Have you ever wondered what you could do to become a more eco-conscious citizen? It’s as easy as opting for market fresh instead of store-bought, and you can be part of the change you want to see here in Arlington.
As a young person, it’s difficult to invest in clothes that will last longer. Higher quality and eco-friendly clothing is commonly more expensive than fast fashion. Visiting a local thrift store is a great way to support your community and discourage unethical clothing consumerism. Highly rated nearby stores include We Thieves and Great Eastern Trading. Another option if you’re looking for something specific, is online second-hand wear sites. I highly recommend Depop, an app that allows users to buy and sell used clothing online. ThreadUp and Poshmark are trustworthy and reliable sites as well. Visiting antique stores and upcycling furniture is a great way to reuse home decor, although some materials, like bedding, are best bought new. If you want new clothes and are open to investing, try using the app GoodOnYou to find sustainable clothing brands and keep fast fashion out of landfills.
Additionally, Trove in Somerville and Yes! in Arlington are great stops for refillable and sustainable goods. You can find plenty of sustainable non-plastic gifts and hygiene products. Instead of buying new packaged hair care pro
ducts, use stores like those to refill your existing bottles with shampoo and conditioner to save plastic.
Take advantage of farmers’ markets and opt for fresh produce versus store-bought and processed food. In the summer, our town has a farmers market on Wednesday at Russell Commons Municipal Lot in Arlington Center in the parking lot behind Arlington Catholic featuring local produce. Although they are not open all year round, visiting them allows you to support local farms and reduce plastic packaging waste.
However, remember that most of these options are substitutes for everyday items. Some things, like toiletries, can’t be bought or reused. Nevertheless, every step we take brings us closer to a cleaner environment. Wouldn’t you like to be part of that?
