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1. Saves you money
2. Promotes sustainable fashion
3. Saves resources
4. Reduces environmental pollution and waste
5. It helps your school/charities

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Environmental Benefits Of Buying Second Hand Clothing

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Environmental Benefits Of Buying Second Hand Clothing

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I didn't grow up buying second-hand clothing at all. I didn't pay much attention to the environmental impact of the clothes I was wearing before. That changed completely in 2016 when I watched Andrew Morgan's documentary " The True Cost" and learned about fast fashion. I now buy second-hand clothes whenever possible.

Second-hand clothes have a big positive social and environmental impact. They reduce carbon emissions, save lots of resources, water, and energy. They also prevent old clothing from ending up in landfills or incinerators.

Buying second-hand clothing is great for your wallet and the environment. You can save a lot of money and find beautiful pieces nobody is currently wearing.

The second-hand clothing industry is independent of the traditional clothing market and has been gaining a lot of traction recently, having exponential growth all around the world. You can now find affordable and stylish pieces in thrift stores, resale shops, and online marketplaces.

Buying and selling second-hand clothing is an environmentally friendly practice. It is one way to make fashion more sustainable.

The fashion industry is responsible for the huge consumption of water, energy, and natural resources. It also creates large quantities of pollution, hazardous chemicals, micro-plastics, textile waste, and greenhouse gas emissions. It is very costly to the environment when no sustainable materials or renewable resources are used.

On the other hand, the second-hand clothing industry reduces the ecological footprint of fashion. It saves resources, pesticides, and fertilizers, reduces carbon emissions, and pollution.

Here are the major environmental benefits of buying second-hand clothing.

Panaprium is proud to be 100% independent, free of any influence, and not sponsored. We carefully handpick products from brands we trust. Thank you so much for buying something through our link, as we may earn a commission that supports us.

1. Lower greenhouse gas emissions

The fashion industry lead by fast fashion is one of the largest polluters in the world. It is responsible for 10% of worldwide carbon emissions, according to the recent report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The global fashion industry emits 1.7 billion tons of CO2 each year. This represents more than all air and sea travel combined. And at the current pace, the fashion industry greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 50% by 2030.

According to the 2017 report by the American Apparel Association, each person that buys second-hand clothing can prevent more than 500 pounds of carbon emissions every year. It reduces one's water, waste, and carbon footprint by more than 80%.

Needless to say, people, in general, should rely on second-hand clothing more often. You can go to the typical flea market and other traditional resale shops, or buy online.

There are now tons of new apps and marketplaces to find stylish and affordable clothing in excellent condition.

Check out our ultimate guide on how to sell old clothes to find out the best places to shop second-hand clothing.

More often than not, consumers will wear new items only a few times before donating or selling them to the second-hand market. You can then find great well-preserved products for much less than the listed price, which is good for the environment and your wallet.

2. Keeping clothing from landfills

Buy second-hand clothing to prevent more clothes and textiles to end up in landfills or incinerators.

Fast fashion is responsible for huge amounts of textile waste each year since it started in the 1980s. Cheap, trendy, disposable clothing encourages throwaway culture among consumers.

Americans alone generated more than 16 million tons of textile waste in 2017, according to the recent report from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

This amount of waste is close to 10 times bigger than in 1960 and doubled over the last 20 years.

Only 15.2% of all textile was recycled in the U.S. in 2017. The large majority of textiles ended up in landfills to decompose or be incinerated.

"The major impact of the industry comes from ever and fast-increasing clothing consumption that has further accelerated with fast fashion since the 2000s."

- Dr. Elena Karpova, University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG) Distinguished Professor in the Department of Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (CARS)

"Today, most textiles and apparel are considered disposable, as they are considered inexpensive to produce and do not hold long-term worth. There has been economic pressure on designers and manufacturers to produce fashion faster and cheaper under a relentless demand."

- Dr. Jung E. Ha-Brookshire, University of Missouri Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in College of Human Environmental Sciences

Luckily, consumers are now becoming more conscious of the social and environmental impact their fashion habits have.

Second-hand clothing is gaining popularity again, following the reuse, repurpose, recycle, and repair philosophy of sustainable development.

Read up our article on second-hand clothing being ethical to found out how popular it has become.

Second-hand clothing is an important part of the whole fashion industry as it makes it less wasteful overall. It plays a key role in reducing fashion environmental impact.

3. Reduction of water and energy consumption

Water is not only needed to grow crops for natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and hemp but also used for dyeing and other textile manufacturing processes.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation reported in 2017 than all textile production worldwide including farming uses almost 100 billion cubic meters of water annually.

As reported by WWF, 20,000 liters of water are needed to produce one kilogram of cotton, the equivalent to a single t-shirt and jeans.

Almost 20% of the world's wastewater is produced by the fashion industry, according to the U.N. Partnership on Sustainable Fashion, 2018.

Reusing clothes is an amazing way of reducing the amount of water used for clothing production, as no new garment fabrication is necessary. Clothes with a higher lifespan that are durable and worn for a long time also have a reduced environmental impact.

The 2016 report from the Nordic Council of Ministers found out that the reuse and recycling of over 100,000 tons of used textiles save 70 million cubic meters of water by negating the production of new textiles and materials.

