August 2009 Newsletter

Being Organized Is Good For the Environment

One of the biggest causes of disorganization is clutter and the primary reason for clutter is having too many things for the space that we have.  So, we have a choice:  get more space or own less stuff.  I advocate for the latter because:

  • It's less expensive.

  • It saves time.

  • It's better for the environment.

Clutter comes in many forms.  It can arrive via e-mail, show up in our mailbox, be given as gifts, and we can bring it in ourselves.  One way to minimize clutter is to set up strong filters to stop things from entering our homes and offices in the first place.

Here are some suggestions to filter what you bring in:

1.  Don't use shopping as a form of entertainment.  I live my business name, Less is More, but even I find myself tempted to buy things I hadn't previously considered when I'm in a store.

2.  Shop with a list and stick to it.

3.  Be a conscious consumer.  What does that mean?  It means when making a purchase consider what the item and its packaging are made of,  how far it traveled to get to the store, what resources went into its production, and how the packaging and the item will be disposed of once they are no longer needed.  It also means that we should ask ourselves these questions:

  • Do we really need the item?

  • Do we have others like it and, if so, how many?

  • Can we repurpose something we already own to meet our needs?

  • Do we have the space for it?

To quote the web site, www.thestoryofstuff.com:

"But, buying less may be the best option of all.  Less pollution.  Less waste.  Less time working to pay for the stuff.  Sometimes, less really is more."

You may want to view the video on their web site to learn more about the production, distribution and disposal of stuff.

4.  Try to learn as much as you can about the things that you buy.  It may change the way you think about what you want to own.

Recently I read the book One Can Make A Difference: How Simple Actions Can Change the World, edited by Ingrid E. Newkirk with Jane Radcliffe.  The book has short vignettes written by people who have made a difference in our world.  The story that struck me the most was by Rebecca Hosking, a BBC wildlife filmmaker, who discovered what plastic is doing to marine life in the Pacific Ocean.  That led me to the web site, www.messageinthewaves.com, a BBC website about the documentary of the same name.  Quite frankly, it made me never want to buy another piece of plastic again.  You may want to check it out.

In summary, think before you buy.  It goes a long way to reducing clutter and to being organized - and it's good for the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 
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