I nearly choked on my coffee when I read a report stating that 100 million new clothing items are being intentionally destroyed by retailers each year.
 
The report didn’t come from an environmental group, but from the CEO of Australia’s textile, clothing and footwear body, the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA).
 
“Destroy” is literal – these items are not donated to charity or otherwise recycled – they are going to landfill.
 
Why is this happening? Supposedly to avoid selling it for a discounted price and preserving brand integrity.
 
It must have slipped under my radar, but it seems a well known fashion retailer in New York was found to be destroying quantities of brand new garments until they were exposed earlier this year.  
 
This shameful waste isn’t just a problem in the USA, it’s supposedly happening in many countries, including Australia.
 
The practice is beyond disgusting. The fashion industry has a considerable environmental impact as so many resources and so much energy goes into making clothing – and there are so many people who could benefit from this “waste”. 
 
In many African nations, there are thriving cottage industries involved in the sale of second hand clothes at affordable prices for the poor for example; not to mention the needy who could benefit from these clothes on our own shores. 
 
Heck, pull the labels off if before distribution to preserve brand integrity if need be; or at the very least recycle the materials, or even downcycle these items into other products.
 
What can we do to stop this?
 
If you have a favorite clothing retailer, whether it’s a boutique or big box store; contact them and point them to this article on the clothes waste issue and ask them what their policies are. You may not get a straight answer or even a reply, but at least it lets them know that folks are aware of these practices and if exposed, the retailer might find themselves getting a ton of negative publicity. Hopefully they might get the hint this practice is simply not on.
 
Related:
 
Pre-loved clothes and the second principle of green living
Downcycling and upcycling