One of our eco-friends over in SA had ago at our wardrobe decluttering. Here's how Jenny went. I cleaned out all my clothes storage! I had got a dress on Buy Nothing and decided I had better practice what I preach and move some things on. I’ve been through the...
The most important aspect to consider is keeping your secateurs clean and lubricated. After every use they should be cleaned by dunking in a small jar of 100% methylated spirits for half an hour then wiping with a clean rag. This removes gum and also sterilises so...
Global garment production has more than doubled since 2000. This cycle of production and waste contributes 4% of global green house gas emissions (more than France, Germany and UK COMBINED!). Can you avoiding buying all together? Borrow items off friends and family...
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H&M and Zara for clothes and shoes.
Sheridan (but not he Bunbury outlet store) for bedding and towels
Reuse is always better than recycle. If you haven’t already, check out our previous articles: ‘What’s in our wardrobes?' and 'Where Should it Go?’ and ‘Alternative Uses for Textile Waste’. If there really is nowhere else for it to go - then see if it can be recycled....
If your clothes or other textiles are ripped, stained or simply can’t be donated, could you use any of these strategies to avoid sending them to landfill? Put a pretty patch or pocket over work decals, stains or branding so the item can still be worn. Check out...
I found it surprising to learn, that of the clothes that go to charity, it is estimated that only 15% are resold within Australia. The rest are sent to landfill or overseas to developing nations and what happens to them there is not always clear. So, if you can find...
A Decluttering Testimonial From initial engagement with Jo, to waving her off as she drove my (no longer) beloved clutter away, the whole process was more recharging, empowering and simple than I could have ever imagined. The unique approach by A Single Leaf South...
In short, a lot! A lot of clothes we love and wear. A lot of clothes we don’t wear. A lot of manmade fabrics. Not a lot of recycled fibres. According to the 'National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme' we wear 70% of what is in our wardrobes. So that means 30% of...
What's in your wardrobe? Do you wear it? Do you want it? Download our template to get you started and edit the specialist clothes section to suit your hobbies and what you know is in your wardrobe. Leave some spaces to add things which don’t have a category when you...
If you have been following our Solutions to Textile Waste Series then you’ll know that I am not a fashionista and I only own 2 pairs of heels. You’ll also know that, on average Australians buy 56 new items of clothing per year. To help inspire you to buy less or not...
“There is currently no local data on the amount of clothing being held in Australian households. Based on data from like countries, we estimate clothing in use to be 3.75 times annual sales, so a total of 1.44 million tonnes.” - ‘National Clothing Product Stewardship...
So, I have just spent the morning reading this fun little piece of literature “National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, Milestone 1.4 | Clothing Data Report” by the Australian Fashion Council. Fun times. Textile waste has been concerning me (and many others), for...
Welcome to this educational mini-series. If there was a list of the top 10 countries in order of how much textile (clothing) waste they produced per person, per year, where do you think Australia would be? We’d be second!! Australia is now the second-highest...
The number 1 thing you can do to improve the impact you have on the planet is reduce your food waste. Whatever diet you choose meat-eating, vegan, pescatarian, vegetarian there are many factors that influence the footprint of your food (what meats you eat, how often,...
Download our free map and guide to find local businesses and community groups helping you reuse or recycle your waste. Download the PDF document.
Do you have savings? Investments? Super? Do you know what your money is doing while it isn’t in your pocket? You might be disappointed - there is a good chance it is supporting coal. I have been doing some research that I have been putting off for a while,...
T-shirts that are stained, have rips or holes` or are faded or misshapen cannot be donated to op-shops. Choose a t-shirt that can't be donated and turn it into a reusable shopping bag instead. Enjoy using your bag knowing that, not only are you avoiding using a bag...
The Timers Wizards. The vast majority of the power used in Australia is used in our homes. 1,228 PJ in 2019-20 used in households according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Compared to 910 PJ used by the next largest consumer, manufacturing. Imagine if every...
Simple Ways to Reduce Your Energy Consumption and Your Personal Contribution to the Climate Crisis The vast majority of the power used in Australia is used in our homes. 1,228 PJ in 2019-20 used by households according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Compared...
The 2020s are where it counts, environmentally. This is the decade that decides if we thrive or if we slide deeper into the chaos. More fires, floods and droughts, hotter heat waves, rising seas, melting ice and warming oceans. Unless we choose to change. We need to...
Reusing and repurposing is a passion here at A Single Leaf South West and even our name and logo have had a previous life. They represented a successful theatre company in the UK. But now? Now, they have been refreshed and given a second life as the sustainability...
Keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees…we can do it if we really want.
How do we know? Because we did it before. We did it with CFCs…
Don’t be a food waster! Over 20% of the total waste, created in Australia, is organic and most of it comes from our homes. It’s time to turn over a new leaf…