Category: Uncategorized

Author: Laura Evans

In case you missed it, last week the University of Iowa hosted a sustainability conference! Among the conference’s numerous guests, speakers included Stephaine Arne of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, and the founder of Intersectional Environmentalism, Leah Thomas. I highly recommend attending (free of charge for students!) in the future if you have the opportunity. Additionally, members of the Iowa City Council, local businesses practicing sustainability, and The University of Iowa’s Board of Sustainability came to speak. The highlight for me was hearing about local efforts to implement clean energy and better environmental protections in our Iowa legislature. Below, I will summarize some of what I learned from the conference’s environmental policy workshop.

The conference’s itinerary was distributed in pamphlets. Image via @sustainui on Instagram

Two speakers, Ingrid Gronstal, a lawyer and the Water Program Director for the Iowa Environmental Council, and Matt Ohloff, the Clean Communities Manager for the same company, lead the environmental policy workshop session. They opened by talking about their nonprofit organization, the Iowa Environmental Council, which, “is the largest and most
comprehensive environmental coalition in the state.” Essentially, this allows businesses to join together and bring demands to either businesses (like MidAmerican) or the government and pressure them into enacting positive change. Their website, IAEvironment.org is home to education resources, updates on sustainable and environmental policy, and even a blog of its own which covers topics like resiliency, advocacy, and more!

The Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) has 4 primary goals. The first goal is to enact climate change policies, the second is to expand diversity, equity, justice and inclusion in green spaces and green policy, the third is to support grassroots environmental action in local communities, and the final goal is to promote the involvement of the next generation! The IEC approaches changemaking with a three-pronged strategy: partnerships and outreach, policy, and rulemaking
in the courts. While those may sound self-explanatory to some, I will explain them briefly because I did not understand the difference between policy and rulemaking! Partnerships and outreach entail contacting businesses and expanding IEC’s network to increase the weight behind their demands. Policy entails the actual creation of new laws, while rulemaking deals with the courts’ interpretation of how those laws must be followed in the day-to-day.

Question and Answer time was a part of almost every session. Image via @sustainui on Instagram

The IEC currently works to address several problems which fall under the umbrella term “climate change.” One aim is the reduction of agricultural pollution, since Iowa relies heavily on corn and soy production and the lack of variety in the crops grown contributes to a depletion of nutrients in the soil. To replenish the soil, harsh fertilizers are used, which can pollute the environment through runoff into water sources (read more about agricultural pollution in this guide). The IEC hopes to mitigate floods and enhance climate resilience by diversifying the state’s job market and income sources as well, through the creation of parks and promotion of tourism. Additionally, the IEC prioritizes protecting and expanding Iowa’s clean energy initiatives, the electrification of heating and cooling systems (moving away from natural gas), and an equitable transition while the state implements these changes. “Equitable transition” means leaving no community behind during upgrades to clean energy across the state.

Stephine Arne’s lecture on resilience and creativity to enact change. Image via @sustainui on Instagram

When implementing environmentally impactful changes, cites often use a combination of creating a climate action plan and a clean energy goal. In January of 2021, Des Moines passed a “24/7 Clean Energy” plan with the goal of running fully on clean energy by 2035. The “24/7” method focuses on an hour-by-hour energy goal, which means all electricity used in an hour must match generation of the same amount of power from a clean energy source. This forces the city to track its energy sources and produce clean energy locally and at the same time (equal temporal exchange) as electricity consumption occurs. Previously, companies could purchase an alternative termed, “Renewable Energy Credits” or RECs, which would offset carbon emissions with an equal amount of clean energy generated somewhere, but the government does not require companies to insure these RECs result in local clean energy production, nor must that production necessarily occur in the same window of time of the carbon emissions they offset. If I lost you there, this Faist Group blog and this World Economic Forum article provide more in-depth explanations and descriptions of the advantages and disadvantages to 24/7 Clean Energy. People in Iowa City and Waterloo hope to pass similar 24/7 Clean Energy bills in their respective cities, but currently no timeline for implementation exists.

