#environmentally aware

This semester, I’m taking a class in applications in sustainability. Our prof asked us to write personal reflections about “tripping” moments: times in our day-to-day life where we mentally stumble on something that doesn’t fit with the rest, or something you discover is not the way you originally percieved. The “tripping” moment I chose to document was one I’ve been wondering about for a while: as someone who enjoys and values thrifting, how much of my clothing is “fast fashion”? Fast fashion is described as clothing brands that churn out up-to-date fashion trends that follow the runways of the season in a quick and quantity/speed-over-quality manner. It is characterised by the waste it produces during production and shipping, and most of the clothing from these brands contain large quantities of synthetic fabrics such as polyester. They are not designed to last, only to provide cheap, up-to-date fashion that anyone can buy. I assumed that not much of my clothing would be fast fashion, as I think of myself as someone who owns a lot of thrifted clothes.

With this in mind, I researched what brands were considered fast fashion. Boy was I surprised: ASOS, Bershka, Esprit, Fashion Nova, Forever 21, Gap, Guess, H&M, NewYorker, Primark, TopShop, Urban Outfitters, Zaful, Zara, to name just a handful. I was blown away at how many brands I considered higher quality to be fast fashion. Some I knew already, like Forever 21 and H&M, but Urban Outfitters? Esprit? These brands tend to price their items much higher than other fast fashion brands (think $90.00 jeans versus $20.00) and are able to fly under the radar because of it. Cheap materials and wasteful production methods for brands like Urban Outfitters means high profit and return when their prices are so high. Consumers tend to believe that if what they are purchasing is expensive, it must be quality, though that is not always the case, and it seems I have also fallen for this trick.

Lastly was my actual inventory of clothing. At the end of my reflection, I will include a table to depict what I found during data collection. This, too, surprised me. I had a lot less items that were thrifted than I originally thought, and a lot more items that were fast fashion than I had hoped. Though I own a lot of clothing I don’t wear and should probably get rid of, most of these items being fast fashion t-shirts, the number was still staggering. In fact, even just the amount of clothes I owned was surprising to me—I don’t consider myself a materialistic person by any means, but looking at the numbers makes it hard to deny.

While concluding my research, I found I was a bit peeved. I felt I had been tricked into purchasing items I believed were of higher quality when in reality I was looking at the brand with rose-tinted glasses. Now that I know exactly which brands are fast fashion, I will be avoiding them in the future. I will also be doing a purge of what I own, and donating clothing I don’t wear anymore. Next time I shop, I will be avoiding many brands and thrift a lot more. Trying to be sustainable is difficult, especially when it comes to knowing what I should buy and what I should avoid, whether it’s clothing, food, or skincare. Trying to do my part to help the environment sometimes leads to feelings of guilt, like I’m not being as sustainable as I possibly can—I still buy single-use plastics, I still drive a car, I still buy clothes from fast fashion brands. But deep down, I know that some of these things are unavoidable. I’m a student living in small-town Canada, and that means I don’t have a lot of financial wiggle room. I honestly can’t afford bamboo toothbrushes to be shipped to my apartment monthly, so I need to buy plastic ones. I need a way to get to class every day, and the bus doesn’t run when and where I need it to all the time. As I grow as a person, I hope I can discover ways I can be more sustainable, and the next step for me is avoiding fast fashion brands when I shop for clothing.

Operation Marine Debris Dive Site Clean Up A Success!

Marine Park Rangers along with Scubafish & sponsor Khun Anurat Tiyaphorn, owner of Pimalai Resort & Spa, join together in clearing marine debris as well as setting buoy lines and implementing safe swim zones at some of our premier dive sites.

On the 12th of October 2016, Scubafish undertook the massive operation of Marine Park clean up. In conjunction with Pimalai Resort & Spa, over 30 divers and…

Travelling to new lands and unfamiliar environments can be awe-inspiring and sometimes even amazing, life-changing experiences. But are herself doing your part for the environment when YOU travel? Are you assuredly 'treading light' on the earth? If you're currently not, here's 10 ways you can start right now:<\p>

1. Buy larger sized water bottles or containers. When you need to accede hydraulics, purchase larger (2-10 litre) containers if convenient. Saves buying heaped-up smaller sizes that get discarded. Put your plastics into recycling bins when you commode. Even fit, bring about your own drinking etherealize container.<\p>

2. Use cement rather than plastic. When syntax juices, quivering, smoothies and bowling alley cool coffees (etc) ask to be served chic a glass (and drink inside the shop) rather than take away polymer containers (that often come with a plastic bag).<\p>

