#5: Progress over perfection

We're all about 'progress over perfection' and here is why...

Let’s say it’s time to replace your old bamboo toothbrush. The bristles are breaking down and it’s becoming less effective in cleaning your teeth. Now you have 2 options-

1. Drive down 30 minutes to the zero waste store and get a new bamboo toothbrush.
2. Walk for 5 minutes to the nearest supermarket and get a plastic one.

Bamboo toothbrush is eco friendly as it does not require the burning of fossil fuels to produce plastic. It would naturally decompose within a year vs centuries that a plastic toothbrush would take.

But on the other hand, you would be driving for an hour and burning (fossil) fuel to get the bamboo toothbrush. Also, it’s not the most convenient option.

You might just buy a plastic toothbrush, which lasts as long as the bamboo one and is equally effective. You can throw it in the recycling bin at the end of its life. Whether it would get recycled or not would depend on a lot of factors.

Factors that are out of your control.

And that’s the thing…

In this journey of trying to be more sustainable, there are always factors that are out of our control.

Everything we do would have an impact. We can try and minimize that impact but we can’t negate it. We can’t be eco-perfect.

And that’s because we are part of a system.

A system that makes it difficult to live an environmentally flawless life.

Until systemic changes happen, our individual efforts would always be imperfect.

So should we stop caring and go about our lives?

Not at all!

But we should go easy on ourselves and not try to be zero waste, flawlessly vegan, carbon-neutral all the time. This idealistic lifestyle is unreasonable.

The onus of saving the planet and humanity doesn’t lie on an individual’s shoulder.

Living a more conscious and planet-friendly life is a journey. And all of us are at different stages of this journey.

We need to stop comparing ourselves with the eco-influencers out there and rather focus on ourselves and recognise our achievements.

If you are slightly ahead in this journey, try to support others who are trying their best to adapt to a more conscious lifestyle. Stop shaming them for not doing enough. Instead, try to create a safe space for them where they can learn, experiment, make mistakes, and try again.

And if you are just getting started on this journey, start small and build up from there. If you try to do everything at once, you might get burnt out and leave it altogether.

Be kind to yourself because there would be times when the most sustainable choice won’t be the most convenient one.

Is there a way to balance convenience and sustainability?

We live in a society where convenience is king. We are surrounded by apps that allow us to order take-out with the click of a button, get our groceries delivered to our doorsteps, and book a ride to take us from point A to B.

It's easier to buy from ​​fast fashion giants over sustainable fashion brands. It’s easier to jump in the car than walking to the nearest bus stop to realize that the next bus is in 25 minutes.

If you are privileged enough to avail these services, it’s hard to give them up overnight.

But don’t worry, there’s a middle ground.

There are brands that are building planet friendly solutions with convenience weaved into their solutions.

They make it easier for consumers to move to a more conscious lifestyle, without giving up convenience.

Here are some of our favorites-

• Trashless, which delivers groceries, snacks, meal-kits and personal care items in zero-waste packaging
• Olio, an app that allows you to share stuff you no longer need
• Scrapp, an app where you can scan and sort your waste correctly
• The Rounds a platform that enables you to get everything from household basics to pantry staples in reusable containers delivered on ebikes
• Beni, a browser extension that makes thrifting as accessible as fast fashion (of course!)

Are there brands that you would want to add to this list?

Was this email forwarded to you?

Subscribe

Join us every week as we demystify the world of resale. We'll share the latest Beni news, insider tips for shopping secondhand, and guide you through the trends shaping the future of fashion.

🎉 Someone to Follow

@bof is the IG handle for The Business of Fashion and it is a gold mine for anyone wanting to stay up to date on the fashion industry.  

📚 If you really want to nerd out on AI...

This is an interesting article with lots of rabbit holes to go down if you want to learn more about Circularity in Fashion, powered by AI.

The headlines: What can AI do to accelerate a truly circular fashion?

👉 Improve design and raw materials selection

👉 Help to eliminate excess stock and waste

👉 Improve the delivery operations and transport emissions

👉 Help understand consumer behavior and design appropriate policies

Ways to Take Care of Your Clothes So They Last Longer

Do you often find yourself throwing away clothes that are still in good condition? Taking care of your clothes properly can extend their lifespan and save you money in the long run. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your clothes so that they last longer:

1. Read the tag before washing: Check the care label to see if the garment can be machine washed or if it needs to be hand washed. Always separate your clothes by color and fabric type. Use the appropriate amount of detergent for the load size and avoid overloading the machine. 🧺
2. Keep it cool when drying: Avoid using high heat settings in the dryer. Use a lower heat setting or hang your clothes to dry. Consider investing in wool dryer balls or reusable dryer sheets. 🌞
3. Stay organized: Always clean your clothes before storing them away. Fold or hang your clothes properly to avoid creases and wrinkles. Store your clothes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. 🌧️
4. Look for materials that last: Invest in high-quality garments made from materials like cotton, wool, and silk. They are more durable and hold up better over time. 💰
5. Don't shy away from repairing: Don't toss out items that are damaged. Many items can be repaired, and doing so is often much cheaper than buying a new item. 🔧

Beni Find of the Week: 50% OFF Chanel @ The Luxury Closet

Have you tried Beni yet?

Join the Beni Community

Welcome to our 'Out with the New' Newsletter!  Join us every week as we demystify the world of resale. We'll share the latest Beni news, insider tips for shopping secondhand, and guide you through the trends shaping the future of fashion.

• Subscribe to 'Out with the New'
• Follow @join_beni on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn
• Share with your friends & colleagues
  
• Install the Beni browser extension
• Give us Feedback if there is something you'd like to see!

‍