Why Secondhand is Great for the Planet and Your Wallet
On my blog, I create a lot of content relating to reselling and how I make money selling secondhand items online. You may even be using some of my tips for reselling to earn some extra cash. But have you considered why buying resale clothes is not only a great option for your finances but also for the environment?
Thrift purchases prevent wasting resources and save you money. Plus, who doesn’t love some vintage outfits you can find much cheaper than the original retail price?
Here are my top reasons why you should buy resale clothing, for your and the planet’s sake.
Reselling prevents waste
Have you ever considered the resources that go into making your clothing? For example, a pair of jeans releases tons of chemicals into the water and also causes knock-on effects on populations where the clothing is made. It is estimated that only one pair uses up 1,800 gallons of water. Additionally, getting the distressed look on jeans takes several washes and a lot of additional chemicals.
So, if you’re thinking about buying a pair of jeans but can get one in your size from a reselling outlet, why not save water and reduce chemical waste by buying one that’s already been through the process?
Buying resold items reduces landfill
In our current society, we’re used to buying items to wear for one season and throwing them out when they go out of fashion. They end up in landfill sites all over America, which wouldn’t be a bad thing if the volume of tossed-away clothing wasn’t increasing exponentially. Did you know that Americans throw away 10.5 million tons of clothing every year?
The important thing to note is this wasn’t always the case. In the 1950s, people spent around 20% of their income on clothes, so buying new items was a big investment. Today, with the low cost of manufacturing in low-income countries and the ability to ship them all over the world, we’re finding it exceedingly cheap to buy new items every season or every year. I know I am personally guilty of doing a closet cleanout more often than I should.
Also, when clothes are even the slightest bit damaged, how many of us try to mend them or take them to be repaired? Most people throw away clothes instead. This is partially due to the fact we also buy less durable items, that fall apart more easily (we are spending roughly 17% less today, but 60% of clothes made worldwide are from synthetic materials). Buying second-hand means you’ll be removing all this plastic from sitting in landfills or moving on and polluting the rest of the environment.
Reduce pollution
According to the New York Times, the fashion industry emits 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, while a majority of new clothes get thrown out within a year of being purchased. Add to that the amount of synthetic material ending up in a landfill or, worse, in water and the environment at large, thus the cause of a massive source of pollution.
Reselling and buying preloved clothing offers an alternative to producing more items while avoiding a slowdown in the fashion economy. Money will continue to flow and you’ll be supporting smaller businesses or side hustlers who are making a living from reselling.
Of course, reselling doesn’t reduce some other impacts of clothes sales, such as the carbon footprint of shipping these items around the world, but it does go a long way to reducing waste and – in time – can hopefully end up leading to less production of new items. If you can do your bit for the planet and save some money in the process, why not give it a try?
I’ve always been surprised by the number of people who are grossed out or appalled by secondhand clothing. I love seeing new life brought to vintage pieces or keeping items out of landfills.
Saving a ton of money on designer duds is also another major reason I love shopping second hand. I never could justify the price of designer items but there is something about the thrill of the hunt along with the ability to save those items that I really just love.
Do you have a vintage piece you really just love? Share below!
Until Next Time,
Rebecca
Bexa Boss Lady
