The preowned, used, or secondhand clothing market benefits the environment (and people) in many ways:
- Reduces Waste: Secondhand clothing extends the lifecycle of garments, reducing the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. The fashion industry is a major contributor to global waste, with 11.3 million tons of textile waste ending up in landfills each year in the U.S. alone.
- Lowers Carbon Footprint: Producing new clothing requires lots of energy and resources, from growing and processing raw materials to manufacturing and transportation. When you buy secondhand, the demand for new clothing decreases, thereby reducing carbon emissions associated with the entire production and supply chain.
- Conserves Water: The production of textiles, especially cotton, is water-intensive. For instance, it can take up to 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt. Buying secondhand clothing helps conserve water by reducing the need for new textile production.
- Minimizes Chemical Use: Textile manufacturing involves significant use of chemicals for dyeing and finishing fabrics. These chemicals can pollute waterways and harm ecosystems. Secondhand clothing reduces the need for new production, thereby decreasing the environmental impact of chemical use.
- Encourages Sustainable Practices: Supporting the secondhand market promotes a more sustainable and circular economy. It encourages consumers to be mindful of their purchases, opt for quality over quantity, and consider the environmental impact of their clothing choices.
- Reduces Resource Extraction: The production of new textiles requires extracting raw materials, such as cotton, wool, and synthetic fibers derived from petroleum. This extraction process depletes natural resources and can lead to environmental degradation. Secondhand clothing reduces the need for new materials.
- People that donate their used items can receive a tax break as well as declutter their drawers and closets. Go minimal!
- Access to Affordable Items for everyone: Secondhand clothing is usually much cheaper than new clothing so people with small budgets or low incomes can take advantage of the deals.
Overall, purchasing used, secondhand clothing is more environmentally sustainable than buying new clothes.
Check out your local thrift store or resale shop to see what treasures await you. You could also consider buying preowned items online at a discount at sites like: ebay, Mercari, Poshmark, depop. Click to start exploring the online preowned market: https://www.mercari.com/u/user454936557/?tracking_ref_id=m81225666609