Its good to buy clothing that already exists instead of contributing to the demand of cheaply made clothing, specifically overseas. Affiliate Marketing, Partnerships, and More. By thrifting, you are indirectly helping put an end to the fast fashion industry which is built on the breaking backs and cracking hands of the international impoverished. Hippies and hipsters alike spend hours picking through massive bins and swiping through racks of cheap, eccentric clothing faster than they swipe through people on Tinder. If you have kids who are growing fast, its cost effective to buy a $7 pair of jeans rather than a $20 pair. If you decide to purchase from a thrift store, you can have more pieces while not compromising on quality. These are just a few of the reasons why shopping secondhand is beneficial for the environment. What is the difference between simple syrup and sugar syrup? Theres no point in wasting water on new clothes if were just going to toss them in a few years. At the end of the day, donating or recycling your clothing is better than throwing it in the trash. When you thrift something, you are not directly supporting the demand for new things to be made, and this has a positive impact since resources and energy were already used to create that item. And thats just in the U.S., every continent is seeing faster growth in resale than in retail.Shoppers concerned with waste and sustainability have taken up thrifting as a way to lower the amount of brand-new goods they consume. Instead of fast fashion hauls, people are creating thrift hauls, often with clothes that they dont need. lessening the burden of pollutants on the environment that come from consumerism. For example, the Seattle startup. Another benefit of thrift shopping is that you never know what youre going to find. 13. First of all, thrifting is the recycling of the clothing world, reducing the amount of raw materials used in the fashion industry. Whether you find something new with the tags on it still or a preloved vintage item, you are choosing an option that didnt involve new resource and energy consumption, potentially saving something from being thrown into a landfill, and lessening the burden of pollutants on the environment that come from consumerism. Not only are the gases from these oils polluting our atmosphere, but they are also toxic to breathe in and touch. While the exact amount of money will save will vary based on many factors (as noted below) the average savings on products over shopping at major retailers tend to range from about 50 to 80%. In the past, she interned at Ka Leo, the student newspaper for UH Manoa, where she was promoted to a Staff Writer role during her last semester of college. However, the 5 percent statistic is consistent with the secondhand industry association claim which indicates that this clothing is largely only trashed because it is moldy, wet or otherwise soiled. Required fields are marked *, California State University, Northridge Many individuals and families rely on local thrift stores to find clothing at affordable prices. So what can we do to help? The breakdown of where unsellable items wind up is listed as follows with 90 percent sold in aftermarket, 3 percent for industrial use, 2 percent for recycling and the remaining 5 percent headed for the landfill or incineration. Cline suspects, though, that the actual amount is higher due to the low-quality, synthetic clothing barreling through our system. Thrifting helps reduce the amount of clothing produced through manufacturing, a process that is very taxing on the environment. Not only are we usingfewerresources when we thrift something, but overall, less things are thrown away as well. To help lessen the impact that this has on the environment, you can choose to donate things instead of tossing them and consider looking for an item secondhand next time you need something. And, could it be bad? There really aren't any reasons thrifting is not green. A handbag reportedly spares even more with a 267 pounds of carbon emissions savings compared to buying new. As mentioned before, a lot of time and energy goes into producing and shipping new clothes; many resources are wasted as well. So, when you purchase from a thrift store, the sales from it go back to charity. Thrift trends are sweeping the nation. In recent years, thrifting has become not only a hobby but, for many, a lifestyle. Think about it, when someone owns a piece of clothing and then donates it, no new material is being used by the time you buy it. 18.6 million tons of clothes are incinerated or sent to landfills every year. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Use your own closet that you already have invested money in to create timeless outfits youll love forever. Synthetic fibers, which are often used in modern clothing designs because they are cheap, require tons of energy as well as crude oils like petroleum. Producing new clothing uses a huge amount of energy. The following article hopes to help you make more suitable choices and get more useful . Finally, give your items a little extra TLC before you part with them. One way is to ensure that we're donating quality items. Buying secondhand clothing as opposed to clothing from large companies, which often contains synthetic materials (plastic), reduces the insane amount of clothing that is thrown out into landfills every year. Shopping at a thrift store like Goodwill is a great way to find some pre-loved pieces that still have a lot of life in them. Buyingitemsbrandnew might not seem like it hasa very bigimpact on the environment, but every small action counts. I think people judge their clothing pretty harshly, added Jessica Schreiber, a former City of New York Department of Sanitation Employee and founder and chief executive officer of FABSCRAP, INC. For example, if it's an otherwise high-quality piece of clothing but it's just missing a button, Schreiber advises donors to avoid placing it in the trash pile. In a 2019 report by Green Story, which was also commissioned by thredUp, the company analyzed the various life cycle processes involved in each type of fabric content sold from thredUp's inventory, along with other environmental impacts. You can reduce your carbon footprint by thrifting. In recent years, thrift shopping has grown in popularity due to its affordable prices, the unique pieces you cant find anywhere else, and positive impact on the environment. This article was adapted from the Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago blog. Also, better legislation is needed in order to hold brands more responsible for the environmental impact which is starting to gain traction in Europe, she added. In addition, many well-known name brands such as. This means that one of the most significant benefits of thrift shopping includes helping the environment. Its also a great place to sell items or offer free items instead of throwing them away.When youve figured out what shops youre going to visit, all you need to do is bring yourself and your wallet. Its their business to resell clothing and landfilling is not the ideal outcome.. The fashion industry is accountable for between 8%-10% of all emissions. Theyre similar to thrift stores because they sell used items but they operate a bit differently. Who knew that thrifting nonsynthetic clothing could be making your drinking water cleaner? Is thrifting better than fast fashion? Photo courtesy of Becca McHaffie via Unsplash. Also, recycling clothes may require lot of energy which thrift shopping can limits. Youre way less likely to run into someone wearing the same outfit as you, too, because youre piecing together your looks on your own; theres no corporate visual directive for mannequin outfits at thrift stores. So, thrifting can be good for the environment because it reduces the overall demand for new products and raw materials in the economy. Thrifting websites and apps like Poshmark and Depop even help people sell their clothes virtually. Specific to clothing and textiles, less fabric is wasted, and the water footprint of an item becomes less since the life of the item is extended. The Environmental Benefits of Thrift Shopping. The second-hand clothing industry isnt always transparent. Also, thrifting reduces the number of wasted resources that get burnt up from making new clothing or other textile products. Some of these natural resources are being used at a rate that is faster than they can be produced and. Keep on reading to learn about the benefits of thrift shopping! One thing might not serve the person that originally bought the item, but maybe. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Thrifting is also a good way to get clothes that are less expensive, still in good condition, and brand name., One popular online thrift store is ThredUp who claims to be the largest online secondhand shopping destination., Jussaume says I use ThredUp a lot. It's their business to resell clothing and landfilling is not the ideal outcome." How Can We Help Thrift Stores? One thing might not serve the person that originally bought the item, but maybe. The old-school, vintage trend that is going around is a potential reason for thriftings popularity increase. Lastly, thrifting lets you think outside the box and explore your creativity by flipping vintage pieces into unique ones that suit your wardrobe the best! These chemicals contaminate our water, soil, and air, and this can impact wildlife and the quality of many resources we use to survive. Through thrift shopping you are REDUCING WASTE: There is a direct reduction in the amount of clothing that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Clothing, and the infamous rise of fast fashion amongst society hold an undeniably large toll towards the environment, such as an excessive use of water and energy with the production of a single cotton T-shirt, taking up to 2,700 liters of water to create, alongside a horrific contribution towards the global climate emissions. There are many benefits that come from thrift shopping, including saving money, reducing landfill waste, and helping your local community. California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330, The Institute for Community Health & Wellbeing, Four Beginners Steps to Improving Financial Wellbeing, How to Exercise When You Have (almost) No Time, Choosing the Best Menstrual Hygiene Option for You. Why is thrifting better than fast fashion? If you looked it up, you would find that there is an astronomical amount of water used in textile production that is incredibly wasteful. So yes, thrifting is better for the environment than fast fashion. When we create synthetic fabrics, greenhouse gases are released which contribute to climate change. Buying clothes that are made from sustainable fabrics or with materials that last longer is a win. Second-hand shopping generally refers to shopping for items that are used. 27. , a dress purchased secondhand from the thredUp site saves 21.4 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. If youre concerned about the ethics of some thrift stores, then you can always do research on big names and see if their values align with yours. More on that later. ! To sum it up, thrift store shopping lets you save the environment while also helping your wallet. We will send you three guides that will help nurture the leader inside you shortly after. 5. Please take a few minutes to learn the truth about false email rumors. The list doesnt end there but I think you get the picture.Buying a used cotton t-shirt replaces your need for a new one. resources when we thrift something, but overall, less things are thrown away as well. So you could be saving the environment in two ways: shopping for secondhand items and supporting an environmental cause. The fashion industry is not exactly environmentally friendly, though, and in 2015, of textiles were dumped into landfills. Some people might only have access to a Goodwill, and you shouldnt feel guilty about shopping there. When you thrift something, you are not directly supporting the demand for new things to be made, and this has a positive impact since resources and energy were already used to create that item. Is goodwill good for the environment? Also, better legislation is needed in order to hold brands more responsible for the environmental impact which is starting to gain traction in Europe, she added. Thrift shopping is good for the environment and it's the easiest way to reduce carbon pollution. For example, in a study carried out by Green Story and commissioned by online secondhand retailer thredUp, a dress purchased secondhand from the thredUp site saves 21.4 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. The breakdown of where unsellable items wind up is listed as follows with 90 percent sold in aftermarket, 3 percent for industrial use, 2 percent for recycling and the remaining 5 percent headed for the landfill or incineration.