4. Minimizing the use of hazardous substances

Cotton is the primary raw material used in the fabrication of textile and apparel worldwide. Unfortunately, it requires a large amount of water, pesticides, and fertilizers to grow.

The production of 1 kilogram of cotton used in the apparel and textile industry for garment manufacturing requires up to 3 kilograms of chemicals.

According to the Pulse of the fashion industry report (2018) by the Global Fashion Agenda, cotton farming consumes 4% of worldwide of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers, 16% of all insecticides, and 7% of all herbicides.

These very toxic man-made chemicals pollute groundwater and waterways. Plus, they contaminate large areas of land, having a disastrous impact on ecosystems, the health of workers and communities.

It's not realistic to think that our society is going to step away from fast fashion and consumerism entirely. But new policies that encourage more second-hand shopping still have the power to reduce hazardous chemical usage considerably.

The environmental benefits of second-clothing are not negligible. The fashion industry is already doing a lot of work to reduce its environmental impact.

As consumers, we have to keep demanding transparency and openness from fashion brands and retailers to make better-informed purchasing decisions.

By shopping for more second-hand clothing, the money you spend won't go toward supporting a highly polluting fashion industry. This makes a huge difference by supporting a community of recycling and up-cycling.

Buying second-hand has become a popular trend in fashion for valid reasons. The second-hand clothing market is fast-growing and will play a major role in limiting the terrible damages that textile and garment production is causing.

The second-hand-shopping trend advances sustainability in the whole fashion industry by reducing the production of new clothes. It creates a more regenerative and circular textile economy.

Marketplaces allowing you to buy and sell your old used clothes are now numerous on the internet. Poshmark, ThredUp, Depop, Tradesy, and many more are becoming very popular for their humongous selection of second-hand clothes and accessories.

What are your recommended places to shop for second-hand clothing?

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

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Environmental Benefits Of Buying Second Hand Clothing

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I didn't grow up buying second-hand clothing at all. I didn't pay much attention to the environmental impact of the clothes I was wearing before. That changed completely when I learned about fast fashion. I now buy second-hand whenever possible.

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The fast fashion graveyard in Chile's Atacama Desert - BBC News

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The fast fashion graveyard in Chile's Atacama Desert - BBC News

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The fast fashion graveyard in Chile's Atacama Desert - BBC News

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360k tonnes of reusable clothes are dumped in landfill each year

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360k tonnes of reusable clothes are dumped in landfill each year

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As we launch the Wear Care Share project, stats show many items we bin could be recycled or reused by someone else

Author: Mick Coyle Published 21st Feb 2022
Last updated 23rd Feb 2022

"I'm not wearing that old thing!"

How many times do you say that when deciding what you're going to wear on a night out?

Ahead of Global Recycling Day in March, Greatest Hits Radio is taking a look at the stats and facts behind the UK's obsession with buying new clothes.

And we'll tell you how you can play your part in making sure your old items don't go to waste with our Wear Care Share project.

Fast fashion facts

The boom in fast fashion has meant high street and online stores now sell super cheap clothes with a designer look... but what's the real price we're having to pay?

One survey found young people consider an item to be "old" after it's been worn once or twice, and one in seven said it was a "fashion faux-pas" to be photographed in the same item twice.

Environmental impact

It's not just our pockets and wardrobes that are impacted by the explosion in disposable fashion, there are environmental factors too:

Fashion sits fourth in a list of the worst industries for environmental impact, behind transport, housing and food.

At the current rate, more than 25% of global carbon emissions will come from creating textiles by 2050.

35% of ocean plastic is thought to come from washing clothing like polyester.

Cotton production accounts for up to a quarter of insecticide use worldwide.

87% of the total input into the textile industry currently ends up in landfill or an incinerator.

A report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation said $500bn was being wasted each year because we aren't reusing, recycling or repurposing clothes well enough.

Making a change

Clothing manufacturers are slowly starting to change the way they produce items, with many high street and online retailers developing "sustainable" fashion items that come from responsibly sourced locations.

LISTEN: The So You Want to Save the Planet Podcast investigates fashion's impact on climate change

While this is a step in the right direction, others accuse them of "greenwashing" which means to make a lot of noise about a small environmental policy, while actually continuing to pursue practices that are bad for the environment.

Consumers are changing too:

81% of recipients to one survey said if brands make it easier to reuse or recycle their products or packaging they'd be more likely to make a purchase.

16-34 year olds are 39% more likely to by a second hand item than some aged 35-64.

More than one in five people in Europe has used an online clothes rental platform.

Half of fashion buyers in Europe also thought manufacturers should do more to help consumers repair clothing when required.

National Recycling Manager Peter Page, from Textiles Recycling International, speaks to Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle about fast-fashion and clothes going into landfill

Wear Care Share

Ahead of Global Recycling Day Cash for Kids is working with Textile Recycling International to encourage textile recycling to launch Wear Care Share.

Our charity, which raises money for disadvantaged children, is looking to recycle textiles and clothing that might have ended up going into landfill.

For every tonne collected Cash for Kids will receive £400 to help us continue supporting children in our community who need it.

Schools, businesses and organisations can sign up now as a drop-off point

75% of donated items will be reused.

22% will be recycled into things like insulation and underlay.

The remaining 3% is turned into fuel which can be used to generate energy.