Primarily, MidAmerican supplies energy to these areas, but while MidAmerican supplies some clean energy, it still relies on five coal plants in the state of Iowa. Further, MidAmerican lacks any schedule for closure of their coal plants. Around the start of April, a coalition came together to call for MidAmerican to develop a plan for shutting down their coal plants by 2030. You can join this movement, and learn about the damages caused by the excess carbon emissions on the
website: https://www.cleanupmidam.com/. Another practical way to protect Iowa’s environment could be joining or donating to https://www.fundthetrust.org/, which improves water and soil quality, enhances spaces for outdoor recreation, and increases economic development through creation of new job opportunities.

Lake Macbride State Park is a beautiful outdoor space near Iowa City to visit on a day off.

If you made it this far, congratulations! All this new information about environmental policy takes considerable mental energy to digest. You may be wondering, how does protecting the environment relate to sustainability? Essentially, we need sustainable energy and business practices to keep water, land, and air healthy, clean and beautiful! Protecting green spaces contributes to peaceful parks for reflection, recreation and relaxation. Without these reserves, industrial “development” will continue to overrun nature, and pollute our climate. Hopefully, this blog post provides a few stepping stones toward action you can take in Iowa to protect our environment. As always, thank you for reading.

P.S. One last thing I learned at the sustainability conference: if you collect your cooking oil in a jar instead of throwing it away, the East Side Recycling Center in Iowa City accepts oil waste and recycles it!

Ever since moving to Iowa City, I have had a fascination with a little shop downtown filled with beautiful handmade crafts, housewares, and jewelry that touted an impressive fair trade brand. Ten Thousand Villages has since remained a staple for me when looking for gifts for loved ones or just looking to treat myself! The concept of paying fair prices to international artisans for their handmade goods seemed simultaneously so simple and straightforward yet too good to be true. So when Ten Thousand Villages came up as a potential idea for an article, I was eager to speak to the executive director, Liz Preciado Genell, about the business and how they are doing their part to make Iowa City a greener place. Below are just a few of the highlights of my conversation with Liz. Be sure to check out Ten Thousand Villages in the ped mall located at 105 S Dubuque st in Iowa City!              

Do you mind telling me a little bit about the business model itself and how the fair trade aspect works?

Yeah, so Ten Thousand Villages is celebrating 75 years. The company was founded by a woman named Edna Ruth Byler. She had just come out of the depression, saw what poverty did to the community. And when she was traveling to Puerto Rico with her husband, they were Mennonites, she met all these women who were doing this beautiful needlecraft work, but they were living in rural areas, and living in poverty. She had the idea to take their goods to the American marketplace, sell it for what it’s worth, then turn that money back over to these women, and help build their economy in their villages. So that’s what she started doing. And she just sold things out of the trunk of her car for a very long time. But what she was doing, people started noticing and the Mennonite church decided, we’d like to back you in this because it’s a really great humanitarian effort. And she started traveling to more places doing the same thing that she was doing with these women in Puerto Rico. So then Ten Thousand Villages became a business in the 90s. Our location in Iowa City originally started out as a pop-up in a thrift store crowded closet. We got our brick and mortar store about five years ago. There are Ten Thousand Villages stores all over the US, they were one of the founding members of the World Fairtrade organizations. So that’s just a little bit about the background of Ten Thousand Villages. And what they do is they partner with different artists and groups in developing countries, and bring their goods to our marketplace. And then we turn around and give the money back for more orders. So they dictate how much money they need. And what our partnership allows them to do is to be able to pay their artisans fair wages, and give them safe working conditions, and stability of employment. So that their artisan families can plan for the future. And they know how much money is going to be coming in every month, things that we take for granted here. 

Fair trade is so often an overlooked aspect of sustainability, so it’s good to see it practiced here with such enthusiasm, are there other ways beyond fair trade that Ten Thousand Villages is practicing sustainability?

