News That Matters

Day: June 15, 2021

The shift to thrift: Resale market and thrift shopping poses reward for consumers—and the environment
Economy, Louisiana State University

The shift to thrift: Resale market and thrift shopping poses reward for consumers—and the environment

By Ava Borskey Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com BATON ROUGE, LA — When she’s not busy studying Arabic or biology for her international studies major, Emily Clarke might be found shopping for clothes at a thrift store.  For Clarke, the incentive to thrift, rather than buy from traditional retailers, is two-fold: finding unique, affordable clothing and reducing her environmental footprint.   “As I grew up, I just learned more about human impact on the environment, climate change . . . and how my daily actions contribute to that,” Clarke said. “I'm very environmentally conscious about the impact of fast fashion and consumerism, so I really try to buy used clothes.”   When it comes to waste harmful to the environment, the first thing that comes to mind f...
Organic cotton farming proves to have environmental benefits, yet still lacks popularity among cotton farmers and businesses
Economy, Kent State University, Louisiana State University, Loyola Marymount University

Organic cotton farming proves to have environmental benefits, yet still lacks popularity among cotton farmers and businesses

By Kennedi Hewitt, Ava Borskey, Connor Fallon and Grace Springer When the cold weather comes around and people start searching for their most durable and fashionable heavy coats, brands such as Patagonia and Everlane are among the best rated clothing brands worn. However, in addition to being top manufactures for outdoor wear, Patagonia and Everlane are also renowned for their sustainable and transparent production practices, zero waste initiatives and environmental activism. Furthermore, they are celebrated for their commitment to using organic cotton over conventionally grown cotton.  Organic cotton is often advertised as a cleaner and more sustainable material in the fashion industry. Like other organic crops, it’s grown without the use of pesticides,...