5 Reasons To Recycle Your Clothes
Clearing out your wardrobe is definitely good for the soul. But what should you do with the clothes you no longer want or need?
Fashion industry alone
is responsible for
1 Reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas pollution
Did you know that £140m worth of clothing is sent to UK landfill every year? Or that globally, the weight of clothes sent to landfill is a whopping 92 million tonnes?
What’s more, while a substantial chunk of the clothing we wear is organic, landfill sites lack the oxygen needed for our discarded items to biodegrade naturally – instead, as your clothing decomposes, it releases harmful gases into the atmosphere.
These shocking statistics make it clear that we should take responsibility for how we dispose of unwanted clothes… recycling them rather than sending them to landfill.
2 Save water and energy
There’s no getting around the fact that the fashion industry is a huge drain on the planet’s resources. Textile production releases around 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year – while the complex manufacturing process involved consumes a disproportionately large amount of water and energy – the fashion industry alone is responsible for 20% of the world’s water waste.
It’s clear that the industry needs to take urgent action to drastically reduce carbon and water use. But we all have a part to play in transforming this vicious cycle. By recycling your clothing – reselling it on or donating it to organisations like ours – you’re propelling the fashion industry towards a much-needed circular economy.
Ready to declutter your wardrobe but leave your heart full?
Pick a charity to find out if we collect in your area.
3 Raise funds for amazing charities
Pre-loved clothes are one of the biggest fundraisers for charities around the globe – and these days you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to ways to give your clothes and raise funds. Not only can you donate items directly to charity shops or textile banks. Some councils arrange collections. And a growing number of retailers are participating in retail take-back schemes.
But for those charities who can’t afford the overheads of setting up and managing a shop, organisations like ours are vital in raising valuable funds.
With Donate Clothes, not only can you arrange a collection at a date and time to suit you. You’re also able to pick the British charity you’d like to benefit from the funds raised by the sale of your clothes. And they’ll receive 82% of the proceeds. All of which makes us a win-win option – well, we think so, anyway!
4 Give your clothes a second home
Did you know that the average UK household owns £4000 worth of clothes – and the value of unused clothes in UK wardrobes is a whopping £30bn? What’s more, the average consumer buys 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago.
While you may be sick of the sight of that pair of jeans or glittery top, someone else might fall in love with them, giving them a new lease of life! And even items that are tired or ripped can often be repaired, refashioned or upcycled.
Here at Donate Clothes, we export your pre-loved items to Europe, Asia or Africa, giving those less fortunate the chance to buy them at an affordable cost.
5 Boost your mental health
Experts have conducted a significant amount of research into the links between stress and excessive amounts of clutter. And while the question of which wardrobe items to keep and which to donate may seem like a small thing, the act of deciding itself helps you live in the present, rather than cling to the past.
Simply put, having a spring (summer, autumn or winter!) clear out of your wardrobe can do wonders for your general wellbeing. Plus, it’s far easier to be mindful and think clearly when you’re able to see exactly what’s on offer in your wardrobe.
Finally, when you recycle your clothes, you’ll also benefit from the feeling that comes from knowing that you’re doing the right thing – for the planet and for those less fortunate – and contributing to a shift in the way we approach fashion.
