Extreme amounts of damage are happening to the Earth, including pollution, as well as the increase of substances harmful to the environment being exposed into the world’s ecosystem.

Tons and tons of waste are made per year: clothing, factories, light; these all contribute to the waste build up.  Most of these causes, such as clothing production, are man-made issues. As the years go by, this problem is seeming to get worse. Even items as simple as blue jeans, which many people wear everyday, can be extremely harmful. According to an author for Business Insider, Amir Ismael, “Along with the massive amount of pesticides used to grow cotton and the energy consumption in factories, jeans are one of the least Eco-friendly clothing items to produce.”

Human activity has caused countless amounts of damage to Earth, striking our home’s safety. If humans continue to ignore the destruction being done to the planet, the consequences will begin to unravel. Human Impacts on the Environment written by National Geographic states, “Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water.” This is where adapting the individual lifestyle to become Eco-friendly comes into play.

Living with an Eco-friendly mindset can aid in slowly conquering the rising issue of pollution to Earth. An Eco-friendly mindset is simply thinking before doing, taking into account the consequences of your individual actions. For example, thinking before you purchase, or trying your best to use products that won’t have a lasting effect on the environment. The definition of ‘Eco-friendly” is: “not harmful to the environment,” so to have such a mindset is to try your best not to make environmental issues worse. There are simple ways to help, such as shopping at sustainable stores and buying second hand. There are many ways to do so at various price points–chain thrift stores, such as Goodwills and Salvation Armies, or, local thrift stores, are excellent to shop sustainably at extremely low prices. However, second-hand selling apps, such as Depop, Mercari, Ebay, Poshmark, etc., are becoming increasingly popular due to the wide selection of price points and clothing options presented to the buyer.

Purchasing off these apps are very convenient, due to the fact that you could be anywhere in the World, and they could also provide a portal for people who love sustainable fashion to bond. The accessibility to all sorts of fashion has brought one of said apps, Depop, about 10 million users since their launch according to their seller’s handbook. Both methods of second-hand shopping help bring new life to old items; one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

In addition to purchasing items second-hand, reusing items, recycling, and composting things like food scraps. Seemingly minor things, such as using a reusable water bottle compared to plastic bottles, can have a long-lasting affect. Being environmentally cautious begins with every person taking accountability for their own waste. Simple ways to start are by following what is known as ‘the three R’s:’ Reusing, Reducing, and Recycling. Becoming Eco-friendly can be as simple as turning off your lights when you leave a room.

Time is ticking. If the rate of pollution and waste increases any more, the health of the environment will deplete very quickly. The earth is being damaged, and the ways to fix this impending problem are running out. Doing your part by reducing your personal carbon footprint can help turn around the arising problems before it is too late.