Clothing and the SDGs: What We Can Do
Clothing not only protects our bodies but also brings daily joy and motivation.
It’s always exciting to see the changing storefront displays with each season or check out the latest collections!
However, the fast-changing trends in the fashion industry come with many problems. This time, I’d like to talk about clothing and the SDGs, a topic I believe every fashion lover should know about.
“Clothing and the SDGs”
The “SDGs” are international goals aimed at creating a more sustainable and better world. We hear about them almost daily now, and they are closely related to the clothes we wear.
Looking at clothing from the perspective of the SDGs, the entire production process has an impact on the environment, including CO₂ emissions. Manufacturing requires large amounts of water, leading to water pollution issues. Waste from the production process contributes to microplastic pollution, which affects marine life.
Moreover, most clothing production is outsourced to factories abroad, and with the rise of fast fashion, there are manufacturing sites that do not consider human rights. To achieve the SDGs, we need to address not only environmental issues but also ensure that everyone can live safely.
We need to think about how clothing is made and disposed of before we make purchases.
With the rise of fast fashion, it has become easier to grab trendy items. However, this has also led to an increase in clothing that is discarded after a short period.
In Japan, it is estimated that over 500,000 tons of clothing are discarded annually (as of 2020). Additionally, more than 90% of this is incinerated or buried in landfills.
“There Are Two Main Types of Textile Waste”
The first is “textile waste” generated during the process of making clothes. This includes leftover yarn and fabric scraps from the manufacturing process. These are relatively clean and made from the same material, making them easier to recycle.
The second type is clothing waste that comes from consumers, which is classified as “general waste” (household garbage). These items often have stains and are made of mixed fibers, making them harder to recycle.
This time, we’ll focus on the clothing waste that ends up as household garbage, which is more familiar to us as consumers.
“What Happens to Clothing Waste from Households?”
Clothing waste from households is dealt with in three main ways:
- Sent to fiber recycling companies to be turned into raw materials like wiping cloths or recycled fibers (recycling).
- Reused as second-hand clothing.
- Incinerated or buried in landfills.
Although recycling efforts have increased in recent years, only 34% of clothing is recycled or reused, while the rest is incinerated or landfilled.
“Is Recycling Enough?”
In recent years, more apparel brands have started collecting used clothing. There are also more products made from recycled materials, and it’s common to see labels like “100% Recycled Polyester.” These labels are helpful when choosing products.
But is recycling enough?
Recycling requires energy and costs. Moreover, the environmental impact of clothing production itself cannot be ignored, so recycling alone doesn’t solve the problem.
When a single garment has a short life cycle, even recycling it doesn’t necessarily reduce the environmental burden.
So, What Can We Do?
The key is to extend the life cycle of each piece of clothing!
リWhile recycling is important, slowing down the life cycle of a garment (from manufacturing → selling → wearing → recycling) helps reduce the environmental impact.
It’s said that wearing just one item of clothing for an additional year can reduce Japan’s overall clothing waste by over 40,000 tons!
Here are a few ways to extend the life cycle of your clothes:
- Before buying new clothes, think about whether you can wear them for a long time or if you truly need them.
- Give away clothes that are still wearable or take them to second-hand stores.
- Repair or remake clothes that you can no longer wear.
- Learn proper washing and storage methods to help your clothes last longer.
- Consider buying second-hand clothes instead of new ones.
Doesn’t that seem doable?
If each of us wears one garment just a little longer, we can significantly reduce clothing waste. Don’t think that your actions won’t make a difference – start with what you can do!
At our store, we help you extend the life of your beloved clothes. With reweaving techniques, we can repair clothes with holes and restore them to near-original condition.
If you’re having trouble, please consult with us before throwing your clothes away. Let’s enjoy fashion in a way that’s kind to both people and the environment by wearing the clothes we have for as long as possible!
If you’re having trouble, please consult with us before throwing your clothes away. Let’s enjoy fashion in a way that’s kind to both people and the environment by wearing the clothes we have for as long as possible!
Thank you for reading to the end!