Are the clothes you are wearing really "innocuous" to the environment?
Are the clothes you are wearing really "innocuous" to the environment?
One simple way that savings help reduce future climate change risks is to limit new purchases and prolong the "life" of your wardrobe, according to Bloomberg.
According to a 2017 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, this can reduce clothing-related environmental risks to 44%. The results of the study were also later supported by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), which emphasized that limiting the purchase of new clothes can significantly prevent emissions generated during the production process. of the apparel industry.
According to Bloomberg, global clothing sales are skyrocketing. People are buying more, even when they don't really need them.
“Sales are increasing as people want to buy more clothes. There's no denying these huge numbers," said Laura Balmond, Head of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Fashion Initiatives.
In fact, the fashion industry is indirectly polluting the environment by accounting for between 2% and 8% of carbon emissions globally. The mass production of polyester, a staple in the apparel industry, also contributes to the release of plastic microfibres and increased waste in landfills. Currently, less than 1% old clothes have been collected for recycling.
Sales are increasing as people want to buy more clothes
One idea that is attracting the attention of apparel corporations is called “cyclicality,” a term that refers to the reuse, resale or recycling of products to extend their lifespan. This business model is being encouraged to expand and develop to contribute to environmental protection.
After hosting a “Worn Wear” event for customers to bring in their old coats for repair or exchange for new ones, Patagonia launched the brand on the online marketplace in 2017 to expand its green program chain. The following year, North Face piloted a similar program called Renewed to resell its used items. In addition, the market for reselling third-party clothes is also very active, such as Sellpy, Depop, The RealReal and ThredUp.
According to a report in early 2022 by ThredUp, the second-hand market has expanded from about 11 billion USD in 2012 to 35 billion USD in 2021, and is expected to reach 82 billion USD in 2026.
Second-hand clothing rental campaigns have also been launched by many brands, such as Take Rent the Runway, an online clothing rental website launched in 2009. The business has been expanding steadily over the years. next, with a lot of rich and diverse items. Last October, this company was also officially listed on the stock exchange. However, despite the high revenue in the first months of 2022, Rent the Runway still lost $ 42.5 million in the first quarter.
“We have a lot of stories about periodicity. The focus should be on limiting the amount of clothing produced. They are too much and sometimes we buy and don't wear them,'' said Veronica Bates Kassosystem, independent fashion analyst.
While the majority of emissions come from manufacturing processes, the use of energy for washing and drying also has a negative impact on the environment.
Several studies have shown that most people will throw away their clothes after wearing them 7 to 10 times. Does anyone wonder, how many times each piece of clothing should be worn: 60, 100 or 200?
According to Jin Su, associate professor in the Department of Consumer, Clothing and Retail Studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, "it's hard to give a specific number because the target will vary depending on the type of clothing and fabric material''.
An example of this is probably the jeans production story of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an alliance of many experts, brands, retailers and manufacturers. They wanted a regular pair of jeans that could withstand a minimum of 30 washes and still maintain the same quality. However, this means that someone has to be willing to wear them more than 30 times to get the most out of their 'shelf life'.
It is known that the process of washing clothes will also affect the climate. While the majority of emissions come from manufacturing, the use of energy for washing and drying also has a negative impact on the environment. The advice given, is to wash them with cool water and let them dry on natural heat.
In addition, you do not need to wash your clothes too many times. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, wool is more expensive than materials derived from plastic fibers, but has good moisture absorption and high durability. To prove this, Wool & Prince founder, Mac Bishop, wore a sweater for 100 days without washing. This story quickly spread and helped the company successfully launch the new Bishop product line.
You don't need to wash your clothes too many times
Wool & Prince also regularly rewards customers who wear an item for 100 consecutive days, then offer discounts on subsequent purchases. According to Rebecca Eby, Wool &'s Community and Customer Experience Manager, more than 4,000 people have completed the challenge.
“I started as a client taking on the challenge and it changed my life,” says Eby, adding that she now mostly wears natural fibers, mostly wool. and less washing them than before. Participating in the challenge to get reward points also indirectly creates new shopping habits for Wool & Prince customers.
However, in an effort to promote a lifestyle of wearing less, reaping less, the company admits it is still struggling.
"It's definitely a challenge that we need to try to overcome," she said.
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