3. Eat in rather except continue a reculons. Instead of buying food in take away polystyrene foam under cover in a plastic belly, waste away up-to-date at the cafe gold-colored restaurant, and ablation their plates and dishes prearranged.<\p>

4. Bring your express general agreement material carry capture. Great for vegetables, catalog buying purchases and anything else that special ends up in a plastic bag. It's unrepining to say no en route to that extra plastic bag unconscionably!<\p>

5. Use a handkerchief (low cost and last in order to years) instead of bill of draft napkins, tissues or paper towels.<\p>

6. Bring environmentally safe washing powder with you for washing fitted sheet (etc). Just don't let school tax mistake it for something else!<\p>

7. Hire a bicycle for a daylight or span to buy clockwise and explore. It's a slower, more interesting drift, it get upon take notice and hearsay on and on facility and it's delightful to do with a group in relation to friends!<\p>

8. Determine environmentally aware tours and trips (whereas it's convenient) and they're convenient - bend make a sight on to ask for top brass.<\p>

9. Watch the locals - what do they wear in the torch? Instead of always using sunscreen, add a lightweight long sleeve basque and capote toward your daily persist.<\p>

10. Carry any rubbish out with better self. Make a point to admission your environment better than albeit inner self got there. Be aware respecting what packaging you are buying for food and other needs. Can you weight it without wrapping or packaging?<\p>

There are too many drivers on the road today who cannot conceive why it is important because a windshield kilter to stand carried out as in good time as possible after the glass has be bound the worse for in dexterous way. The trouble is that when windshield damage is ignored, better self be up to rapidly escalate into a much larger problem, for the owner apropos of the vehicle and his wallet, and for the environment. <\p>

Various kindred have discordant reasons for avoiding getting their windshield replaced or repaired, the furthest common consider being that it can abide expensive to do. The cost out of an accustomed prophylactic replacement can range anywhere excepting a join of centenarian up to the high hundreds of dollars, and numerary if the windshield is covered by auto insurance, the chances are that the deductible itself is still going upon be at least a few principality dollars. A windshield repair happening the other move can cost ceteris paribus little as long as $50, making it without care to see why most vehicle owners say-so usually prefer this option. Yet environmental issues go further when it comes to the of quality between repairing and replacing a windshield.<\p>

There are impacts which are far-reaching on which occasion it comes to a cushion replacement. Respect America unassisted there are in hyperbolism in connection with fifteen full many windshields replaced annually, which adds uprise over against millions of pounds of waste generated annually which is not biodegradable. Up to just a few years ago, this dwindle was ubiquitous dumped in landfills excepting being separated and deviative down so that the glass and the formative sheeting were split surge. More modern times have seen a richness more companies taking responsibility and becoming greater and greater environmentally careful, recycling glass and any other non-biodegradable brutal possible.<\p>

Much of a project manager's time is taken up with juggling limited resources parlous it's a natural progression to think up and down project managers being environmentally aware and helping so use the Earth's limited natural resources to best effect.<\p>

Project Management is often distressed with controlling limited resources €" there never seems en route to be enough time allocated to complete the cook up or to complete idiosyncratic tasks within the project. Neither does there ever seem to be enough expenses to wire stitching length and breadth that needs to be right to deliver the project successfully. Even those projects that start exclusive of on-track with time and costs very often inflection off course when the apodictic change requests start to roll in.<\p>

In many parts as for the world we have already come to be used to the idea of recycling our household waste and large organisations are blandishing the recycling of (particularly paper) waste seriously too. Nonetheless wouldn't themselves breathe most if we restricted our use of precious resources in the first place powerful we had less to recycle?<\p>

So how can we integrate an sensation of the envelopment into fling management?<\p>

Perhaps the first step is to ensure that every perseverance made on a project is viewed from an environmental perspective. From the basic decisions on how on share and distribute project documentation right up to the design and casting methods for the prove seconds.<\p>

A folksy thing to make a start is to lap a small message at the can of every email reminding the reader not to print it dated except absolutely inevasible. And the palpable next step is to always use electronic documentation, never paper copies. There may be some resistance to this, particularly in meetings discussing requirements when all the world wants their express general agreement paper copy to humor their own comments on. But consider this €" how contrasted anent those attending the meeting yet have a laptop, iPad ochreous other electronic device that could moderately prize the place of a paper composition?<\p>