To find out more go to the Wear Care Share page on greatesthitsradio.co.uk
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.

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360k tonnes of reusable clothes are dumped in landfill each year

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Cash for Kids looks at the environmental impact of fast fashion at the launch of Wear Care Share for Global Recycling Day

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10 Stunning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics

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10 Stunning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics

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The extremely -detrimental impact of fast fashion waste on the environment is no news. Besides being responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, the industry is also infamously known for the amount of resources it wastes and the millions of clothes ending up in landfills every day. Here are 10 highly concerning statistics about textile waste.
10 Statistics About Fast Fashion Waste

1. 92 million tonnes of textiles waste is produced every year

Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. To put things in perspective, this means that the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second . If the trend continues, the number of fast fashion waste is expected to soar up to 134 million tonnes a year by the end of the decade.

2. The apparel industry's global emissions will increase by 50% by 2030

If a business-as-usual scenario prevails in the coming years - meaning that no action is taken to reduce fast fashion waste - the industry's global emissions will likely double by the end of the decade.

3. The average US consumer throws away 81.5lbs of clothes every year

In America alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste - equivalent to 85% of all textiles - end up in landfills on a yearly basis. That's equivalent to approximately (37 kilograms) per person per year and around 2,150 pieces per second countrywide.

4. The number of times a garment is worn has declined by around 36% in 15 years

The throwaway culture has worsen progressively over the years. At present, many items are worn only seven to ten times before being tossed. That's a decline of more than 35% in just 15 years.

5. The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global waste water

Dyeing and finishing - the processes by which colour and other chemicals are applied to fabrics - are responsible for 3% of global CO2 emissions as well as over 20% of global water pollution. Along with yarn preparation and fibre production, these two processes have the highest impacts on resource depletion , due to the energy-intensive processes based on fossil fuel energy.

6. It takes 20,000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of cotton

Besides being a huge source of water pollution, fast fashion also contributes to massive quantities of water being wasted every day. If this is difficult to picture, just think that about 2,700 litres of water are needed to make just one t-shirt, which would be enough for one person to drink for 900 days. Moreover, a single load of washing uses between 50 and 60 litres of water.
You might also like: Is Hong Kong's Avant-Garde Textile Recycling Facility a Real Solution to Fast Fashion Problems?
7. $500 billion is lost each year because of under-wearing and failure to recycle clothes

The worst aspect of our reckless thrown-away culture is that the vast majority of clothes being tossed each year is not recycled. Globally, just 12% of the material used for clothing ends up being recycled. Much of the problem comes down to the materials our clothes are made from and inadequate technologies to recycle them. "The fabrics we drape over our bodies are complex combinations of fibres, fixtures and accessories. They are made from problematic blends of natural yarns, man-made filaments, plastics and metals."

8. Nearly 10% of microplastics dispersed in the ocean each year come from textiles

Garments are a huge source of microplastics because so many are now made of nylon or polyester, both durable and cheap. Each wash and dry cycle, especially the latter, sheds microfilaments that move through our sewage systems and end up in waterways. It is estimated that half a million tons of these contaminants reach the ocean each year. That's the equivalent to the plastic pollution of more than 50 billion bottles.

9. 2.6 million tonnes of returned clothes ended up in landfills in 2020 in the US alone

Most of the items returned to retailers from consumers end up in landfill. This is mainly because it costs more to the company to put them back in circulation than to get rid of them. Reverse logistics company Optoro also estimates that in the same year, 16 million tonnes of CO2 emissions were created by online returns in the US in 2020 - the equivalent to the emissions of 3.5 million cars on the road for a year.

10. Fast fashion brands are producing twice the amount of clothes today than in 2000

This dramatic increase in production has also caused an increase in both pre- and post-production textile waste . Due to the number of cut outs for the clothing, a large number of materials get wasted as they cannot be used any further, with one study estimating that 15% of fabric used in garment manufacturing is wasted. Post-production, 60% of approximately 150 million garments produced globally in 2012 were discarded just a few years after production.

What Can I Do?

1. On A Personal Level

Ways to approach climate action within our personal lives (hint - it evolves personal action but is not focused on small behavioural changes, which whilst worthwhile will not get us there):

Joining a community can be one of the best ways to increase your impact.

First, it can enable you to make hundreds of connections in one go.

Second, a group of people working together can have more impact than individuals. If you are not already, take action by becoming an to support our mission to encourage a billion climate activists.

If you're a younger read ask your parents to take action by bringing your whole family on board as a Family Member.

Reflect on the concept of Effective Altruism , a project that aims to find the best ways to help others, and put them into practice.

Ways to approach climate action within the workplace:

Maintain your career path but consider donating a portion of your income to organisations that are focused on achieving meaningful & impactful goals and call out your boss if the company or organisation you work for does not have clear policies that will result in reduced harm to the environment and a pathway to Net Zero.

Ask your boss to support EO by bringing the whole team onboard with EO company membership - and take action together.

Reconsider your career path, with excellent advice .

Research for this article was conducted by Earth.Org research contributor Chloe Lam You might also like: Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact
3. On A Political Level

Ways to approach climate action as a voter or political actor (even if you can't vote):

Protest - make your feelings known - become a vocal and passionate advocate with friends and family (without being over pushy) of the need for climate action. We need a billion activists to turn this ship around.

