Shopping sprees have changed from being instore to online within a matter of years. With many high street shops closing and many more focusing on their online presence, buying clothes instore has almost become a thing of the past. Online shopping has become the new normal which makes buying clothes easier, more accessible, and very tempting! This is great, however, it can also lead to over buying and more clothing being sent to landfill. We have put together 5 unbelievable facts about the world’s clothing industry that will give you an insight into one of the biggest environmental issues we face.

1: More than 60% of UK households have unwanted clothing in their closets

This may seem normal, however, this statistic shows a deeper issue. Rather than donate or recycle clothing, the public keep hold of their unwanted items and continue to shop further. Not only does this clog up your closet and drawers, but also has a huge impact on the environment as constant deliveries, packaging, and fuel being used can be detrimental. The ease of buying online, constant sales, and need to keep up with what is trending have all been huge factors that have impacted people’s buying habits and decisions.

2: 30% of unwanted clothes end up in landfill

When you no longer want or need a piece of clothing what do you do? Did you know there are a huge range of options other than throwing an item in the bin, even if it is ripped, broken, or unusable? You can sell your items, donate them, recycle them, offer them to a charity shop, or even upcycle them. There are so many different ways you can give your unwanted clothing a new life and avoid affecting the environment.

3: An average of 92 million tonnes of fashion waste is put into landfill yearly

This statistic shows just how serious fashion waste is. In addition, it is expected that by 2030 this number will increase to an unbelievable 134 million tonnes. This insane increase is simply due to reckless behaviour and buying habits. When you buy an item of clothing, think of what the item will replace, or if you really need it? Or, you can recycle or sell your unwanted clothes to ensure you do not add to this ever growing statistic.

4: Only 8% of clothing is re-used and just 10% are recycled

A humongous percentage of the world’s unwanted clothing is either sent to landfill or incinerated. Both of these options lead to more unwanted environmental issues and impacts, but there are other options! It is important to recycle, upcycle, or sell your unwanted clothes to avoid this statistic from getting worse. To help, you can send your unwanted clothing to the Salvation Army. They are accessible and have over 8000 clothing banks in the UK. Not only do they sell the clothes that you donate, they also reuse or recycle your clothing! You can also sell your items on sites such as Depop and Vinted to give your unwanted clothing a new life.

5: Around 2 tonnes of clothing is purchased every minute in the UK

UK shoppers have been buying more clothes than the rest of Europe in recent years. This statistic shows the UK’s mindset when it comes to clothing. In recent years, it has become more important to keep up with clothing trends and ensure you have perfect outfit. Wearing an outfit once, and once only, is another insanely popular trend which is likely lead to detrimental environment impacts. A great way to avoid this is to invest in pieces that you know will last and be timeless. Having a wardrobe full of basics and neutral colours means you will be able to keep up with ever changing trends. This also allows you to keep your clothing for longer without feeling pressure to constantly buy the newest trend.

We hope this blog has shown you how important it is to think about your buying habits and how to deal with your unwanted items. Let us know in the comments what your favourite timeless piece is!

Tags: clothing, clothingfacts, clothingindustry, ecofiendly, environment, environmentalissues, sustainability, sustainable