Category: Uncategorized

Author: Ashton Knatz

Spring break is almost here! With the arrival of spring comes a fresh start and new beginnings. For some people, this might mean working on spring cleaning, healthier habits, or an overhaul of their wardrobe. Clearing out your wardrobe might encourage you to purchase new items to fill the vacant spaces, and it’s good to understand the possible implications of your clothing purchases, especially if they come from retailers like SHEIN, Forever 21, and ROMWE. These
retailers are notorious for producing cheaply-made clothing that can come from questionable sources, which are the hallmarks of the fast fashion industry.

Put simply, fast fashion is a term used to describe low-quality and inexpensive clothing that are mass-produced and cycled in and out of markets quickly to meet the demands of changing trends. The fashion industry has seen a major overhaul over the past two to three decades, which has seen a more demanding consumption of what is considered “new” and “trendy,” and a rejection of what is considered “old” and “outdated.2” With the emergence of social media
platforms over the past couple of decades, trends are cycling through at faster rates than ever before. People are keeping their eyes on celebrities and influencers to see which new skirt to buy and which pair of jeans to trash. Influencers have taken to social media to promote their clothes from fast fashion retailers like SHEIN, which reaches millions of their followers and influences their purchases. SHEIN has become one of the most notorious retailers in recent years, and I’m going to discuss them in further detail.

SHEIN (pronounced she-in) is a Chinese online fast fashion retailer that has become well-known for its remarkably low prices and wide variety of clothing. One tab on their website concerns social responsibility and their initiatives they are undertaking, and one of these is environmental sustainability. According to this section of their website, SHEIN claims to have invested in costlier thermal digital transfer and digital direct printing technologies in order to limit excess
water use during production [1], but these statements are vague and do not offer any transparency. In addition, low-quality clothes are often made with synthetic materials, which are derived from fossil fuels. In the United States, 85% of our textiles end up in landfills, and since most of these textiles are made from synthetic materials, they do not degrade on a human time scale, which means they rapidly fill up landfills and create immense amounts of municipal waste [2]. Fashion is an interesting matter of debate because fast fashion practices contribute to not only environmental issues like increased waste, but also social issues. Many giant retailers still utilize sweatshop labor in certain countries, which often do not provide safe working conditions and ample pay for their workers, which is a human rights issue [3].

The intersection of environmental and social issues perpetuated by fast fashion retailers is highly problematic. The domination of the fast fashion industry in the United States has led to problems, but there is hope with the emergence of more sustainable brands that take a “slow” fashion approach. In order to help combat the issues within the fast fashion industry, I would highly encourage you to limit your purchases from retailers like SHEIN. I understand that some
people might need to purchase a few items from affordable retailers from time to time, and this is acceptable. However, if you are looking to change your wardrobe on a larger scale, I would encourage you to pursue sustainable shopping, such as thrifting or purchasing clothes from up-cyclers, such as ThredUp. This is a great way for you to make a difference on an individual level.

Image Source: https://www.resellerratings.com/store/ThredUP

Looking ahead to the rest of March, this blog will feature posts with tips on how to build a sustainable wardrobe, as well as an Iowa City small business feature. As always, if you have any questions about the content of this post, please feel free to leave a comment. Thank you so much for reading!

Research Bibliography:
[1]Sustainability & Social Impact | SHEIN USA. (n.d.). SHEIN. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from
https://us.shein.com/sustainability-social-impact-a-1183.html
[2]Schlossberg, T. (2019, September 3). How Fast Fashion Is Destroying the Planet. The New
York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2022, from
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/books/review/how-fast-fashion-is-destroying-the-planet.ht
ml
[3]Kozlowski, A., Bardecki, M., & Searcy, C. (2012). Environmental Impacts in the Fashion
Industry: A Life-cycle and Stakeholder Framework. The Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 45,
17–36. http://www.jstor.org/stable/jcorpciti.45.17
Please note that I took the “Hello March!” image and the SHEIN logo from free image
databases.

