Day 47 of 365 Days Of Low Carbon Living.   Today I faced a real challenge: I was in Aldi and there, right in front of me to buy ‘on impulse’ was ‘just what I need’: a pair of long compression pants for a mere fraction of what they cost in sports stores. You see, I have been working on getting fit this year. And I have really been feeling the part, wearing fashionable (and extremely practical!) compression leggings passed on to me by one of my siblings.

The problem is that it’s starting to really cool down now. And that means that exercising in sub-zero temperatures with any bare skin is uncomfortable for about the first 20 minutes.

So I had already decided that it was time to move to full-length pants. And I had checked: no full-length sports pants in the bundle I have just acquired.

Then these leggings in Aldi caught my eye. They were just what I needed (minus a pocket) – and lightweight and very cheap to boot! And, because it is a ‘special buy’ (only available once) in Aldi’s highly sought-after winter gear, who knows if I could still buy it on my next visit to the store?

Hesitating before making an impulse buy

It all looked so good…but there were a few things that made me hesitate:

1. They had no convenient pockets – something I have really been appreciating in the compression gear I have been wearing.
2. Although they were compression clothing, clearly suitable for cold weather, and in colours that could easily be worn outside, they were still underwear.
3. They were made of synthetic material – and we already have more than enough plastic pollution and climate damage.
4. They have an antibacterial treatment – also not good for our environment.
5. I couldn’t remember if I still had any full length sports pants.
6. $20 is still $20 – could I make do with something else and use the money saved for a better cause?

Yet there they were. Right in front of me, right now. Full length compression leggings at an amazingly cheap price. So light, so quick to dry. Who knows how long they would be available. And I was pretty sure I hadn’t seen any in previous op shop visits – only shorter ones.

What to do? Make the ‘impulse’ buy?

Here’s an outline of my decision-making process:

• Lately I have been stepping up my efforts to reduce plastic pollution. Buying anything synthetic would simply add more pollution.
• While cotton is heavier and takes longer to dry, it is natural and so breaks down to return to the soil. Even polycotton would be better than all polyester.
• There seem to be quite of the pants a few in stock, so they will probably still be there in a few days. That gives me some time to ‘cool off’ and make a considered purchase rather than an impulse purchase. I will be near the store again tomorrow, so I can buy a pair then if I need to.
• I really should check first that I don’t already have long sports pants. And if I don’t I should try a couple of op shops before I buy new. I already have enough (too much) ‘stuff’. And over-consumption is a major cause of ‘waste’, which in turn contributes to damaging our climate as well as damaging local environments. Avoiding unnecessary purchases will also save me money.
• On balance, I think that not buying synthetic – or new – is more important than buying something that otherwise appears to nearly meet all my needs.

So I came home and checked my wardrobe. There were two pairs of pants that would do almost exactly the same job as the pants that caught my eye and almost led me to make an impulse buy:

• a pair of navy winter-weight polycotton leggings that my sister had previously shared with me
• my green tracksuit pants from school – yes, synthetic, but still fit me and still in good condition – and I have only had to replace the elastic once in all those years

So I’m feeling very pleased with myself for resisting the impulse buy – and I have saved $20!

Why now?

We have some big problems with ‘waste’. For example:

• The material systems in the natural world are closed loops: there is no ‘waste’ because everything is re-used by something else. In contrast, we humans have been using linear systems: we have been throwing what we don’t want ‘away’ even though there is no ‘away’ on a finite planet.
• Our ‘waste’ takes up a lot of room and pollutes oceans and local environments.
• ‘Waste’ wastes the effort, energy and resources that went into making it.
• ‘Waste’ contributes significantly to damage to our climate, as well as to pollution of soil and water.

We are still damaging our climate – at the same time as the consequences of damage already done are unfolding. The main problems with the amount of climate damage from ‘waste’ is the behaviour that leads to the ‘waste’ and then to the emissions in the first place. In particular, over-consumption leads to a lot of ‘waste’. If we reduce our generation of ‘waste’ then tat we avoid generating the emissions and other problems it causes. This means that our efforts to reduce emissions from ‘waste’ need to concentrate on shifting our attitudes and behaviours rather than pursuing technological ‘fixes’. In particular, we need to focus on:

• reducing our current very high levels of consumerism;
• returning ‘closed-loop’ systems to our culture
• making with the ‘waste’ management hierachy and there being no ‘away’ to throw things to becoming part of our thinking
• shifting our culture away from one of ‘consumption’ to one where we see ourselves as members of the natural world living on finite Earth, participants in its great cycles

‘Refuse’ is the first step in the ‘waste’ management hierarchy – and that’s what I did today. Also, synthetic materials are made from fossil oil and gas – and their extraction and use adds to climate damage. And how many of us are drowning in clutter, with too much stuff? Avoiding this impulse buy means now I don’t have to worry about the problems that it would have caused.

The challenge

Take a considered approach to purchasing ‘stuff’:

1. Be aware of what you already have.
2. Think about what you actually need – could something you already have do the job?
3. Consider the full lifecycle of the products you buy.
4. Remember to think of alternatives to buying new.

Join me!

Any change or challenge is easier if you have company along the way. So let’s embark on this journey together.

• Read my blog every day for ideas, thoughts and experiences for living a lower carbon lifestyle, more in harmony with nature – while also adapting to the consequences of our damaged climate.
• Subscribe to get posts direct to your inbox.
• Commit to taking action yourself.
• Add a comment to let me know you’re joining in the effort to turn around our world so it can remain liveable – and what your experiences are.
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A problem shared is a problem halved. We’re all affected by the changes to our world so we need to be all in on the action! Till next time… SaveSave

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