Join organisations that are organising climate actions and protests locally, whether in your city, district, or even at school.

Vote (if you can) for politicians who will champion effective climate action by governments.

Vote for parties or organisations that espouse self-reform and the adoption of ' Ministers of the Future ' into government.

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10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics | Earth.Org

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Besides being responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, the fashion industry is also infamously known for the amount of resources it wastes and the trash it produces. Here are 10 highly concerning statistics about fast fashion waste.

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The rise of fast fashion is largely behind the growing amounts of clothing we buy and throw away each year (Credit: Press Association)

Fast fashion is leading to a mountain of clothing being thrown away each year and has a huge impact on the environment, so can we turn our unwanted garments into something useful?

Open your wardrobe and be honest. How long was it since you last wore some of those clothes? Do you think it might be time for a clear out?

Languishing in the back of cupboards and bottom of drawers are outfits that don't fit any more, items that have gone out of fashion, or even clothes that have never been worn. In fact, according to research conducted by sociologist Sophie Woodward at the University of Manchester, on average 12% of clothes in the wardrobes of women she studied could be considered "inactive".

If you were brutal, you'll probably manage to fill a bin-bag or two with clothes you no longer want or need. But what then?

Around 85% of all textiles thrown away in the US - roughly 13 million tonnes in 2017 - are either dumped into landfill or burned. The average American has been estimated to throw away around 37kg of clothes every year. And globally, an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste is created each year and the equivalent to a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second. By 2030, we are expected as a whole to be discarding more than 134 million tonnes of textiles a year.

Millions of tonnes of clothing, shoes and other textiles end up in landfill every year because very little is sent for recycling (Credit: Alamy)

"The current fashion system uses high volumes of non-renewable resources, including petroleum, extracted to produce clothes that are often used only for a short period of time, after which the materials are largely lost to landfill or incineration," says Chetna Prajapati, who studies ways of making sustainable textiles at Loughborough University in the UK.

"This system puts pressure on valuable resources such as water, pollutes the environment and degrades ecosystems in addition to creating societal impacts on a global scale."

There are good reasons to seek out alternatives to chucking clothes in the bin - globally the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, with textile production alone is estimated to release 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every year. Vast amounts of water are also needed to produce the clothes we wear too and the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global waste water. ( Read more about the impact our fashion addiction has on the planet.)

At the same time we are buying more clothes than ever - the average consumer now buys 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago. More than two tonnes of clothing are bought each minute in the UK, more than any other country in Europe. Globally, around 56 million tonnes of clothing are bought each year, and this is expected to rise to 93 million tonnes by 2030 and 160 million tonnes by 2050.

While most clothes with care will last many years, changing fashions mean their lifespan is artificially shortened by consumers changing tastes. Industry figures suggest modern clothing will have a lifespan of between 2-10 years - with underwear and t-shirts lasting just one to two years, while suits and coats last for around four to six years.

Would recycling our clothes help to reduce the toll our fashion addiction has on the environment?

Currently just 13.6% of clothes and shoes thrown away in the US end up being recycled - while the average American throws away 37kg of clothes every year. Globally just 12% of the material used for clothing ends up being recycled. Compare that to paper, glass and plastic PET bottles - which have recycling rates of 66%, 27% and 29% respectively in the US - and it is clear clothing lags behind.

Indeed, most of the recycled polyester being used now by leading fashion brands in fact comes from bottles rather than old clothing.

Much of the problem comes down to what our clothes are made from. The fabrics we drape over our bodies are complex combinations of fibres, fixtures and accessories. They are made from problematic blends of natural yarns, mand-made filaments, plastics and metals.

"For example, a 100% cotton t-shirt contains many other components such as labels and sewing threads which are usually made from another material like polyester," says Prajapati. "Similarly, a typical pair of jeans are made from cotton yarn which is generally blended with elastane, and other components such as zips and buttons and polyester sewing thread and dyed using a range of dyes."

Sorting clothing by hand is a time consuming task made more complicated by the many blends of man-made and natural fibres used in modern garments (Credit: Getty Images)

This makes them hard to separate so they can be effectively recycled. Sorting textiles into different fibres and material types by hand is labour intensive, slow and requires a skilled workforce. Growing use of modern fabric blends in clothing also makes it hard to do this mechanically too, although European researchers have been developing techniques that make use of hyperspectral cameras - which can see light beyond the limits of human vision - to better identify different fabric types. Once sorted, the dyes that have been applied to the fabrics need to be removed in order for yarns to be reused.

Currently, however, very few of the clothes that are sent to be recycled are actually turned into new clothing - a process known as "material to material" recycling. Old wool jumpers, for example, can be turned into carpets, cashmere can be recycled into suits. But as of 2015, less than 1% of used clothing was recycled in this way.

While of course there is a healthy market in second-hand clothes being sold online, perhaps the most popular way of disposing of old clothes is simply to give them away so they can be reused through charity shops. Increasingly, however, clothes donations are being used as a way of simply passing on the textile waste problem to others.

At Oxfam's Wastesaver clothes sorting and recycling plant in Batley, Yorkshire, UK, 80 tonnes of old clothes pass through the factory every week. Lorraine Needham Reid, Oxfam's Wastesaver manager, has worked at the plant for over 10 years. Over that time, however, she has seen a real decline in the quality of clothes that are reaching them, particularly when it comes to the materials used to make the clothes.

