Ten Tips to Reduce Your Environmental Fashion Footprint
After's Textile Recycling Program is designed to reduce the amount of Australian clothing and other items going to landfill and having a negative impact on the global environment. However, what is clear to us at After, and what we want to ensure the public knows, is that textile recycling should be a last resort for dealing with unwanted textiles, and is just one of many ways you can have a positive impact with your fashion choices. To help you out, we've put together a list of tips, tricks and other options to explore before you make the decision to use our service!
1. Mend and Repair Your Clothes.
Research has found that extending the life of your clothing by nine months can reduce their carbon, water and waste footprint by 20-30%! Clothing with tears, broken buttons and other minor issues is cheap to repair, saving you from buying new clothing and also having a positive impact for the planet!
2. Take quality clothes to second hand stores.
We understand that not all the clothes you're looking to get rid of are in good enough condition to donate, but for those that are, there are so many great non-profit organisations in Australia that redistribute your second-hand clothes to those in need and to new homes.
3. Buy second hand clothing.
On the other side of the coin, not only should you donate your quality clothes, but explore the thousands of options throughout Australia for quality second-hand clothes. This doesn't stop at just thrift stores, but also vintage stores that have great inventories of quality pieces that can spice up your wardrobe!
4. Don't engage in fast fashion- buy quality clothes that will last.
Although as a general rule we advise buying less new clothing as an overall measure to reduce our consumption, if you are going to buy new clothing make sure its high quality and will last! Although fast fashion options may seem cheap and trendy, there is nearly always a reason for this. Whether through exploitative labour, or low-grade materials, a lower price will always come at a cost somewhere.
5. Buy clothing sourced from natural materials.
An additional thing to consider when purchasing new clothing is the method of its production, and what it's made of. Many brands now put emphasis on being transparent with the ethics of their production processes, with directories from non-profits like Ethical Clothing Australia giving a guide for shoppers on which brands they can trust. There are also a number of brands in Australia and worldwide using more environmentally friendly textiles for their clothes such as hemp, bamboo and linen which are also worth exploring.
Opt for clothing made from natural materials such as Cotton, Linen, Hemp, or Bamboo.
6. Dry your clothes by hanging them rather than using a dryer and use cold wash for your washing machine where possible.
While some of these methods of reducing your footprint take more effort than others, simply doing small everyday things like taking the time to hang your clothes up to dry, inside or outside, rather than using a dryer, which contributes to the carbon footprint of fashion.
7. Clothing Swaps.
Another method of reducing fashion waste is to participate in clothes swap events or taking them to stores that offer a paid swap service. The Clothing Exchange Australia runs clothing swamps around the country, and the model of the paid swap service is being pioneered by brands such as Mutual Muse in Melbourne. Check out a Clothing Swap we attended here.
8. Try not to use fabric softeners and clean stains by hand.
Another small everyday task that reduces water pollution and the breakdown of micro-plastics into Australian waterways. Reducing how much you use your washing machine can have a huge impact on household water consumption.
9. Explore the clothing rental market, try before you buy!
Want something new but don’t want to hurt the planet and your wallet by over-consuming? Try renting! Particularly popular in the case of women’s dresses and formal wear, organisations like our Recycle Rewards partner Inro offer rentals on clothing pieces that are high quality, without the high level of environmental harm.
10. Recycle any clothes that can't be repaired or donated via After.
Finally, if you have exhausted all other options to dispose of your unwanted second-hand clothes, you can book a collection with After. Whether you're a business, a household or an individual, After can ethically recycle your clothes to be re-used in another life-cycle. Sometimes, to love your clothes, you have to let them go!