What Really Happens to your Donated Clothes?
- uthriftcontact
- Oct 28, 2022
- 2 min read
by Maggie Coughlin
When you toss an old well-loved sweater into the donation bin, you might think the story ends there. You’ve done your part, and stopped textile waste in its tracks. But what really happens to your donated clothes? It may seem like donating clothes is always the best option- and it usually is! But in thinking about sustainability and our fashion footprint, our consumption and donation habits deserve a second look.
84% of all clothing manufactured yearly ends up in landfills, including those that were donated after use. Of the endless racks at your local Goodwill or Salvation Army, some items will be re-worn, but up to 90% will never be reused in their original form. The good news is that a portion of these will go to textile recyclers, who use excess fabric to make insulation, yarn, or even paper. Clothes that do end up in landfills can take hundreds of years to decompose, and leak industrial chemicals into wastewater. Some brands are exploring the production of biodegradable clothes, but mainstream accessibility still seems a long way off.
So what can you do instead? You can swap clothes you no longer use with friends, or donate directly to foster care programs and refugee organizations that are constantly in need of quality clothing in good condition. Old or damaged clothing can be repurposed as rags or to patch rips in other items. Above all, you can avoid fast fashion companies, and thoughtfully purchase timeless clothes that you will use for many years. Donation is still a great option (especially to UThrift!), but we can always think more critically about the ways we interact with our clothes and the Earth.
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