Ways to Lower Your Clothing Carbon Footprint
Fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions. It dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year. Even washing clothes releases 500 000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.
The best way to combat fashion-related waste and pollution is to change your buying habits. Here are six ways you can reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing:
1. Don’t be so quick to toss clothes out – if possible, mend or repair clothing instead of buying new.
2. To ensure your clothing lasts longer, be sure to launder on lower temperatures and line dry when you can.
3. If you must buy new clothing, select garments that are well-made and avoid synthetic materials like polyester, which releases nearly three times more carbon emissions than cotton.
4. Check out local thrift, vintage, and consignment shops for new-to-you clothes.
5. Donate, donate, donate! There are a ton of places that accept gently used clothing. And if your clothes are beyond repair, don’t toss them out – even stained or ripped garments can be recycled. Known as textile recycling, these otherwise unwearable clothing items are collected and made into other products. Locally, the University of Pittsburgh now has a few locations to collect textiles. You can read more about that on the Pitt Sustainability website.
6. Support companies that champion sustainability efforts. Before you make your next purchase, do some research: Does your favorite clothing company take sustainability seriously? If not, shop elsewhere.
2. To ensure your clothing lasts longer, be sure to launder on lower temperatures and line dry when you can.
3. If you must buy new clothing, select garments that are well-made and avoid synthetic materials like polyester, which releases nearly three times more carbon emissions than cotton.
4. Check out local thrift, vintage, and consignment shops for new-to-you clothes.
5. Donate, donate, donate! There are a ton of places that accept gently used clothing. And if your clothes are beyond repair, don’t toss them out – even stained or ripped garments can be recycled. Known as textile recycling, these otherwise unwearable clothing items are collected and made into other products. Locally, the University of Pittsburgh now has a few locations to collect textiles. You can read more about that on the Pitt Sustainability website.
6. Support companies that champion sustainability efforts. Before you make your next purchase, do some research: Does your favorite clothing company take sustainability seriously? If not, shop elsewhere.
At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com