As per reports in a fashion magazine, 73% of discarded clothes end up in landfills, that are brimming with so much urban waste that by 2050, India will require one the size of New Delhi to fit all of the waste it produces. That means in another 30 years, Indian will be brimming with urban waste.
In the age of social media fashion gurus and influencers it’s easy to get caught up in the rat race of the hunt for the latest rags. The latest trends outfits soon becomes outdated and lingers on in the dark side of the closet piling up you wardrobe and eating up all your free space.
Well, modern fashion is a fickle mistress, and her moods keep changing all the time, with new trends replacing old ones within a few months. So, what do you do with all the awesome clothes you just wore once and twice that tragically is outdated or no longer fitting clothes?
The answers lies in recycling, reuse and upcycle. Believe it or not, donating clothes not only helps bring a smile to someone needy but it’s actually great for the environment. Here is how:
- Donating Clothes reduces Landfill waste
Every year, tons of clothing are discarded and end up in landfills. Many of these clothing items are in usable condition. These textiles can take up to 200+ years to decompose. Decomposing these textiles emit toxins that are released into the air and water, polluting the environment. The bigger these landfills, the higher the levels of pollution.
If you reuse, repurpose or donate your clothes, you stop the landfills from getting bigger and give your clothes a new life; creating a positive effect on the environment.
2. Old Clothes brings Smiles and Helps those in need
By donating your clothes to charity, orphanages, old age homes or communities nearby you, you can help underprivileged people who cannot afford clothing and basic necessities.
Clothes discard in landfills taking up space and polluting the environment can instead help the people that need them the most.
Another way is to donate clothes to companies who are into upcycling. They recycle and find creative ways to reuse as long as possible.
3. Saves Water and Reduces Water Pollution
It takes 2,700 liters of water to make one cotton shirt. Fashion industry uses tonnes of water in the production of new clothes. By donating instead of throwing, you can break the cycle of overusing fresh water, hence saving tonnes of water
Additionally, When the rain falls on textile landfills and the toxins released, the water rinses out the chemicals, and together they accumulate at the base of the landfill, eventually finding their way down to the groundwater.
When you donate clothes and they’re reused by someone else, there’s no need for such high production of new items since there will be lesser demand. Hence, clothing donation saves water by protecting it from polluting chemicals. Think back to the huge landfills
Please note the production of nylon (clothes made of synthetic materials) involve great greenhouse gas emissions, and nylon breaks down in the washing machines and causes a buildup of microplastics in our water systems.
4. Lowers the Carbon Footprint in the Environment
Certain fibers in mass-produced clothing don’t break down at all. As mentioned before, Textiles can take up to 200+ years to decompose in landfills. These textiles in landfills, release the most dangerous chemicals to our environment and the emissions contribute a large amount of greenhouse gases every year.
Additionally, the production of new clothes requires a lot of power along with water. The more power you need, the bigger the emissions of greenhouse gases.
The donation of clothing will ensure that all the water and energy that was used in the creation of new garments will not simply go to waste. The longer the clothing is used is in circulation, lesser clothes will be produced and discarded at landfills.
5. A Circular Economy with a Sustainable Lifestyle
By donating used clothing, you contribute to reuse, recycle and it is used for as long as possible, then recycled.
Creating a circular economy that builds a sustainable environment where things don’t go to waste as easily, and where everything is being used to its maximum potential. Sustainable living leads to a brighter future for all of you.
By donating clothes you do good for others, the environment and to yourself. Time to act and be responsible. Take one step at a time, you can book a doorstep pick with us at www.happieesouls.com and we deliver directly to our NGO and upcycle partners in need.
