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This morning, I followed my editor Nicole Phelps’s advice for Earth Day and pulled out one of the oldest items in my closet: a pale blue J.Jill button-down I swiped from my mom back in 2009. It has the ideal oversize fit, lived-in texture, and easy-to-roll cuffs I’ve looked for (but haven’t found!) in shirts ever since. I thoroughly enjoy telling people that it’s J.Jill—perhaps the ultimate “mom brand”—and that it’s more than a decade old, too. And after years of covering sustainability for Vogue and Style.com, I’m equally happy to know that by wearing and loving it for this long, its carbon footprint is practically zero.
I made a point to wear it with other items I know I’ll keep for just as long today, but that high started to fade when I picked up my first cold brew of the season—plastic cup, lid, and straw included. I’ve been using a ceramic W&P mug all winter, but have yet to invest in a reusable vessel for iced beverages; if ever there was a day to splurge on one, it’s today. It got me thinking about the other things I need to pick up for the new season: another reusable straw, some muslin bags for produce at Trader Joe’s, and maybe even a New York City–appropriate compost system. For all of the statistics I know about how clothing is made and what happens to it in a landfill, I only recently learned how detrimental food waste is for the environment. My friend Haley Boyd recommends simply keeping a paper bag in your freezer for food scraps, or you can use a sleek silicone bin from Full Circle Home.
Below, we’ve found 16 more Earth Day–friendly items to consider, from a plant-based comforter to a laundry bag that filters out micro-plastics and a few of our favorite sustainable fashion buys as well. In addition to supporting environmentally conscious brands and designers, you’ll start to lessen your own carbon footprint—and get in the habit of being more mindful about everything you consume.
