How to reduce your carbon footprint shopping at Spitalfields Market

We’re all keen to do our bit for the environment. Whether it’s being mindful of how we use water and energy or ensuring we re-use/recycle all we can, there is plenty we can do. And this goes for our buying habits too. When it comes to the way we go about shopping, there are many ways to preserve our precious environment and reduce our carbon footprint. Let’s take a look.

Buy local

When you buy local, you cut out the shipping process. Transporting goods by road, or from overseas by air or sea especially, will often involve high levels of carbon emissions. It’s not always the case, but it’s worth comparing the footprint involved in buying from a local supplier to that of an import. Sometimes it can be quite significant.

Trading at Spitalfields Market on Saturdays and Sundays, Kiwisumo is a ladies’ garment designer known for its exquisite tailoring and diverse use of fabrics. Kiwisumo acknowledges that each cut of fabric, stitch and trim impacts the world in some way, which is why the brand aims to reinvent the way fashion is produced and consumed. Kiwisumo creates functional pieces that are interchangeable and season-less, avoiding short-lived trends. What’s more, each garment is made from cloths sourced only from UK suppliers and manufacturers, so keeping it local.

Choose organic

The use of pesticides and chemicals in farming leads to a raft of negative environmental issues. From the build-up of disease resistance in plants to the soil, water and air contamination that can last for decades, as well the major issue of soil erosion, there is a great deal of concern over non-organic produce growing methods. Organic farming, on the other hand, encourages vital biodiversity and helps preserve more natural habitat areas, encouraging birds and other predators to live happily on farmland, promoting natural pest control. So, when shopping, keep your eyes peeled for everything organic.

Every Thursday and Sunday you’ll find Organik Rocka at Spitalfields Market sporting their super cool T-shirt ranges. The unisex Live range is one that is totally limited edition, all hand printed and customised tees that are 100 per cent organic and ethical. All sourcing, design and manufacturing methods maximise the benefits to people and communities whilst keeping environmental impact to a minimum.

Be mindful of materials

The textile industry is responsible for more than 10 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. With the huge rise in the use of cheaper to produce synthetic and microfibres, the environment is being heavily impacted upon. Polyester and nylon, for example, are non-biodegradable and unsustainable.

• Nylon production emits the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide which is considerably more dangerous to the ozone layer than carbon dioxide.
• Polyester production requires a massive volume of water, with the contaminated by-product being released back into the waterways.
• Rayon, created from wood pulp, involves large scale deforestation.

So, when you think materials, think natural. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Spitalfields Market, Roberto Gorini presents a beautiful range of clothing for the sophisticated woman. With a prestigious background as a clothing designer for a range of renowned fashion houses including Ralph Lauren, Roberto now focuses on simple well-made pieces using only natural fibres such as silk, cotton, wools and cashmere. All garments are made in England, most of them by Roberto himself in East London.

Seek zero waste

Zero waste is all about sustainable natural cycles. In other words, making use of discarded materials, and designing products and putting processes in place to lower the volume of waste and its toxicity. The aim is to cut output to landfill, eliminate water contamination and conserve natural resources.

At Spitalfields Market every Saturday and Sunday you’ll find ViMi, a business that aims to make the zero waste lifestyle easily accessible and affordable for everyone. They say that just a few small changes to everyday habits, like switching from cotton wool to reusable makeup removal pads and carrying a reusable water bottle, are simple things we can do to help the planet. All of their products replace plastic items and in doing so make a sustainable impact on the environment. Check out their wheat bran compostable bowls and cutlery, and the Ecoffee Cup in a range of vibrant designs.

Pretty Bee Fresh specialises in plastic and cling-film wrap alternatives. Perfect for keeping sandwiches fresh and covering bowls, these wraps are hand made using beeswax from London bees and other natural ingredients including pure cotton fabric, organic jojoba oil and pine resin. The wraps are 100 per cent biodegradable and reusable for a year or more. Catch Pretty Bee Fresh at Spitalfields Market every Saturday and Sunday.

Reduce your environmental impact – shop at Spitalfields Market!

If you’re keen to do even more to reduce your own personal environmental impact, look no further than the traders at Spitalfields Market, all just as keen to help you do just that. And there are plenty of cool places to eat and drink as well as shop, so why not make a day of it?