Textile Waste Awareness
Textile waste is a big environmental problem that has been propelled by fast fashion and mass production. The textile industry is one of the most polluting in the world, it may be true that we need clothes and that they are a form of expression but the way we discard them needs to change.
That's why the United Nations Sustainable Development goal #8 is to promote responsible consumerism, for a better future and planet.
"Around 85% of all textiles thrown away in the US – roughly 13 million tonnes in 2017 – are either dumped into landfill or burned. The average American has been estimated to throw away around 37kg of clothes every year. And globally, an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste is created each year." says the BBC this article explaining why clothes are so hard to recycle.
You may already know from our brand story, that our founder learned first hand what mass production looks like when she worked in product development at a clothing factory. Slow fashion is deeper than textile waste, it's about the sourcing of materials, the treatment of workers, and the end of life of a product.
It may initially feel daunting trying to shift towards but we can begin to make a difference by changing our behaviours, know that we are all learning and that you don't have to do it perfectly, we certainly don't. This is not about a guilt trip it's about inspired action and being willing to go the extra mile to reduce waste.
Here are some quick tips:
- Buying quality items that were made in an ethical way
- Taking good care of our clothes and house hold items.
- Reselling, swapping, mending and transforming what we already have
- Holding accountable those corporations that pollute the most
- Supporting companies that align with our values
Keep textile waste out of landfills by buying less, choosing well and taking care of the items we already own.