These days, most of what reaches Wastesaver will end up never being worn again. Over a third - 35% of the clothes - go to Oxfam's partners in Senegal to be sold. Between 1-3% go back into Oxfam shops around the UK to be re-sold.

The majority is sent for recycling in some way, but about six tonnes of the garments are of such poor quality they are simply torn up so they can be used as industrial cleaning clothes and stuffing for mattresses or car seats.

Fibre recycling technologies do exist, but they are only used on a small scale. Generally, the techniques can be separated into mechanical and chemical recycling.

"Blends are most suitable for mechanical fibre recycling, where fabrics are shredded and pulled to transform them into fibres of shorter length," says Prajapati. Shorter fibre length produces fabrics of lower quality and strength, so the results from this kind of recycling can't be used for clothing. Instead these tend to then be "downcycled" to produce other composite fibre materials such as thermal insulation or carpet for use in the building industry. Some researchers have found ways of creating noise insulation from old textile fibres.

Chemical fibre recycling for fabrics with large quantities of one type of fibre, for example polyester and nylon are well established, says Prajapati. "However, they consist of multiple processes and additional chemicals, making the process and resulting yarn or fabric costly," she says.

Treating cotton-polyester blends with enzymes from fungi can recover the man-made fibres for reuse (Credit: Getty Images)

There has been success on a smaller scale to effectively separate natural and synthetic blends and capture both types of fibres, without losing either fibre in the process. However, scaling up this technology to an industrial scale remains the challenge.

One group of researchers led by Carol Lin, a chemical engineer at the City University of Hong Kong, has developed a technique for recycling fabrics made from cotton and polyester blends by feeding them to fungi. The fungi Aspergillus niger - which typically forms a black mould on grapes - produces an enzyme that can break down the cotton into glucose that can then be used turned into syrup. The remaining pure polyester fibres can then be reused to make new clothing, they claim. Poly-cotton blends are now among the most popular fabrics for use in cheap clothing, commonly used in t-shirts, shirts and even jeans.

Lin and her team have since refined the process so it can be done on a larger scale using industrially produced cellulose enzymes, and have been working with the clothing retailer H&M to examine what impact this recycling process might have on its textile waste.

Austrian researchers have also developed techniques using enzymes that allow them to turn old wool clothing into a material that can be used as a resin or adhesive.

But if we ever hope to make our clothing sustainable, more fundamental changes to the clothing industry will need to be made. Fabrics, fibres and garments will need to be designed in ways that make them easier to recover and recycle.

"Recycling needs to be incorporated into the current system to make it more circular," says Prajapati. "Therefore, the way we design clothes needs to change, it needs to facilitate recycling."

One option is to create new types of materials altogether, from different sources, that either won't have the same impact on the environment or might be easier to recycle. Some are even looking at turning other types of waste - such as off milk - into clothing.

When milk turns sour, it separates into whey at the bottom and protein flakes on top. When you remove the whey, you are left with a kind of cottage cheese.

"This cottage cheese is put into a machine that works like a noodle machine," says Anke Domaske, founder of QMilk, a company that has been developing new types of biodegradable fibres in Hemmingen, Germany. "Together with water you create a dough. At the end there is a spinneret with holes so fine that you do not end up with noodles, but fine fibres that are thinner than hair."

The company then spins these fibres into yarns, which it says have a silk-like texture. These can then be used to make jersey or woven fabrics, or other textiles like felt. Crucially, when a garment made completely from QMilk fibres is no longer wanted, it can simply be composted at home, Domaske says.

QMilk isn't the only company creating textiles from unusual sources.

The dye that is added to clothing also needs to be removed before it the yarn can be recycled (Credit: Getty Images)

After working for years at a design company in Germany, Renana Krebs saw behind the scenes how poor the textiles and clothing industry is for the environment. She vowed to do something about it and in 2016, she started Algalife, making fibres and dyes from algae.

Algae is already widely used in the beauty industry, in certain foods and it is used to make biofuels. "After learning about all those industries, and the benefits that we get from algae, we asked 'why not to do this for textiles?'" says Krebs.

One benefit is the algae are harvested in a closed system, meaning there is no freshwater used in the process at all. All the algae need to grow is water and sunlight. By extracting natural colourings from different types of algae, Krebs and her team have been able to combine these with enzymes and fixative agents - which help to bind the pigment to a fabric - from synthetic and natural sources, including oak galls, pomegranate rind and juniper needles.

They have also been able to produce fibres that can turned into yarns by purifying proteins from the algae or even using them to produce a bio-oil that can be turned into bioplastic fibres.

Prajapati has also been working with colleagues at De Montfort University to produce enzymes that could potentially make the clothes dying process more sustainable.

Currently most textiles are coloured using synthetic dyes, which are petroleum derivatives, and patterned with complex processes. These processes can require temperatures of up to 100C for cotton, nylon and wool, but higher for polyester and other synthetic fibres. On top of this, the process requires high pressures, long processing times and the use of additional chemicals such as acids and alkalis, which are harmful towards the environment in large quantities.

Prajapati and her colleagues have been developing processes that use enzymes so that textile dyes and patterning of fabrics can be done temperatures as low as 50C, at atmospheric pressure and pH conditions around neutral without the use of additional chemicals.

