Save the planet, recycle your unwanted clothes

The rise of super affordable clothes in many high street shops means that the winter party season can mean a whole new wardrobe – but what about all the other garments that are already filling them? Do you ever purge your closets, and do you even stop to wonder what happens to your clothes when they leave the comfort of your bedroom?

The textile industry (which comprises not just clothes but also household and office furnishings and even vehicle upholstery) is a $1 trillion worldwide business. Think of all the litres of water that go into making one t-shirt (2,700 litres to be precise, according to worldwildlife.org); think of all the landfill space that clothes take up when thrown away; and think of all the pressure this puts on the Earth’s virgin resources.

 

Buying a new Christmas outfit should be more of a luxury than it is when you really think about how it came into being and where it will go after you have tired of it.

A staggering 60% of textiles could be reused and the unwearable 35% could go into wipers and fiber recycling. This means that only 5% needs to be discarded.

So, if you have a wardrobe clear out this season, where can you take all your old clothes? You could sell them or give them to a charity shop, or you could just take them to a textile recycling bank in a recycling center. From there, they will find new life in the second hand clothing industry and, if they are unwearable, they could end up as blankets, mattresses or even fuel.

So, why not pledge to make a change this Christmas and recycle the textiles which are no longer in your favour? Why let them just hang on in there when they could be making a difference to the bigger picture in life?

To be a part of Global Recycling Day, why not sign our petition here and join voices from across the planet in securing a better future for the world.

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