A sustainable pride march is about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while adopting eco-friendly practices such as the reuse and repurposing of materials

Photo by Shvets-production

#EDITORIAL

How to make your Pride march sustainable


20 june ‘22

5 minutes

We all have the power to bring eco-friendly and sustainable methods into all aspects of our lives. This article specifically suggests a few tips that can help you bring sustainability to your next Pride march this month.

Words by Emma Hastie


A sustainable pride march is about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while adopting eco-friendly practices such as the reuse and repurposing of materials

Photo by Anna Shvets

Pride marches are not only a place to celebrate the amazing members of the LGBTQ+ community, but they’re also a place where we must consciously be aware of our impact on other human beings but also the planet in which we inhabit.At Pride marches, we have the power to march in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way.


We can make easy shifts towards more sustainable methods of consumption that are neither burdensome nor inconvenient. Even implementing sustainability into a single portion of your preparation for your Pride march will make an impact towards fostering a greener future.


Here are four quick suggestions for how you can bring eco-friendly and sustainable methods with you to your next Pride march:


A sustainable pride march is about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while adopting eco-friendly practices such as the reuse and repurposing of materials

Photo by Alina Blumberg


1. 

Research and avoid fast fashion


Though the convenience of fast fashion is enticing, rather try to invest in companies and brands that ensure sustainability and ethical production. Also look towards supporting brands that LGBTQ+ owned and also share the mission of sustainable and ethical production. It’s important to be a conscious consumer and know who your money is going to and the issues the brand supports or doesn’t support.


Secondhand or thrift shops are also great places to find one-of-a-kind pieces that can liven up your Pride look in a budget and eco-friendly way. Borrowing and exchanging clothes with friends can also be a fun way to both save money and create a unique, sustainable Pride look. It’s also a great excuse to have some fun with friends and get ready to march and celebrate!


2. 

Reuse, repurpose and be creative 


Always consider what is already in your closet! Think about how you can create something unique from what you already have and consider the potential uses of each piece of clothing you own. Maybe you can tie up that old t-shirt in a new way and pair it with something you haven't previously considered. Maybe that old scarf hanging in the back of your closet since winter can be tied in a way to create an entirely new garment. Reuse and repurpose those garments you already own. Test things out and have fun with it! It may also be the case that you already own some Pridewear from previous marches, so just reuse it! But maybe you want to breathe new life into these already used pieces.

This can be your time to get creative with it! You can even find some immediate inspiration from the funky and vibrant patterns used by Balou on Staiy.com and start your creative journey there! From here, all you have to do is find that needle and thread or eco-friendly fabric dye and start creating and bringing new life to something you already own! Plus, now you’ll have a one-of-a-kind garment that is sure to catch some well-deserved attention and maybe you can reuse this piece for next year’s Pride march or another event! And if you do plan to buy a new outfit for this year’s Pride march, consider buying something that will have a long life, something that you can reuse, something that won’t just stay in the bottom of your drawer for the rest of the year.





3. 

Rethink how you eat


Avoiding clothing companies that produce cheap, fast fashion is as equally important as avoiding low quality and unethical food chains and restaurants. Rather, support restaurants and businesses that source their own produce locally and or at least share the similar mission of sustainability and making our home a greener and more eco-friendly place. Sustainable and eco-friendly liquor brands are also a good route to explore though this does require some quick research. Another sustainable route is bringing your own food in reusable containers. For example, check out these stainless steel containers produced by Ethika on Staiy.com and begin to imagine all the snacks you can bring to the Pride march that will keep you going strong the whole day! And you can reuse these containers for future adventures and excursions as well!



A sustainable pride march is about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while adopting eco-friendly practices such as the reuse and repurposing of materials

Photo  by Daria Shevtsova

Photo by Daria Shevtsova

A sustainable pride march is about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while adopting eco-friendly practices such as the reuse and repurposing of materials

Photo byt Ready Made


4. Reconsider the use of plastics and other materials

Plastic pollution is one of the leading dangers to the health of our planet. At marches it’s no surprise that glitter and confetti and various other decorations ornament the streets and march participants, but this can all be done in a much greener way.

When it comes to body ornamentation such as glitter, consider using natural body paint or biodegradable and eco-friendly glitter. As for confetti and other decorations, consider using recycled and already used materials. Especially when it comes to decorations, explore ways in which you can create something from materials that you already have or possibly repurpose the decorations that have been collecting dust in the back of your closet. Another quick change you can make is by bringing your own reusable, eco-friendly water bottle and avoiding using single-use plastic bottles.

If you do purchase a single-use bottle, just reuse and refill that bottle throughout the day rather than buying another single-use plastic bottle. If you are on the search for a reusable bottle, you should also check out this stainless steel water bottle produced by Ethika on Staiy.com! Volunteering to help clean up after the march is also a great way to make an impact.

Out for Sustainability or Out4S is a leading organization here to help with that impact and make Pride more eco-friendly and sustainable.


A sustainable pride march is about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while adopting eco-friendly practices such as the reuse and repurposing of materials

Photo by Monstera


Share your tips!

These tips are only a few of the many for how you can bring more sustainable and eco-friendly methods to your next Pride march! Do you have additional suggestions for how to bring sustainability to your next Pride march? Share them with the Staiy community!




Sources:



https://www.greenmatters.com/p/how-to-celebrate-pride-month-at-work-sustainably  

https://www.nokillmag.com/articles/the-dos-and-donts-of-pridewear-how-to-show-your-pride-sustainably/ 

https://www.sustainablemillennial.com/home/2019/6/28/pride-in-our-planet

https://monarchpartnership.co.uk/eco-pride-how-to-celebrate-pride-2021-sustainably/


Related articles


Subscribe to our newsletter to read our secret articles, 

get access to our exclusive content and more!