Did you know that the clothing and footwear industries combined account for about 8 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? Add to that the dangerous working conditions and polluting impact of low-quality, short-lived fast fashion, and we have a tragic problem on our hands.

We live in a consumerist society where buying is a favorite pastime and giving gifts is considered a thoughtful thing to do. Of course, giving is thoughtful – we just need to give those gifts a bit more thought!

If you’re like many people, you’ve become accustomed to buying new home goods whenever you think you need them. But what if you paused before each purchase? What if you shared more of the things you use less often? Or what if you found other ways to extend the life of products such as electronics? Not only would this save money, but it would lighten the pressure on our planet.