Yeah, definitely, the company as a whole really encourages the reuse of materials that would otherwise go to the landfill. So they recycle things like sari material, so instead of going to the landfill, they make blankets, table runners, napkins out of them, and weave them into baskets. There’s one artisan group that is near a candy factory that reuses the candy wrappers for birdhouses. You’ll see a lot of things made from bike parts since that is such a big mode of transportation in India. Tagua nut is another sustainable solution to ivory; tagua nuts have a very similar feel and look to ivory. It’s harvested after it falls off the tree so it doesn’t hurt the trees to harvest them. A lot of the packaging you’ll see is sustainable like handmade paper and wax paper, they don’t use a lot of plastic. The few plastic packing pillows that we get, we just bag up, and we give to mailboxes, etc, so that they can reuse them. And then, as far as our store just individually, we really try to practice using safe cleaning. We use vinegar and water to clean and we have a Swiffer that we use reusable cotton pads on, so we really do try to walk the walk here.

On a personal note, what does sustainability mean to you? And why was it important that you go into a business surrounding that concept?

I used to work in other retail boutiques where I saw a lot of waste and I was always thinking “we can do better than this”. Actually, I used to work at Revival boutique, and the owner, Sheila Davison, and I started contacting the companies asking for less packaging and to stop having the clothes be sent out on hangers that we weren’t going to use. Half that store is secondhand clothing, but the new clothing came from small companies that are local and that only produce as much as they’re selling rather than overproducing. That’s where my interest really grew was from working there. Of course, my own concern for the environment was a big factor too. I got out of retail for a long time, because I was concerned with how it was affecting the environment. And then when I was approached to manage here, I did a lot of research and felt like, “Okay, this is an organization that I can get behind and feel good about”. 

Yeah, I don’t think most people realized the kind of waste that goes into a typical retail model. What would you say is one of your proudest moments or accomplishments as someone who runs a business in Iowa City?

I think just really making the conscious choice to put my ability and my energy towards a company that’s actually practicing sustainability. Yeah, so like I said, I knew I couldn’t continue to back this kind of model for retail. So I would just encourage people to back it up with your actions and where you choose to work and what you choose to put your money towards if sustainability is something that’s important to you.

On the flip side of that, what are some of the biggest challenges you have faced trying to run a sustainable business?

I think just gaining people’s trust and communicating that we really are what we say we are. Because unfortunately, “sustainability” and “green” have become kinds of buzzwords and I think there are people taking advantage of that. People are starting to become distrustful about greenwashing so I just really try to educate people, and let them know that there’s transparency there. They can go and do the research for themselves to look more closely at companies.

This post wouldn’t be complete without a special Thanks to Liz for taking the time to walk me through the business and give thoughtful answers to all my questions! Thanks again Liz!

Check out our audio podcast version of this article below!

Author: Laura Evans

Infographic via SustainYourStyle

At the start of this month, the Environhawks delved into the world of fast fashion and how harmful it can be to both people and the environment. Overconsumption continually feeds the demand for both cheap labor and overproduction. Not only that, but garment production proves costly in terms of natural resources like oil and water. For example, “[n]early 70 million barrels of oil are used each year to make the world’s polyester fiber, which is now the most
commonly used fiber in our clothing. But it takes more than 200 years to decompose.” (Conca, 2015). High levels of cheap, resource-demanding clothing being discarded directly into landfills where they do not decompose account for horrendous levels of water pollution, environmental pollution, and serious human rights violations in labor. If you’re a newcomer to sustainable living, vetting the clothing industry in search of an ethical source of clothing can be both
intimidating and demoralizing. Today, I’ll be presenting ideas for where to get started on your journey to building a more sustainable wardrobe. Remember, it’s an ongoing process, not an overnight change.

The ocean has become the proverbial laundry chair of the world’s discarded clothing. However, it may prove a bit more difficult to clean up. Image via Ranker

“Typically, for a garment to be considered ‘sustainable,’ it should be eco-friendly, ethically made, lasting, and accessible” (Costello, 2020).

