Clothing Waste 

Did you know? On average, every Australian buys 56 items of clothing, including socks and underwear each year, most of which are made from non-sustainable, non-durable materials. This makes us among the biggest purchasers of clothing in the world. Each Australian disposes an average 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill, either here or overseas, each year. This equates to about 227,000 tonnes of discarded clothing.  

Some ways to reduce clothing waste: 

Buy FEWER Clothes 

You can buy fewer clothes by deciding to wear your existing clothes more. The most sustainable garment is the one you already own. One study has shown that the most impactful action we can take to reduce our environmental footprint in the fashion world is to wear our clothes until they are worn out. Researchers found that an item of clothing usually lasts between 100-200 wears. However, only a small amount of clothing gets that amount of use.

To help you achieve buying less, don’t go into clothes shops when you don’t need any clothes. Don’t go clothes shopping with a friend. Avoid thinking “I must buy something new for …” – look to see how you could wear what you already have. When you dress, be creative with the clothes and accessories you already have. Try mixing shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, suits with different scarves, brooches, ties, socks and whatever else has been languishing in your cupboard for a while.

Caring for your clothes 

Before discarding a stained item, try using a home-made recipe from readily available products to remove the stain. Try using a funky cloth or embroidered patch to cover a stain or small tear, or use large, attractive buttons. If the item is a favourite, let your creative juices flow and try dyeing the garment with a commercial dye or experiment with home-made dyes from onion skins, blueberries, beetroot, lemon and orange peel, spinach leaves and many more pantry items. Learning to sew can help extend the life of many clothes. 

If you need help with repairs, repair cafes are community events with volunteers helping to repair jewellery, shoes and household items. For details see Repair Cafes in Canberra.

Consider also that a garment doesn’t need to be washed after every wear – clothes will last much longer if not bashed around a washing machine too often, and will usually last a few wears before getting on the nose! Hand washing woollens, delicates and small items is much kinder, and the water can be tipped onto the garden. Drying clothes on an outside line is always gentler than drying in a dryer. 

Upcycling 

Upcycling can be achieved by sewing an appropriate patch or dyeing, You can also achieve an upcycled item by changing its purpose. For example, an oversized or faded t-shirt could be great for comfy pyjamas. An outdated skirt could be turned into an attractive apron. One of the easiest upcycling tricks is turning old jeans into shorts by cutting them with a pair of scissors – the frayed look is very in. For more see, 900+ ideas for upcycling clothing.

Source Second Hand 

Sourcing second hand is better than buying brand new clothes for several reasons. It extends the life of clothing and delays its going into landfill. It saves you money. It is better for the environment in that it reduces the oil, water and other resources required to make the new clothing. You can often find items that are unique when you look for pre-loved clothes. 

There are now many places where you can purchase pre-loved clothing. But, buying isn’t the only option. For that one-off special occasion, you might borrow an outfit from family or a friend. You could rent clothes. Another strategy is to create or participate in a clothing exchange. 

However, a word of warning. Many people walk out of charity shops with clothes they don’t really need. Ask yourself these questions before sourcing second hand clothing. Do I need it? How many times will I wear it? Is it made of quality material that will last? 

Buy Quality 

Buy quality clothes which are sourced from sustainably-produced natural fibres and animal products. There are many of these available now, thanks to technology, including hemp, silk, fine wool, leather, cotton, bamboo and soy. Buying quality is not only about choosing natural fibres as much as possible, but also being conscious of the chemicals, pesticides, and resources, including water, which are used in growing crops; chemicals in the form of softening agents and dyes; and without doubt, the exploited labour in developing countries used to produce the clothing. 

If you have decided to buy a new garment, it is a good idea to investigate where it was made, from what, by whom and its impact on the environment. Avoid fast fashion. A good place to start is to look at the manufacturer’s website and see what claims they make about the environmental impact of their clothing and their ethical considerations. Check the Ethical Fashion Guide.

Dispose Responsibly 

If you have clothes that you hardly ever wear and you have decided to dispose of them, there are several options for disposing of them responsibly. The first option that we think of is to donate to an op shop. Just remember that op shops don’t want rubbish. Another option is to donate to groups and distributors which upcycle, distribute goods directly to charities such as Givit, or distribute clothes which they know will be used in our local community. Another option is to sell your unwanted clothes at a second-hand market or online. You can also contribute garments to a local Facebook clothes exchange. 

If you have clothes that are not suitable for donating or selling, you could turn old clothes into bags to replace plastic bags. Old clothes can be used for cleaning. You can also use clothes made of natural fibres in your garden to stop weeds, instead of using newspapers and cardboard. Rather than zip ties or other plastic fasteners in the garden, you can cut cotton, linen or other natural-fibre clothing into strips and use them as ties.