to help kill bacteria and other germs on the clothing.

You can find a whole list of homemade cleaning products here.

Thrift store shopping can be a fun, green experience for everyone. Finding cool items that can be recycled will not only help the environment, but they might just help you brighten up your eco-lifestyle.

For many sports fans, Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his Air Jordan sneakers may be some of the most popular shoes ever made. Of course everyone knows that Jordan’s jersey number is 23, and this year will mark the 23^rd version of his infamous name brand shoe to hit the market.

What makes this year extra special is that this time around the Air Jordan XX3 is going green…

For many sports fans, Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his Air Jordan sneakers may be some of the most popular shoes ever made. Of course everyone knows that Jordan’s jersey number is 23, and this year will mark the 23^rd version of his infamous name brand shoe to hit the market.

What makes this year extra special is that this time around the Air Jordan XX3 is going green! A new article from Brandweek.com explains how this ‘Become Legendary’ campaign from Nike is going to be a historical event that will be a huge stepping stone for other shoe retailers across the world.

Consider the Possibilities

I wrote a past blog about eco-friendly Simple shoes, which use recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton. So what makes the new Air Jordan green? The shoe is the first product from the Nike Considered initiative, a new program whose shoes are not only athletically superior, but also environmentally friendly. These shoes use very little adhesives or toxic glues, making them safer for the environment and easier for factory workers to assemble. And easier work means less time spent in the factory, and less energy being used to power the machines in the factory.

The XX3 also uses recycled rubber in the soles, so most of the shoe itself can be recycled over again. Overall, they can help reduce your carbon footprint and maximize your slam-dunk skills! You can read more about the Air Jordan XX3 here.

Nike’s Bold Goal

By 2011 Nike hopes to have all of their footwear to meet or exceed the same standards as stated in the ‘Considered’ line. I hope that this works and that other sports shoes follow this initiative because it would be a great way to get kids or anyone who loves sports involved in the green movement.

I think that ‘comfortable’ is one word that every college student would use to describe their clothing style. Most college students like to wear comfortable clothes that they can lounge around in, but most importantly, that they can go to class in. I remember getting up for 7:00 a.m. Monday morning classes and not even changing out of my sleepwear because it was so comfortable. A basic cotton t-shirt, a pair of jeans or sweatpants and some sneakers did the trick for me…

I think that ‘comfortable’ is one word that every college student would use to describe their clothing style. Most college students like to wear comfortable clothes that they can lounge around in, but most importantly, that they can go to class in. I remember getting up for 7:00 a.m. Monday morning classes and not even changing out of my sleepwear because it was so comfortable. A basic cotton t-shirt, a pair of jeans or sweatpants and some sneakers did the trick for me and most of the other people in my class. And it didn’t matter if someone wore the same thing two or three days in a row because washing machines were so scarce in the dorms!

Organic Cotton Measures Up

Since cotton is the main clothing material for most for college students, a great way for them to get their favorite threads and save the environment at the same time would be to purchase cotton organic clothing. Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals, and it uses natural rain water instead of irrigation techniques. It produces purely natural and eco friendly clothing that is comfortable and sustainable. I recently found a web site, http://www.onnotextiles.com/, which produces plain t-shirts made exclusively from organic cotton. They also offer products made from bamboo and hemp. The prices are affordable and the t-shirts are soft and comfortable. It’s a great place for any student to get their standard college t-shirt!

Recycled Sneakers

Another great college apparel item that I discovered is the ecoSNEAK, which is manufactured by Simple. These ultra-comfortable shoes are made from organic cotton, melted plastic bottles and recycled car tires!

The pesticide-free organic cotton makes up the body of the shoe, plastic bottles are melted to make the shoelaces and old tires are cut up to be used as shoe soles. You can read more about these eco friendly shoes here: http://www.simpleshoes.com/index.aspx.

These are just two companies that have found ways to market to the college audience with an eco-friendly message. I personally think that if you’re going to buy a cotton t-shirt or sneakers anyways, you might as well purchase ones that are purely organic or have been recycled. Your money goes to a good cause, you feel better about yourself and the environment and you still stay comfortable anywhere you go on campus.