Did you know that in Canada, we purchase 60 per cent more clothing than we did 20 years ago? And that clothing stays in our closets for only half as long? This makes how much clothing we buy, how long we wear it, and what we do with it when we don’t wear it anymore a significant environmental issue.
A 2023 Seneca College/University of Waterloo study estimates that Canadians “dispose nearly 500 million kilograms of fabric” annually, with 85 per cent of that ending up in landfills, releasing harmful greenhouse gases as they decompose.
The Government of Canada identifies textiles as the “fifth-largest category of plastic waste sent to landfills in Canada. Furthermore, through regular wear and tear and when washed, synthetic clothing sheds plastic microfibres – tiny thread-like fibres that become microplastic pollution.” “Textiles” includes pretty much all fabric-based products – sheets, towels, bathrobes – but clothing accounts for a hefty percentage of that landfill waste.
Environmental sustainability is an RTOERO advocacy pillar, and we believe we can keep the fun in fashion and practise eco-friendly consumer behaviour.
Swap parties
- Host family and friends at fashion exchanges. Play with themes, seasonality and special activities like sportswear or formal events. And invite each guest to bring a guest to make sure you have a wide range of sizes and styles.
- Organize a “yard sale” in a hall or community centre. People donate the clothes they’re no longer wearing, and people who love them can pick them up for a small sum, which covers any costs, with money left over going to a local charity.
Think before you buy
- Before you buy that sweater, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” If it’s a want-it-buy-it response, reconsider the purchase.
- Buy quality over quantity. Quality clothes cost more, but you’ll wear them longer.
Shop second-hand
- Thrift shops and consignment stores offer lots of unique clothes – and vintage is all the rage!
Rent or borrow
- For special occasions, consider renting that silk suit or gala gown. If you borrow, even better!
Research ethical fashion brands
- More and more fashion lines are making a commitment to manufacture with the health of the environment in mind. And many have also started return-and-recycle programs.
- Laundry-wise: Washing clothes less often and avoiding harsh detergents and the dryer preserve fabric, protect colours and use fewer chemicals and less energy.
Upcycle
- Make a throw rug from old sweaters, turn a pair of jeans into a tote bag, create throw-pillow covers from a shirt past its best-before date.
- Give the clothes to arts-and-crafts communities, schools or amateur theatrical programs – they will find lots of great uses for them. Quilters would love the fabrics, too. So would people who make doll clothes.
Donate
- Clothing that is still in good condition is needed – often desperately – at homeless shelters, women’s shelters and drop-ins.
- Each of us can make a sustainable difference by making mindful choices in how we shop for, wear and dispose of our clothing. Every action counts.
To learn more:
- “Textile Waste in Ontario: Opportunities for Reuse and Recycling” (tinyurl.com/yc6xsvtk)
- “10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics” (earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste)
- “The Government of Canada Is Taking Steps to Address Plastic Waste and Pollution from the Textile and Apparel Sector” (tinyurl.com/yc2u88eu)
- “The Environmental Costs of Fast Fashion,” David Suzuki Foundation (tinyurl.com/3zu5vsff)
- “The Environmental Costs of Fast Fashion” (tinyurl.com/aw3825ff)
To learn more about RTOERO’s environmental stewardship, visit rtoero.ca.
