Breaking the Cycle: Combatting Fast Fashion with Sustainable Solutions
Fast fashion’s environmental harm goes far beyond its production phase, as its impact worsens after the product’s life cycle. Once thrown out, these items often end up in landfills or are incinerated, releasing harmful gases and toxic fumes into the atmosphere. This throwaway culture of fast fashion creates a cycle of environmental destruction long after the clothes leave people’s wardrobes. So what are the solutions to the problems caused by fast fashion?
The harmful effects of fast fashion
What are the environmental impacts of fast fashion, and how does the mass production of cheap clothing affect our planet? Below is a list of the most harmful effects caused by this industry.
- Excessive Waste: Fast fashion encourages disposable clothing, leading to massive amounts of textile waste. An estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste are thrown out globally each year, much of which ends up in landfills.
- Water Pollution: Textile production releases toxic dyes and chemicals into water systems, polluting rivers and harming animal life.
- High Water Usage: The production of cotton requires vast amounts of water. For example, producing a single cotton T-shirt can use up to 2,700 litres of water!
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Synthetic fabrics like polyester, commonly used in fast fashion, are made from fossil fuels. Their production and transportation cause a large amount of carbon emissions.
How can I combat the effects of fast fashion?
Fighting the effects of fast fashion starts with making mindful choices in how we shop for, care for, and dispose of clothing. Fast fashion’s environmental and ethical consequences may seem overwhelming. But there are practical steps we can take to reduce our impact and promote positive change.
Buy Less and Choose Quality
One way to combat the negative effects of fast fashion is to focus on buying fewer items while choosing quality over quantity. High-quality clothing may cost more upfront, but it offers better value in the long run. This is because it lasts longer and keeps its appearance and functionality over time. Unlike cheap fast fashion items that often wear out after a few washes, well-made clothes are designed to withstand regular use.
Choosing quality also means opting for timeless pieces, rather than trendy items that quickly go out of fashion. This helps create a more sustainable wardrobe, lowering the need for replacements. Additionally, high-quality clothing often comes from brands that have ethical practices. For example, using sustainable materials and paying fair wages to workers.
Shop Second-hand
Embracing second-hand shopping is an excellent way to reduce waste and minimise the environmental impact of fashion. By buying pre-owned clothing from second-hand sources, you help extend the life cycle of garments that might otherwise end up in landfills. This not only reduces textile waste but also lowers the demand for new production, which contributes significantly to carbon emissions, water usage, and pollution.
Thrift and vintage shopping also offer a unique chance to discover one-of-a-kind pieces that add personality to your wardrobe while supporting sustainability. Many second-hand items are well-made and have already stood the test of time, ensuring their durability.
Donate and contribute to the circular economy
It’s easy to fall into the fast fashion trap—companies make it hard to resist with their low prices and trendy designs. There’s no need to feel ashamed if you’ve bought into it; we’ve all been there. However, trendy styles often go out of fashion quickly, leaving you with clothes you no longer want. So, what can you do with them instead of letting them sit in a landfill?
Anglo Doorstep Collections offers a simple solution. They can collect your unwanted fast fashion items directly from your door and ensure they’re given a second life by providing them to people in need. This helps extend the lifespan of these clothes by years, keeping them in the circular economy. By donating, you’re not only reducing environmental waste. You’re also supporting people who can’t afford new clothing and contributing to the many causes Anglo Doorstep Collections supports. It’s an easy way to make a positive change for both the planet and people in need.
How can I donate my clothes?
Ready to move on from fast fashion? Gather all the clothes you are ready to move on from and donate. Most fast fashion clothes are made with plastic-based material, which does not biodegrade for thousands of years. So the best future for them is to continue to be used by people who need them!
Make sure the clothes you are donating haven’t got any holes, stains, or other damage, as they are going to belong to someone else. Once you have gathered all your unwanted clothes, book a collection date with Anglo Doorstep Collections for a free collection. All you need to do is leave them in bags outside your door on the day of your collection, and our drivers will pick them up.
What happens to the clothes after I donate them?
When you donate clothes to us, they are carefully sorted in our warehouse based on the needs of our different buyers. For example, winter clothing often goes to support refugees in Ukraine, while summer clothing is sent to various communities across Africa.
Once our costs are covered, the proceeds from your donated items go directly to our partner charities. But it’s not just clothing that makes an impact—we accept a wide variety of items to support these important causes. Some charities, like Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, receive physical donations such as linen and bedsheets to use as pet bedding. Others, like Advance, benefit from monetary donations generated by our proceeds, helping to protect women from violence and domestic abuse.
By donating to us, you’re supporting a wide network of charities and making a real difference in people’s lives.