Although "there is no ethical consumption under capitalism", there are of course ways of consuming a little more responsibly - the first and most efficient being to consume less. Consider buying secondhand and/or local, renting instead of buying, swapping with a friend, or repurposing something you already own. Go through your recycling bin one last time before taking it out. Upcycle That offers tons of creative reuse tutorials based on the items you no longer need. Rethink your waste!

 

For those usable items you no longer need, it is always best to gift, trade, donate or sell before throwing them out. Offer up your items on your Instagram story or list them on Facebook Marketplace. See if your neighborhood has any drop-off spots for lightly used items. “Why throw an object away when it can have a second life?”

Visit the official list of organizations accepting donations.

 

Stockette seeks donations of craft materials and office supplies in the greater Montreal area and resells at affordable prices, making creating more accessible. Most of their items are below 5$ and practically new. Inform yourself on donations here.

 

I always question myself when buying clothing or more expensive things. Will I use the item? How will I dispose of it once I no longer need it? It then became a habit to have a similar questioning for art supplies. Do I already have a similar item that can do the job? Is the business I’m buying from ethical? Ethical Consumer is a super handy tool where you can look up large brands’ ethical ratings, on top of other helpful features.

 

This post wouldn’t be complete without a quick mention of my project. “Wackography is all about freely creating on a limited budget while being good to the earth. It's digging up your basement, hunting thrift stores, and nearby garage sales.”

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Make your own homemade recycled paper

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DIY shrinky dinks with #6 plastic

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