By Lucy McMenigall
Why should that dress go to the charity shop not landfill?
Do you have a dress in your wardrobe that you know you are never going to wear again? Does it become waste or does it become something new for someone else. Bringing that dress to the charity shop not only creates donations for the charity but it gives that perfect dress a second life. Every year across the world we produce 92 million tons of textile waste. If you bring that dress that has lived its life in your wardrobe to a charity shop it can be bought by someone new who could enjoy it again. The original dress you once bought can have a second owner, dress 2.0.
Landfill and sustainability
As we continue to question the sustainability of our planet and the environmental concerns, retail is something to question. The worldwide fashion industry is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. The volume of fashion bought is high but the volume of waste continues to damage the planet. Fashion can be one of the biggest polluters of environmental damage and waste. The industry can effect this especially as fast fashion grows the price of fashion is low and repurchase increases. But when you repurchase, you want more wardrobe space for the clothes you wear and sending the fashion then to landfill can cause more damage than many people realize. Everyone has clothes that they grow out of or just isn’t their style anymore but the environmental damage of sending these clothes straight to landfill could be ruining our planet.
“Of all the clothing thrown away across the world 57% is sent to landfill”
Charity shops
But we have another option for our fashion that does not include the environmental damage that is currently being caused. We have another way we could keep a dress alive as well as our planet cleaner and healthier without so much fashion waste. Charity shops can be such an underrated way of shopping . There are so many benefits to shopping there from the chance to find something very unique, to being more environmentally friendly or the benefit of being able to support a charity. There are a range of different charity shops across the UK such as Mind UK, St Columba’s hospice, Cancer Research UK or British Red Cross.
Having that re-wearable dress sent to a charity shop is the perfect place for that piece. Your dress is more sustainable, avoiding landfill and being worn by someone new. Charity shops are becoming more popular as people continue to see the benefit of them and question why they are throwing a dress in the bin when it could be sent to a charity shop for someone else. Charity shops can be so grateful for the donations and support and customers can enjoy something new for them that no longer is any interest to the original owner. Give your clothes a second life in a charity shop and don’t contribute to a damaging waste of fashion in landfill.
Business Waste (no date) Fashion Waste Facts and Statistics
https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/your-waste/textile-recycling/fashion-waste-facts-and-statistics/
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