27 November 2023
Navigating the World of Sustainable Yoga Clothing: Your Essential Guide
- Lifestyle
We want to share as many tips and our extensive knowledge on this topic as possible. We already wrote a blog on 7 tips to avoiding plastics in our wardrobe. In this blog, we would like to instead share our best zero-waste tips with you. This way, we can all reduce the amount of waste together!
Tip 1: Take it step by step
Our first and perhaps most important tip is to take it step by step! Transforming into a zero-waste warrior is not something to take lightly! Working on a theme or single area in your home makes achieving a zero waste lifestyle much more accessible. For example, focus on your plastic consumption in the bathroom this month, then switch to the kitchen and take further steps towards a low-waste lifestyle.
This is how Niki, founder of COSH!, began her zero waste journey. She first switched from plastic-bottled shampoo to solid bars and then looked for cosmetics in glass packaging and refillable make-up. You can find sustainable cosmetic products with refillable or biodegradable packaging at Druantia in Lier, Clothilde in Ghent and Aalst, refill stations for Cîme products at Fonetik in Aalst, HOST in Antwerp, Supergoods and Make in Hasselt. Ray products are at Supergoods, Het Faire Oosten in Amsterdam and SOFlien in Essen. At Teint Teint, you can also find fun zero waste stuff like washable wipes.
Tip 2: Support local initiatives!
At COSH! we champion local shopping. Not only do you support local entrepreneurs in your neighbourhoods, but you also avoid long-distance, high-emission transport. It’s a win-win! A zero waste lifestyle perfectly matches the ethos of local shopping. We want to introduce you to some Belgian brands putting zero waste on the map!
Go with the flow with Miokoo
Did you know that in Flanders alone, almost 3 million disposable feminine hygiene products are disposed of daily? Hygiene products are indispensable, but unfortunately, they create enormous amounts of waste! Luckily, there are power-women like Kathleen. With her brand Miokoo, she is offering an eco-friendly solution! Thanks to Miokoo’s menstrual underwear, you can avoid disposable panty liners and tampons altogether! It’s incredibly easy: put on your absorbent menstrual underwear in the morning and feel comfortable for the rest of the day! Say goodbye to plastic packaging and bulky pads! Discover Miokoo at Supergoods in Ghent, Antwerp and Mechelen, BlaBloom in Genk and Fonetik in Aalst.
Pss, this brand was also screened by COSH! on its sustainability! Check out the brand screening here.
Zeepzot: Belgian circular soap
Local soaps, hand cut and handmade in Bruges with unique fragrances that are good for people, animals and the planet: that’s what Zeepzot is all about. Collaborating with local partners and using local Bruges products, their packaging is made of wood waste and their soaps a delight for the senses. How about a body scrub with coffee grounds or hand soap made from Belgian beer?
Tip 3: Look for zero waste hotspots in your neighbourhood
Have you decided which room or theme you want to tackle first? Then it’s time to go on a zero waste shopping trip! In our blog post about packaging-free shopping, you will find plenty of products that make zero waste incredibly easy to achieve.
Of course, you don’t have to buy lots of new products to start living a zero waste lifestyle. This lifestyle is perfect for getting creative with the things you already have!
Melt your candle scraps to make new ones, or collect fabric scraps and upcycle them into coasters. The internet is full of fun, upcycling DIY projects that allow you to turn something old or used into something new! Discover our blog with DIY ideas!
Tip 5: Get inspired
Could you use some extra inspiration? Then it’s always helpful to check out sustainable bloggers and influencers on Instagram. Some of our favourites? Discover Veerle Colle, Sustainable Family, Elisabeth Van Lierop, Laura from The Dessert, and Planttribe.be. Of course, you can also find plenty of tips on Mei Plasticvrij’s, Belgium’s plastic awareness initiative!
Tip 6: Avoid plastic in your clothing
Our supermarkets, bathrooms and kitchens are often filled with plastic. But did you know there is also a lot of plastic in clothing? Polyester is a common material in clothing and is just plastic turned into a textile. Other synthetic fibres and materials like nylon and elastane are also ubiquitous. Do you want to avoid plastics in your clothes? Then be sure to check the clothing labels when you go shopping. No idea what to look for? These tips will help you on your way to becoming a conscious shopper.
Tip 7: Don’t just throw old clothes away
Do you have many unwanted or unused clothes hanging around in your closet? Spring cleaning can be fun, but don’t just throw out all your pieces. Did you know that less than 1% of all clothes are recycled? That is because garments made of fibre blends are difficult to recycle. Even with today’s innovations, it is still impossible to separate fibres on a large scale, so clothing often ends up in landfills. So, think twice before you throw something away!
The following tips from Mijnes Jouwes will keep your clothes looking great for longer:
1. Separate your clothes before washing (whites, light-coloured clothing, mixed-colours, reds and darks).
2. Use a dash of vinegar in the pre-wash (this prevents colours from fading and running)
3. Wash all clothes inside out and close buttons and zippers (this also protects the other garments)
4. Wash at 30 degrees
5. Do not use fabric softener
5. Do not use a tumble dryer! (or, if, like me, you have a house with little space for airdrying and many active children, use the dryer only for towels and cotton underwear)
Do you want to take care of your wardrobe sustainably? Discover a practical step-by-step plan here!
