Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Clothing

Being sustainable goes far beyond turning off lights, saving water and carpooling to work. One way to be more sustainable in your living habits is to reuse, recycle and donate items that no longer serve a purpose. Over 85% of clothing ends up in landfills each year! The majority of this waste could be prevented by reusing or recycling.

The fashion industry is sometimes considered the second dirtiest industry following big oil. Much of this has to do with the impact of growing and dying cotton, but it also is due to the fact that the majority of clothing is thrown away when in reality 95% can be recycled. As with most sustainability initiatives, the easiest way to increase the amount of clothing recycled is to increase awareness and education. There are non-profits and stores in every state that take in unwanted clothing items and give them out to members of the community in need or even resell them to the general public.

As the seasons are changing, now is a perfect time to go through your closet and clean out what you no longer use or wear. Whenever you see that dress or shirt you haven’t worn in over a year, instead of keeping it hidden in the back of your closet or throwing it out begin a pile and find a place near you where you can donate!

This can also be a fun way to get involved with Sustainable September. Make a pledge with your community and see how many items of clothing you all can donate together. It is amazing to see the impact a group of people can have when they come together to support a cause!