US second-hand clothing industry key to reducing environmental impact

The US second-hand clothes industry makes significant environmental and economic contributions, according to a new report from Garson and Shaw. The report emphasises that reusing unwanted clothing is the most effective strategy to reduce the environmental impact of textiles. The second-hand clothing (SHC) industry is projected to save around 20 trillion gallons of water over the next decade, equivalent to 30 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, by providing an alternative to the production of new clothes.

There is considerable room for growth in the SHC market. Survey data reveals that the average American adult owns 6.2 items of clothing they have never worn, resulting in 1.6 billion unworn garments languishing in closets across the country, as per the Promoting the Circular Textile Industry report.

In 2023, the US second-hand clothing industry generated $25.6 billion in retail sales, with potential growth to $75.5 billion by 2033. The sector also created $2.5 billion in tax revenues in 2023, with projections suggesting an increase to $8.8 billion by 2033. In terms of employment, the sector supports approximately 342,000 jobs across the supply chain, with further expansion potential.

The report also reveals a stark contrast in overconsumption rates between younger Americans and the rest of society. The research indicates that 65 per cent of Gen Z discard at least one item of wearable clothing every month, compared to 36 per cent of Gen X and just 25 per cent of Baby Boomers. This behaviour contributes to the 11 million tons of textile waste that end up in US landfills annually, as estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

About 5.5 million tons of reusable items are discarded each year, equating to 10.4 billion pieces of clothing or 4,000 truckloads of reusable garments thrown away weekly.

The American public strongly supports political backing for the second-hand clothes sector and increased efforts to combat the harms of fast fashion. Key findings from the report include that 68 per cent believe the government and political leaders should support the second-hand clothing sector. Additionally, 63 per cent think investing in the second-hand clothes market is key to a sustainable future, while 62 per cent believe there should be more education about the harms of fast fashion. Moreover, 59 per cent view the SHC market as crucial for the US economy, and 53 per cent agree on the need for more government investment to support industry growth. Finally, 80 per cent want wearable but unwanted clothes to be reused or given a second life abroad, compared to just 15 per cent who think they should be landfilled.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)