Author: Laura Evans

To conclude the discussion of sustainable practices around food, the EnvironHawks chose to spotlight a local vegan restaurant; the Trumpet Blossom Café. Its owner and head chef, Katy Meyer, has a passion for creating delicious dishes using sustainable practices. Meyer is an inspiration both as a creator of tasty vegan meals, and as a female business owner. She sets an example of courage and tenacity for others to look up to as they consider stepping into the risky world of entrepreneurship. In the interview below, Chef Katy Meyer shares how Trumpet Blossom Café came into being, several ways her restaurant implements sustainable practices, and how community members can both practice sustainability and support local businesses who do!

What’s the story of Trumpet Blossom Café?

KM: I opened Trumpet Blossom Café as the sole proprietor in April 2012. Prior to that I was co-owner of The Red Avocado from 2005-2012. The Red Avocado was a vegan restaurant in Iowa City; I was a chef and co-owner but was not one of the founding owners. It was open from 1999-

2012 and we had to close in January 2012 because the building we were in was sold and torn down (it was in a house on Washington St. where the building that DP Dough is currently.) My business partners wanted to do other things, and I wanted to continue in the industry so I secured a new location and opened Trumpet Blossom Café as a full service restaurant, bar, and venue three months after The Red Avocado closed.

What does sustainability mean to you?

KM: Sustainability, within a business model, is operating by making conscious decisions taking into consideration more than just the bottom line. It is a way of doing things that is gentler on the environment and more harmonious with the physical and social surroundings in which the business exists. I believe we each have a responsibility to do what we can with what we have to make where we are better. And if one chooses to run a business then this belief extends to the operations of the business.

What kind of sustainable practices have you implemented at your business?

KM: We don’t use any animal products in our restaurant so that choice alone is far more sustainable than choosing to use animal products. We recycle everything that is recyclable. We compost all our food waste and all other compostable material. We use compostable to-go containers and utensils. We try our best to not add to the ridiculous amount of waste that can be generated in the commercial food industry. There is no way we can continue, as a society, to operate the way we have and expect future generations to have a safe and healthy place to live.

Do you locally source your business’ food?

KM: We source local ingredients seasonally when possible from several local producers. The shorter distance an ingredient has to travel to get here, the fresher it is and the better it tastes. We support growers who use organic practices and this means the food is more nutritious because the soil it grows in is healthier since it’s not bombarded with chemicals.

Do you have advice for people who would like to eat more sustainability or make their business more sustainable?

KM: If anyone is interested in eating more sustainably or operating their business more sustainably there is a wealth of information on the internet regarding advice and resources for

making more sustainable choices. Eat with the season and eat more plants are the two best pieces of advice for making a diet more sustainable. Aim for change, not perfection. Make business decisions by taking all facets of the outcome into consideration, including the health of your customers, co-workers, and environment.

Did you have any role models when you opened Trumpet Blossom Café?

KM: I didn’t have any specific role models or influences when I opened my business. I trusted my instincts, was stubborn enough to do something really risky, and I felt very supported by my community as a whole, and fortunately I still do.

How were you affected by the pandemic?

KM: The pandemic shut my business down completely from mid-March to early May 2020. We had zero dine-in customers for an entire year—May 2020-May 2021. My revenue was cut nearly in half in 2020. Even now, the majority of our sales are still to-go orders. I had to change my menu to accommodate items being put in boxes instead of on plates. My staff changed, my schedule changed, every decision I made was influenced by forces completely out of my control and we had to manage every situation with an undertone of uncertainty which did not exist prior to March 2020. Running a restaurant these past two years has been more stressful and unpredictable than I ever could have imagined. But we’re still here so I guess that’s something. Obviously, we owe our success to the support of our community.

How can members of the Iowa City community better support local businesses like Trumpet Blossom Café as they practice sustainability?

