Too often a New Year’s resolution is forgotten by the end of January. Let’s face it; a resolution is simple a promise you hope to keep in the coming year. However, those resolutions are usually difficult to keep and are broken in the first few months. For 2022, we have a new strategy for you: make a New Year’s Commitment. We hope that commitment will be to reuse and recycle more. In the end, it will help the environment, the economy, and the world for future generations.
Here are five simple ideas to make that commitment possible.
1. Begin by taking better care of your clothing and other textiles; they will last longer and will not need to be replaced as often.
2. To avoid buying something new, like a party dress, consider borrowing clothes from friends. It will increase your wardrobe selections and save you money.
3. Shop at secondhand clothing stores, you can find some great treasures at an affordable price.
4. Buy used. You can find everything from clothes to building materials at specialized reuse centers and consignment shops. Often, used items are less expensive and just as good as new.
5. Bath towels, sheets, and blankets will last longer if you let them air dry rather than putting them in the dryer after every wash.
Here are five reasons why a commitment to textile recycling is important:
1. Save money
2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
3. Save energy
4. Reduce pollution in landfills
5. Save the planet for future generations
To put it in perspective, the amount of clothing that finds its way into landfills has doubled in the past two decades. The EPA’s latest statistics finds 16.9 million tons of textile waste generated in the United States alone. The fast fashion industry is to blame in part because it is producing lower quality items at a lower cost, which has increased consumer consumption significantly.
The executive Director of SMART, Jackie King explained, ““Recycled textiles can find a new use in many forms. Recycled clothing can be reused and resold in some markets. In other cases, textiles can be converted into wiping rags for the cleaning industry or ground up into fibers to make a variety of products including carpet padding and insulation.”
The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association is a global organization of companies involved in the reuse and recycling of textiles and related secondary materials. In 2022 we invite you to join in our mission and make a commitment to reuse and recycle to move one step closer towards a full circular economy in the future.