"The key advantages over conventional methods include simpler processing of textiles, the elimination of pre-manufactured dyes and opportunities for multiple colours to be achieved through simple alteration of processing conditions," she says.

Pigments made by Algalife have similar benefits, plus the added benefit of being created from renewable sources, says Krebs. You can even drink the dye they produce, she says. Algalife is now working with a major retail fashion brand and hope to have clothes made from algae in stores by 2021.

Other major brands across the fashion industry are starting to pay attention to the demand for more sustainable practices. Companies like Adidas, that recently announced a range of trainers made from ocean plastic. High street retailer Zara also announced in 2019 that it would be using only sustainable materials by 2025.

The shredding process used by mechanical recycling methods leads to shorter, weaker fibres that cannot be resued to make clothes (Credit: Alamy)

"Using recycled, rather than virgin, materials offers an opportunity to drastically reduce non-renewable resource inputs and the negative impacts of the industry, like CO2 emissions, water and chemical use," says Prajapati.

But some are sceptical about how committed some large brands are to sustainability, accusing them of "greenwashing", which the companies deny.

Zara was one of the original inventors of the fast fashion system as we know it, says Clare Press, Australian Vogue's sustainability editor-at-large and author of the book Wardrobe Crisis. "Let's not pretend people shop at Zara for heirlooms to pass down through the generations," she says. "In the last 20 years the fashion system has changed completely, moving away from seasonal drops towards near-instant gratification. Waiting six months for a runway look seems crazy to a new generation of fashion fans raised on Instagram and 'see now, buy now'."

So while recycling and more sustainable fabrics will be a key part of the solution, consumers too will need to change their behaviour if we hope to lessen the impact that the fashion industry is having on our planet.

"We need to slow down, take a little time to reconnect with our clothes and appreciate them again," says Press. "Remember that whatever you are wearing, it took both physical and creative resources to make it."

If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called "The Essential List". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife, and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

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Fast fashion is leading to a mountain of clothing being thrown away each year and has a huge impact on the environment, so can we turn our unwanted garments into something useful?

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Facts on Clothes Recycling – Clothes Aid

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The UK could save around £3billion per year from the cost of the resources we use to make and clean clothes if we changed the way we supplied, used and disposed of clothing. This would reduce the carbon, water and waste footprints of clothing consumption by 10-20% each. Being part of the Wrap 2020 C…

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New to buying used? 5 Benefits of buying secondhand

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New to buying used? 5 Benefits of buying secondhand

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When it comes to shopping for things like clothes, toys, furniture and more, oftentimes and unfortunately, the go-to tends to be buying them new. The convenience of running out to a big-box store and picking up these items can be tempting. But at what cost? Not only does buying new typically cost you more money, but the environment is also paying a high price to produce those new items. If you're new to buying used and are unsure if it's right for you, we break down the benefits of buying secondhand here.

1. Saving money

One of the most obvious and well-known benefits of buying secondhand is the cost savings. You can often find secondhand goods up to 50% cheaper than you could if you were buying new. When you consider that Americans spend over a trillion dollars annually on nonessential goods, those savings can add up.

Whether you're shopping for clothes, furniture, musical instruments, or most anything, you'll be able to find quality items at lower prices than if you bought them brand new. You can also find name brand clothing, shoes, purses, and more for a fraction of the cost. Who doesn't want to get designer items at a discount? As an added bonus, by spending less, your dollar goes further.

2. Helping the environment and preserving natural resources

When you think about the resources that go into creating new products, it isn't just the labor and materials. Energy and natural resources go into creating the packaging that typically accompanies the new product. Each product that is manufactured is responsible for some level of depletion of natural resources. Whether that's excavating oil, mining metals, clearcutting forests, farming cotton, or pumping water. For instance, did you know it takes 1,800 gallons of water on average to make a pair of jeans?

Not only does buying used reduce the number of natural resources being used, it also reduces the amount of energy used and pollution that's being emitted. Things like pesticides, burning fuel in the trucks that haul the items, toxic chemicals and carbon emissions. For example, when it comes to textiles and clothing, about 50% of energy input to the textile industry is lost onsite. And manufacturing new furniture generates 100 times more greenhouse gases as refinishing does.

Buying secondhand goods means that the energy and natural resources that went into creating those goods have already been used. So, you're not creating a demand for new items that require additional energy or deplete even more natural resources.

Last but certainly not least, when you buy used you're giving those items a second life and saving them from being thrown out. Too often people think of waste reduction and recycling in terms of bottles, cans, and plastics when the reality is our wardrobes and other household items are big contributors to what ends up in the trash.

3. No packaging

Have you ever bought something new, only to get it home and try to open it but there's so much plastic to try and cut through? Or perhaps you ordered something new online and between the cardboard and packing peanuts it's hard to find the actual item you purchased? New products typically have some sort of packaging associated with them and not all of that material is recyclable.

A benefit of buying secondhand goods is that you don't have any of that waste or mess. The items you buy used won't come with all of the unnecessary packaging that typically just gets thrown away or takes a crowbar to open. You can start enjoying your new-to-you items, packaging-free.

