With the latest spate of news regarding the precarious condition of our planet Earth, it is imperative for every individual to commit to doing something to help sustain and improve environmental conditions in our communities. Whether that comes in the form of a small but consistent change of consumption and recycling habit(s), steady charitable donations to organizations committed to systemic changes or involvement in environmental causes on a local level - that’s up to us as individuals.

Consider the words of young Greta Thunberg, a teen climate activist who recently chastised European Union leaders for holding three emergency summits on Brexit and none on the impending threat of climate change: “It is still not too late to act. It will take a far-reaching vision, it will take courage, it will take fierce, fierce determination to act now … In other words it will take cathedral thinking.”

Here at Haute Hijab, sustainability and stewardship of our earth’s resources has been on the top of our mind since day one. We are always taking stock in what we are doing as a company and exploring ways in which we can continue to harness innovation and technology to implement more sustainable and earth-friendly practices in every aspect of our business. We have a long way to go, but getting into that frame of mind is step one. As a company, we will be planting trees in the Bronx with a troop of Girl Scouts on Earth Day and would like to encourage you to be part of that care and change wherever you are, however you can.

With that in mind, here are five suggestions (out of many) for environmental organizations and causes you can support or join for the betterment of our planet’s health. Please add your suggestions in the comments below!

 

1. The Sierra Club - One of the oldest environmental and conservation organizations, the Sierra Club focuses on grassroots advocacy projects and strategic philanthropy to partner and fund other allied organizations that are doing the important work on the ground. Some of the projects they’ve supported include securing protection for 439 national parks and monuments, advocating for the passage of the Clean Air and Endangered Species Act (which is threatened under our current administration) and helping nearly 300 coal plants convert to clean energy.

Find out how you can get involved here (where the site will also show you local groups and causes you can join), and click here to make a donation.

2. The Textile Exchange - As a hijab and fashion company, we are always interested in non-profits that work on sustainability issues and ways to reduce the impact that textile production has on the world’s people and natural resources. The Textile Exchange promotes best practices with regards to farming, processing and – an important but often overlooked detail – what happens to the product after the consumer is done with it. If you work in fashion or your company does, you can become a member or your company can partner with them to work on sustainability benchmarks. Click here to learn more.

3. Traid (in the United Kingdom) and Rehash (in the United States) both work on the principles of sharing, swapping and trading clothing so as to reduce the huge amounts of clothing that end up in landfills yearly. Traid encourages clothing reuse and trade to reduce waste, carbon emissions and consumptions and has educational programs in place to teach people about the impact of textiles and sustainable clothing choices. Rehash helps facilitate online clothes and accessories swapping for free as a simple and environmentally-conscious solution to get rid of the clothes you don’t use.

4. Oceana - Looking to do something to help clean up the world’s oceans and other water systems? Oceana is an organization working multiple projects all pertaining to ocean health and the life of creatures living them. You can donate to any one of their multiple projects, such as protecting whales from seismic blasting or supporting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices for harvesting (and protecting) seafood for human consumption, as well as ocean clean-up projects. Check out their “Ten Things You Can Do” list for ways you can help work on ocean conservation projects.

5. Turning Green, for the youth and teens in your life.Turning Green is a global student-led movement teaching sustainability practices in schools and communities while also challenging other youth to “live green” for a month (among other projects). They have initiatives and projects going on in all 50 states for you to get involved with and are working on a program called “Conscious Kitchen,” which works on issues of food equity, education and nutrition literacy in school meals by helping to create zero-waste kitchens.

There is no shortage of vetted organizations, projects and initiatives where you live and around the world that you can get involved in to help protect our environment and sustain this earth. Let us know what you are doing for Earth Day this year and beyond that!