KM: If someone is interested in supporting businesses that practice sustainability they need only call or email with questions before they spend their money there. Ask the people in charge what their sustainability practices are and how they are working to improve any areas where

improvement can be made. Keep in mind that it’s nearly impossible for a small business to be perfect—there are always obstacles and setbacks and owners are constantly having to shift their methods to fit new and changing situations. But it should be pretty clear if they care or not.

After hearing Chef Meyer’s responses, the line that stood out the most was “Aim for change, not perfection.” Sustainable practices ought to be, well, sustainable, and her advice reflects that sentiment. Trumpet Blossom Café has fought through difficult barriers, and yet continues to thrive in the Iowa City community thanks to its capable owner. Offering a menu of delicious vegan and gluten-free dishes, appetizing sides, and fun drinks, Trumpet Blossom Café provides the perfect local outlet to support in your journey toward more sustainable eating.

Watch: My visit to Trumpet Blossom Café

Author: Ashton Knatz

The term “sustainability” has become a buzzword in many different discussions going on today, but what exactly does “sustainability” mean in terms of food choices? When we discuss how your food choices can impact sustainability, we are talking about food choices that are good for your body and the environment. There are many ways to incorporate sustainability into your food purchases. Three great ways to start are by considering vegetarian and vegan options,
looking for organic items, and shopping locally.

More people are making the switch to plant-based eating as more evidence has come out that these diets are highly beneficial for human and environmental health. Research shows that plant-centric diets yield lower carbon dioxide emissions [1], as well as provide protection against heart disease and diabetes, among other diseases [2]. There are lots of vegetarian and vegan swaps you can make, such as egg substitutes, meatless patties, and more. Making even one or two sustainable choices can have a great impact. For this post, I’m going to focus on plant-based milks. There are lots of plant-based milks to choose from, including almond, soy, rice, oat, and even macadamia nut milk! Let’s take a look at the rundown of plant-based milks and see which one is the best choice in terms of carbon emissions and water use.

Image Source: https://www.statista.com/chart/22659/cows-milk-plant-milk-sustainability/

According to this graphic, the production of oat and soy milk use the least amount of water and generate the least carbon emissions, and so they have minimal impacts on the environment compared to cow’s milk. However, another component that must be considered is the packaging and transport time for these milks. If you live in New York, and your oat milk is being transported from California, then there’s a significant amount of carbon emissions still being
released from the lengthy transport. One way to alleviate the environmental costs of lengthy transport is by shopping locally. Iowa City has a great farmer’s market that is held every Saturday in the summer – if you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend you do so once the summer months arrive again!

Image Source: https://dailyiowan.com/2021/05/03/photos-iowa-city-farmers-market/

In addition to considering vegan and vegetarian food items, look for organically-grown and additive-free food items. Look for the USDA Organic seal on products, which certifies that these products are free from synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and additives. Some supermarkets are now devoting sections of their stores to organic food, and smaller grocery stores, such as New Pioneer Co-Op, are almost entirely devoted to organic, sustainable food. According to the Organic Trade Association, the organic label is the most heavily regulated and closely-monitored food system in the United States, and is backed by very strict processing regulations [3].

Image Source: https://ota.com/organic-101/organic-standards

In conclusion, some great ways to begin incorporating sustainability into your food choices are considering vegetarian and vegan options, focusing on organic food items, and shopping local whenever you can. These might seem daunting, but implementing even one change has huge benefits. Sustainability promotes better health among consumers, and making simple changes to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle is something that will benefit you and the environment. If you have any questions about the content of this post, or about food sustainability in general, please feel free to leave a comment on this post. Thank you so much for reading!

Research Bibliography:
1Springmann, M., Godfray, H. C. J., Rayner, M., & Scarborough, P. (2016). Analysis and
valuation of the health and climate change cobenefits of dietary change. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, 113(15), 4146–4151. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1523119113
2Good Nutrition. (2019). Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition
3Organic Standards | OTA. (n.d.). Ota.com. https://ota.com/organic-101/organic-standards