Why Buying Used Clothing is Good for You and the Environment
Second-hand clothing is both economical and environmentally friendly. When you are on a tight budget, thrift stores can save you a pretty penny. This practice also reduces environmental impacts. Here are _ reasons to buy used clothing:
1. Reduce water consumption
Manufacturers use a large quantity of water to make clothes. For example, 1kg of cotton requires around 10,000 gallons of water. This is just for the first step in the process. From printing to packaging to delivery, each stage consumes a lot of water and other resources. By buying used clothes, you can help cut back on water consumption.
2. Lower your carbon footprint
The fashion business is one of the major causes of pollution, accounting for around 1% of worldwide fossil fuel use and contributing to approximately 4% of global carbon emissions each year. The trend of fast fashion, where quantity beats quality and clothing styles frequently change, leads to increased clothing manufacturing. By buying second-hand, you will help reduce emissions.
3. Keep garments out of landfills
Every year, the average American discards 70 pounds of clothes and textiles, amounting to 4 billion pounds of apparel that is put in landfills, burned, or repurposed. That’s a lot of time and resources wasted, not to mention the energy and water used to make these clothes. A lot of clothing is made of synthetic materials, which don’t decompose quickly. A single t-shirt takes hundreds of years to decompose. As a result, discarded garments can stay in landfills for hundreds of years, occupying large amounts of space and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Second-hand clothing stores rescue clothes from landfills, giving them a new life by allowing someone else to purchase and wear them.
If you want to calculate your wardrobe’s carbon footprint, click here and take the fun quiz to get insight into your clothing-related habits.
4. Help the community
Charity organizations run a variety of thrift stores. People donate items and charity organizations raise funds to spend on good causes, as opposed to the profit-oriented big brands. When you shop second-hand, you are not only helping your wallet but also the community.
But What About Quality?
You may have concerns about the quality of used clothing. This depends on which store you visit and what you purchase. Some used clothing may not be in perfect condition, so check thoroughly before purchasing anything.
Thrift stores inspect the items before displaying them to ensure that they are wearable and in good condition. This makes it unlikely you will encounter very damaged clothing, but it is always a good idea to have a good look.
Find more tips on sustainable fashion shopping here.
Buy Used Clothing for a More Sustainable Future
Discarded clothing largely contributes to landfill waste and the fashion business is one of the world’s most polluting sectors. By buying used instead of new clothing, you can help reduce water consumption, carbon emissions, and keep clothes from becoming waste. Second-hand stores are fantastic locations to acquire fashionable, good-quality clothing while supporting communities.
At Green Schools Green Future, we support all eco-friendly activities and initiatives. Go thrift shopping to do your part to reduce the harm done to the planet.
Sources:
https://www.2ndavestores.com/blog/how-thrifting-is-good-for-the-planet/
https://www.kelleemaize.com/post/why-thrifting-is-better-than-fast-fashion
