Sustainability of Thrifting

In recent years, second-hand shopping has become a trendy thing to do. Finding pre-loved unique pieces for discounted prices also has environmental benefits!

There are various ways to “thrift”. Thrifting can be shopping at your local Salvation Army or Goodwill, visiting local clothing consignment shops, going to vintage flea markets and garage sales, or even taking advantage of new online thrift stores like Poshmark and ThredUp.

Second-hand shopping is one of the most fun and easily accessible ways to keep a sustainable closet. As clothes are donated and resold, they are kept out of landfills and given another chance of life (Three reasons why thrifting is better for the environment).

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines “sustainable” as something that is long lasting (“Sustainable.”). By keeping donated clothes out of the landfills and in people’s closets, we are able to make them last longer than originally anticipated.

Another environmental benefit of thrifting would be that there is a lesser need for new clothing to be produced. If less clothing is produced, then less raw materials such as cotton, oil, and water will be used and wasted (Khan & Malik) . Additionally, the greenhouse gasses emitted from factories that make new clothing would be decreased! A win-win!

If the environmental benefits of thrifting aren’t enough for you, allow me to give you some personal reasons!

Thrifting is typically much more affordable than buying brand new clothes, and the quality of the product is often the exact same. Saving money couldn’t be easier! Here’s an outfit (jeans, shirt, and purse) I personally thrifted that originally could have easily cost over $60 and I got for about $15!

Aside from prices, thrifting allows you to find unique pieces that are no longer sold in regular retail stores, but are trendy and just as cute. Take this pink Ralph Lauren purse, for instance.

I found it at a second-hand/vintage market and bought it for $20 when it normally retails for over $100! The purse is also in perfect condition and was released in the 1990s by Ralph Lauren Sport and is no longer sold. Quite unique and a steal if you ask me…

You never know what you're going to find or what discounts you will get, so give second-hand shopping a try and lend a hand to the environment!

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Sources:

Khan, S. and A. Malik, Environmental and health effects of textile industry wastewater, in Environmental deterioration and human. health. 2014, Springer. p. 55–71.

“Sustainable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable. Accessed 9 Feb. 2022.

“Three Reasons Why Thrifting Is Better for the Environment.” Goodwill Industries International, 20 Aug. 2021, https://www.goodwill.org/blog/shop/three-reasons-why-thrifting-is-better-for-the-environment/.