4. Supporting local businesses

Whether you're buying from a thrift store, consignment shop, vintage store, your neighbor who posted secondhand goods on social media, or a pop-up market down the street, the dollars you spend stay in the neighborhood and aren't off to the nearest big-box store's headquarters.

In fact, thrift stores are often a fundraising extension of a non-profit. So not only can you feel good about saving money and the environment, depending on where you shop, you'll also be supporting local causes.

But buying used isn't just about supporting your budget, non-profits and the planet, you're also supporting local businesses and helping your local economy. The mom-and-pop shops likely want, need and appreciate your business more. Not to mention, they're likely using the dollars you spend and investing them back into their store or supporting other businesses in the area.

5. Finding unique items

Now that you know the big benefits of buying secondhand, it's time for the really fun part! Half of the fun of thrift shopping, browsing consignment shops, or venturing into a vintage store is the thrill of the hunt. Whether you're searching for a new outfit to wear for date night, a fun piece of furniture for your house, your next must-read book or games for your kids, you'll find unique, sometimes hard-to-find items.

When you buy new, you're typically choosing from mass-produced items that you and your neighbors might all have. Why be like everyone else? Beyond the obvious benefits of buying used, you get the added bonus of owning items that you won't find just anywhere. Imagine scoring a great armchair that's perfect for reading all of your used books in, but maybe the fabric isn't your favorite or could use a little facelift. By reupholstering secondhand furniture finds, or making DIY projects out of the used goods you buy, you're creating pieces that are one-of-a-kind.

Related Reading: The 10 Best Things to Buy Used

Now that you know the benefits of buying secondhand goods, we hope you'll consider it the next time you're out shopping. And don't forget, it goes beyond just your local thrift shop. There are a lot of different ways to buy used, including consignment, pop-up markets, online sale sites, flea markets, vintage stores, and more. You'll want to find one that matches your preferred shopping style and habits.

You can use our Choose to Reuse Shopping Tool for suggestions

Remember, if you're new to buying used, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Start small and work your way up. We know there are some items you'll continue to buy new, and that's okay. Every item you buy used is a step in the right direction and before you know it, you'll be living a zero-waste lifestyle ... or just a regular lifestyle that prioritizes reuse, either one is great!

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New to buying used? 5 Benefits of buying secondhand

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When it comes to shopping for things like clothes, toys, furniture and more, oftentimes and unfortunately, the go-to tends to be buying them new. The convenience of running out to a big-box store and picking up these items can be tempting. But at what cost?

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Why Buying Secondhand Clothing is Awesome

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Why Buying Secondhand Clothing is Awesome

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Why Buying Secondhand Clothing is Awesome

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Buying secondhand clothing has a lot of benefits, such as helping you save money and help the environment. Check out this post to learn some more reasons why buying secondhand clothes is awesome!

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10 Reasons Why Buying Second-Hand Clothes is Better For You and the Planet

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10 Reasons Why Buying Second-Hand Clothes is Better For You and the Planet

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As more and more people are waking up to the severe environmental impacts of the fast fashion industry, people around the world are searching for more sustainable ways to shop. This has led to a huge (and very well deserved!) surge in popularity for second-hand clothes - and we are absolutely here for it!

Buying second-hand fashion has so many benefits that ripple far beyond your own wardrobe. Not only does it provide the opportunity for you to find unique items, experiment with your personal style and discover absolute bargains, it also promotes a more sustainable and circular future for the fashion industry. A pretty good combination, right?

So, whether you are looking for ways to buy more sustainably or are looking to add some individuality to your wardrobe, here are our top 10 reasons why buying second hand clothes is better for both you and the planet:

1. Buying Second-Hand Clothes Keeps Items in Circulation

First things first, buying second-hand clothes helps to keep them in circulation for much longer. This means it's not just good for you, it's also better for the planet.

The fashion industry is extremely wasteful and according to WRAP, an estimated £140 million worth of clothes are sent to landfill each year in the UK alone. What's worse is that many people in the UK have admitted to throwing away perfectly good clothes after just a few wears .

We can all play a part when it comes to promoting a more sustainable fashion industry, and one of the best ways to keep clothes out of landfill and reduce their impact is to keep them in circulation for longer. In fact, keeping clothes in use for just an extra 9 months can reduce their carbon, water and waste footprint by 20-30%.

Buying second-hand clothes is a super simple and effective way to extend their active lifespan, keep them in circulation and out of landfill. It's a win-win!

2. It Saves You Money

Buying clothes second-hand costs way less than buying new all the time. Over time, this can lead to a considerable amount of savings.

It's important to remember that just because second-hand clothes are cheaper, it doesn't mean they are bad quality - most of the time, it's actually the opposite. Shopping second-hand clothes often present the opportunity to find high-quality clothes without the premium price tag. Plus, clothes being worn to death and then sold on is a total misconception of second-hand clothes shopping.

The reality is, many people only wear fast fashion items a handful of times before they are ready to let go of them and get something new. This means that second-hand fashion stores like us here at often list items that are as good as new. Some even still have the tags on them!

3. You can discover unique items that you'll love

One of the best things about shopping for second-hand clothes is the opportunities it provides to discover unique items that no one else has. Part of the fun is in the hunt, searching through one-of-a-kind items until you find the perfect one for you.

Whether it's a vintage coat or a shirt from a few seasons back, buying pre-loved fashion will help you add a unique twist to your wardrobe rather than having hangers filled with the same fast fashion items that everyone else is wearing.

