Sustainable Shopping/Thrifting

By Clara Gignoux

Clothes and accessories are great ways for people to express themselves, but did you know that in 2018, 17 million tons of textile waste ended up in landfills, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. On average, textile takes up to 200+ years to decompose, meaning the clothes you throw away will still outlive you. A great way to combat the excessive waste of clothing consumption is to buy clothes second-hand.

Thrift shops are a valuable resource. Buying used clothing reduces the amount of waste produced and is more affordable than fast fashion. It is important to shop respectfully, buying things in your size instead of reselling for profit and abusing the system, thrift stores are often where lower-income families get most of their clothing so reselling takes away their opportunity to have clothes. A great way to give back is to donate your used clothing back to your local thrift store. This will help support the businesses and community as your items are used by your neighbors.

Online thrift stores are another great way to buy second-hand if you live far away from thrift stores or want to reduce your exposure to people. ThredUP is an online store with a wide selection of clothes and accessories. If you place an order they also offer to bundle your purchase with others to reduce excess carbon emissions from shipping. While this takes a bit longer, it’s a fantastic way to diminish your carbon footprint. Besides companies, other websites like Depop and Poshmark operate on a seller-to-buyer relationship much like Facebook marketplace or Craigslist.

For birthdays or other holidays, thrift shopping is a great way to get unique gifts. Whether it’s champagne glasses for a twenty-first birthday or a unique piece of clothing, next time before ordering something new, check your local or online thrift shop for a sustainable substitute.