Around the world on Tuesday, people celebrated Earth Day.
Each year, we see people campaigning for environmental justice and protections, volunteering to clean up around their communities and bringing general awareness to how we can better care for the planet.
Earth Day coincides with National Volunteer Week, April 20-26 this year, which is meant to recognize and appreciate the work volunteers do to uplift and support their communities.
On campus, student organizations have set the tone for advocating for both volunteering and sustainability on campus.
Like clockwork, Bradley SERVE hosted a series of events this week, ranging from gardening to volunteering at the Peoria Area Food Bank and making blankets for puppies. SERVE’s initiatives will culminate in the Earth Day Parade on Friday and this semester’s final service on Saturday, the following day.
For sustainability, Sewsation aims to keep clothing out of landfills by hosting events such as sewing drives and clothing donations.
Eighty-five percent of all textiles end up as waste each year. Fast fashion and shortening trend cycles are vicious components of our continued waste.
Platforms like Shein, Temu and even TikTok Shop perpetuate the need for new, new, new and show a continued decline in garment quality. Organizations, Sewsation for example, can promote good textile practices all they want, but the message cannot outcompete our consumption.
In recent history, popular overconsumption trends include the iconic Stanley cup and elusive Trader Joe’s tote. There’s no reason to have 30 different water bottles, but we are constantly told more is more, and so it becomes true.
Overall, it would be beneficial for students to practice conscious consumption and prioritize using existing resources rather than always focusing on the new. Second-hand stores are a great way to feel the dopamine rush of making a purchase while maintaining quality and sustainability.
Individuals aren’t going to be able to cure planet Earth, but each step taken together makes our community stronger and our world a better place.