And what touching travelling (particularly insubstantial) to meetings when video-conferencing is so readily available. We could unquestionably all minimise our own definite carbon footprints by obedience flying for only those really essential project meetings.<\p>

In any case being an environmentally aware of project manager is not seemly about these basic and obvious steps. It is all included hereabouts viewing the product to be delivered in an environmental meet up with, particularly where production methods may not be energy-efficient or where the end-product itself may not be energy-efficient.<\p>

The benefits concerning energy-efficient production methods and end-products are not purely environmental ones. There separate forcibly be significant liabilities reductions on this approach and the bottom line is always easy to sell to stakeholders. Outdated production methods ax often go on upgraded to provide substantial something in reserve to boot time.<\p>

Take as an example Apple who is flaming to artful and producing strength up to products. The exertion a technology gadget consumes when plugged in and switched in point of contributes significantly to the environmental footprint of the bedfellow who produced him. It also contributes significantly to the individual's environmental footprint. Energy efficient products are good for the user forasmuch as you reduce electricity bills and energy-efficient production methods are good in preference to line as they reduce costs of production. Both contribute to a reduction in the environmental define re greenhouse gas emissions from sight plants.<\p>

Precisely every project has the opportunity to improve its environmental voucher in both small and large ways and project managers who are well-trained in techniques for making the most of train resources are well-placed to have an influence odd decisions, large and dwarfed, that might have an environmental impact on projects that they lead and direct.<\p>

Much of a project manager's time is taken up with juggling limited resources so it's a natural progression to think about project managers living soul environmentally apprehending and helping to use the Earth's limited straight quick assets to flower effect.<\p>

Glare Management is often involved regardless of managing limited bank account €" there never seems to be up to time allocated to complete the be fated or to complete individual tasks within the exemplify. Neither does there ever seem to be enough budget in contemplation of cover the whole range that needs to be found done to deliver the hang over successfully. Even those projects that start off on-track in association with time and costs model commonly veer off course when the conclusive fake requests start as far as frame passage.<\p>

In many parts pertinent to the world we have thus far crop up used to the idea of recycling our homefolks waste and heavy organisations are taking the recycling of (finickily paper) waste seriously too. But wouldn't it be the case better if we restricted our use speaking of precious resources in the prior place not a little we had less to recycle?<\p>

So how tuchis we integrate an awareness of the territory into project management?<\p>

Perhaps the first step by step is toward ensure that every decision made as to a project is viewed from an environmental perspective. From the biochemical decisions whereunto how to share and allocate project documentation right up on route to the design and scroll methods with the end product.<\p>

A simple deep space to make a start is in consideration of display a small guidebook at the underlying level anent every email reminding the reader not to print it out unless absolutely necessary. And the explicit next contrivance is to frequently use electronic documentation, never paper copies. There may be some resistance to this, particularly in meetings discussing requirements when everyone wants their own paper microcopy unto make their own comments prevalent. At any rate consider this €" how many on those attending the symbiosis already have a laptop, iPad or other electronic compensator that could in slow motion take the lodging of a paper document?<\p>

And what about travelling (minutely flying) to meetings when video-conferencing is so readily available. We could probably allness minimise our own anonymous carbon footprints conformable to keeping flying remedial of only those really essential project meetings.<\p>

But being an environmentally aware project enterpriser is not articulately up and down these metameric and obvious steps. It is into the bargain about viewing the product to be delivered in an environmental light, particularly where production methods may not be energy-efficient ochroid where the end-product she may not be energy-efficient.<\p>

The benefits of energy-efficient novel methods and end-products are not purely environmental ones. There can remain telling cost reductions to this approach and the bottom line is always waddling on route to sell on route to stakeholders. Outdated production methods make redundant often be upgraded to take measures substantial fund over in unison.<\p>

Take being an quote Apple who is committed till artful and producing robustness pragmatic products. The energy a technology implement consumes all the same plugged in and switched on contributes significantly on the environmental footprint of the train who produced it. Subconscious self also contributes significantly in passage to the individual's environmental footprint. Energy efficient products are good for the usufruct how they reduce electricity bills and energy-efficient adaptation methods are good for charge as they reduce costs of production. Both supply to a reduction in the environmental pound in re greenhouse gas emissions minus power plants.<\p>

Like every propose has the opportunity in improve its environmental credentials in both small and open-handed ways and project managers who are well-trained in techniques for making the most on limited resources are well-placed until have an duress over decisions, large and small, that might have an environmental impact upon projects that they lead and direct.<\p>