4. Buying second-hand clothes can support good causes

Can you think of anything better than finding your favourite clothes for cheaper while supporting causes you care about at the same time? We promise it's not too good to be true!

At , we have made it easier than ever to refresh your wardrobe and support good causes at the same time. Every time we sell an item of clothing, a proportion of the sale goes to supporting environmental organizations . This means that you can feel good knowing your purchase is not only keeping a garment in circulation but supporting a great cause at the same time.

5. Shopping second-hand helps to promote a circular fashion industry

Have you ever heard of circular fashion ? Throughout this post, we have talked a lot about how second-hand fashion keeps items in circulation for longer. That's exactly what circular fashion is all about.

Currently, fast fashion operates on a take-make-waste model that results in a truckload of textiles going to waste every single second. Instead, circular fashion promotes the idea of keeping things in circulation for as long as possible and disposing of them responsibly at the end of use, either by composting or recycling them into new items (whenever it is possible to do so!).

Despite the fact that not many clothes are currently designed with the principles of circular fashion in mind, supporting the second-hand fashion industry is a great way to keep clothes in circulation for as long as possible.

6. Finding second-hand clothes can be more fun

Shopping for second-hand fashion can be so much more exciting than buying new!

Whether you are searching online, in a thrift store, or charity shop, you never know what hidden gems you could find. On the other hand, fast fashion brands tend to follow the same seasonal trends and styles, which can result in a lot of repetition and very little opportunity for individuality.

If you are completely new to shopping for second-hand fashion, then you can look forward to the thrill of finding unique clothes that you love for a fraction of the price. With , browsing through second-hand clothes is super easy with the ability to search, sort and filter through the thousands of items available.

Plus, you might even find clothes that you could never have dreamed of along the way to add some fresh new looks to your wardrobe.

7. It is better for the environment than buying new

Not many people are aware of the impact that their clothes have on the environment. The sad truth is, the fast fashion industry is extremely resource-intensive and is often identified as one of the most polluting industries in the world.

Fabrics such as polyester and nylon are created from petroleum, and according to the Council of Fashion Designers of America , over 346 million barrels of oil are used each year to produce them. Cotton is another material that requires a vast amount of natural resources to produce. A highly water-intensive crop, some studies suggest that it takes approximately 2,700 litres of water to produce just one cotton t-shirt.

Choosing to buy second-hand fashion not only reduces the number of clothes that end up in landfills, but it also means you are doing your part to reduce the pressure for new fabrics and clothes created by the fashion industry.

When more people vote with their wallets by supporting alternatives to fast fashion, this will go a long way to lowering the demand for natural resources within the fashion industry in the long run.

8. Shopping for second-hand clothes is easier than ever

In recent years, shopping for second-hand clothes has become increasingly popular. As a result, it has become easier than ever before to find clothes that you love for less!

Online second-hand stores such as make it simple for you to browse thousands of items without spending hours rooting through consignment or charity shops. Thanks to our speedy shipping options, the items you love will be with you in just a matter of days. If they don't quite work for you - that's no problem at all. You can send anything back for free for a no-quibble refund; it's really that simple.

9. It can help you to develop your own personal style

One of the best things about shopping for second-hand clothes is its ability to help you develop your personal style!

When you browse second-hand fashion, you are way more likely to try different styles spanning years of trends that otherwise you may never have been aware of. This gives you the opportunity to be creative with your fashion choices and reimagine styles and combinations that you may not have tried in the past.

For those of you that are feeling extra creative, second-hand clothes can provide a great basis for upcycling projects to bring your own fashion creations to life.

10. Buying second-hand clothes make you feel good

Although finding new clothes that fit you well and make you feel good can be a great feeling, knowing you are making a better choice by the environment and creating a positive impact at the same time makes buying second-hand clothes feel even better!

Awareness of the environmental and social downfalls of the fashion industry has grown significantly in recent years. As a result, many people now feel guilty after buying new fast fashion. Thankfully, when you opt-in for buying clothes second-hand as an alternative to buying new you can alleviate these unpleasant feelings of guilt and anxiety completely.

Are you ready to experience the many benefits of second-hand fashion for yourself?

We really hope these 10 reasons have inspired you to give second-hand fashion a try. There is no doubt in our minds that when you try it once, you will be hooked - just like we were!

Knowing that you are making a better choice for not only your personal style and your bank balance but the planet as well truly makes second-hand clothes shopping an incomparable experience when searching for new pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Trust us - you'll feel so much better in your new outfits knowing that you are supporting a more ethical and sustainable future for the fashion industry!

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10 Reasons Why Buying Second-Hand Clothes is Better For You and the Planet

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Buying second-hand clothes has a number of benefits, not just for your wardrobe but for the planet! From saving money to keeping clothes out of landfill, here are our top 10 reasons why buying second-hand clothes is better in every single way!

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Patagonia: Billionaire boss gives fashion firm away to fight climate change

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Patagonia: Billionaire boss gives fashion firm away to fight climate change

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Daniel Thomas & Noor NanjiBusiness reporters, BBC News

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Patagonia: Billionaire boss gives fashion firm away to fight climate change

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Yvon Chouinard will give all of the fashion company’s profits to a charity fighting climate change.