I have been living in London for approximately three months, and my eyes have been opened to the new world of sustainability that exists outside of the United States. Everything from the terminology to the price and the product are different in order to accommodate a more environmentally-friendly approach.
In a UK Dunkin Donuts, an iconic American brand, the traditional “take away” cups are made of recycled paper instead of styrofoam, and the lighter and thinner plastic lids are made with recyclable material. The classic takeaway cups are different in the UK across coffee shops, in comparison to the US.
What the English call “bins” and Americans call “trash cans” are all over the streets, but with a significant difference between the two: Recycling bins are always attached to the regular trash cans in the UK. Recycling is made easier in the UK with the advantage of having trash and recycling bins at every corner. Certain areas of the US are now jumping on this trend of offering both bins side by side. On the University of Central Florida’s campus, the recycling and trash cans are also always right next to each other.
Sustainability is not a trend as many European countries have shown in recent years, ramping up their environmentally-friendly strategies for the long term and setting futuristic sustainability goals. The UK is part of the United Nations’ sustainability standards of improving environmental and climate change impact by 2030, and the United States is also a part of the United Nations’ environmental sustainability standards.
To be more sustainable in your everyday life, it goes farther than buying a reusable coffee cup and water bottle. Take the time to help volunteer planting trees or cleaning the beach every once in a while. Buy reusable plastic bags and reconsider certain items that you don’t need or if you can buy an alternative that is more sustainable. When it comes to fashion, Patagonia is a leading sustainable fashion company that is worth checking out. With fast fashion, such as Forever 21, quality is not as important as quantity, therefore creating the need to buy more clothes and adding to the economic push of producing more clothes than necessary. Buying quality over quantity will be better for the environment because a company produces less product that uses less water, chemicals and energy. Buying vintage or secondhand also helps the environment and is an excellent option. Rent the Runway and other renting clothing sites are other great options to help the environment.
