Reducing waste is at the very heart of the eco-fashion movement. From pesticide-minimizing organic cotton to buying local to cut down on transportation emissions, nearly every shopping decision that ethical fashionistas make is, on some level or another, about minimizing the environmental or social impact such a purchase entails. When consumers are thinking twice even about buying faux fur because the manufacturing process creates so much pollution, you know that people are really thinking hard about how their choices affect everyone else — a move we have to applaud.

C&C California's organic-cotton line comes with a biodegradeable hangtag that sprouts wildflowers when planted. (Courtesy of CCCalifornia.com)

That’s why the Zero Waste movement is so inherently attractive. The idea that you can buy something completely without guilt because it was made without waste is so cutting edge and mindful, it can only be the wave of the future.

So who in the industry has actually achieved this standard?

The list is short, but there are many fashion and beauty companies that have taken steps in that direction. For example, C&C California’s organic cotton tee-shirts ship in recyclable packaging and come with biodegradeable hangtags embedded with wildflower seeds to add a little cheer to your compost pile. Austin-based beauty company Everyday Minerals provides free bicycles to its employees to encourage workers to commute without ever setting foot on a gas pedal.

Arguably the designer with the most foresight, ambition, and success in the Zero Waste movement is British fashion prodigy Mark Liu. EthicalStyle.com had the good fortune to sit down with him recently to discuss how he eliminates fabric waste in his designs and what his plans are for the future of the movement.

Cult-favorite cosmetics brand MAC is probably known best for its Viva Glam program that benefits the MAC AIDS Fund, and second-best for “Back to MAC”: bring in six empty makeup containers for recycling and take home a free lipstick. Read here for our take on why this program is being replicated throughout the beauty industry.

If you adhere to the “waste not, want not” philosophy, antiquing is likely a passion of yours. We review antiques markets in a variety of cities across the world.

From patchwork quilting in Pennsylvania to deconstructing saris in India, fabric reuse is not just a way to recycle — it’s a practice in tradition. Madison explores the rich history of fabric reconstitution.

Kara, our DIY Doyenne, returns with a fabric-reconstitution project of her own: how to turn old tees into a quilt full of memories.

And as always, if you are looking for further reading on waste, visit our Seam Ripper section for a sampling of blog posts we’ve written on the topic.