Preparation Is Key
Now, it may seem impossible to meet these “garment goals,” but a little forethought can go a long way. First, take your time and decide what statements you want your clothes to make: colorful or neutral? Textured or austere? Second, consider what pieces you need for your work environment or lifestyle. Blazers and slacks? Breathable athletic wear? Next, research “‘fit inspiration.” Rather than letting items choose you (think targeted facebook ads!), find clothes that speak to you.

I keep an ongoing list (and Pinterest board) of items I’d like to buy if I found them for a good deal. Rather than following the link from an ad or searching for an item on amazon, I play a waiting game. For instance, I had been searching for a pair of burgundy red jeans since I wore out the pair I had in high school. Finally, last year I found a pair in the thrift shop that matched my demands: the color, the stretchiness, the size.

This brings me to the moment you’ve been waiting for: a purchase. Even with all your preparation, it’s important to take a moment before you buy. Think to yourself, “Is this piece functional? What can I wear this with? Do I really like this? Will I wear it often, or is it a one-event wear?” If you can “justify” your purchase, then the garment will likely serve you well
for a long time.

A Matter of Contention
Thrifting is my favorite way to shop sustainably, but before I get to local recommendations, I want to address several valid points of criticism . Perhaps a thought bothered you the back of your head when I said I waited several years to find a pair of red pants: not everyone has time to wait that long; not everyone has time to go thrift shopping, period. It can be a time consuming process and typically requires filtering through an entire store’s inventory only to come out with 2 to 3 pieces. The process of going to a thrift store (or multiple thrift stores!) also requires mobility. Level of ableness can determine whether or not sustainable shopping is an option for some. Additionally, the availability of sizes varies
dramatically, with “average” body type sizes dominating the selection. In short, a thrift shop rack often lacks inclusivity. It’s important to recognize sustainable shopping for everyone looks different, and resist the temptation to play gatekeeper when you notice someone has purchased fast fashion. Instead, continuing to invite people to the table no matter where they are in their journey toward sustainability is the best method to grow the sustainable fashion movement.

Local Places to Go B(u)y
Hold up–I’m not promoting buying anything you don’t need! However, if you’re searching for cheap clothing options there are several options in town. There are several consignment shops to check out like Revival, The Second Act, and The Savvy Boutique. However, my personal favorites are Goodwill and Artifacts. There are two Goodwill’s: one in Iowa City, one in Coralville. At the Iowa City Goodwill, I’ve found several quality items including a nice oversized suit jacket, and gray peacoat.

At the Coralville Goodwill, I’ve found good athletic wear and belts. Goodwill prices generally cost less than $5 per item, which can’t be beat in my book! I find accessories like belts or jewelry can refresh your look without needing to buy new clothing.

Artifacts is an antique shop that also sells recycled vintage clothing. The cost is more in the $20-30 range, and I found this lovely white blouse (pictured below) for about $25 dollars at Artifacts. I’d been looking for a shirt similar to this for a dance performance, so when I found it, it fit my criteria of being an item I was searching for.

A Final Note:
I wish you well with your sustainable wardrobe journey. Feel free to comment below with your favorite local consignment store, or what your “wardrobe staples” are. If you have favorite blogs, youtube channels, or ethic fashion directories like this one, comment those as well! Thanks for reading, and be looking forward to our local business spotlight at the end of the month!

References
Conca, James. “Making Climate Change Fashionable – The Garment Industry Takes On Global
Warming.” Forbes, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2015,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2015/12/03/making-climate-change-fashionabl
e-the-garment-industry-takes-on-global-warming/?sh=4848c23079e4.
Costello, Natalie Kay. “What Is Sustainable Fashion? | An Easy Guide for Beginners —
Sustainably Chic.” Sustainably Chic, Sustainably Chic, 18 Jan. 2020,
https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/an-easy-guide-to-sustainable-fashion-what-it-is-w
hat-to-look-for-where-to-find-it.