What We Can Do to End Overconsumption
Did you know that in 2018 there were 11.3 million tons of municipal solid waste textiles that ended up in landfills? Or that fast fashion is estimated to increase to 1.3 million consumers by 2030? This is all a result of overconsumption and unsustainable shopping.
You may be thinking, “What can I do to help?” Although there are alternatives to shopping more sustainably, the most effective way to stop this problem is to slow down your shopping habits. This can look like styling summer pieces for winter wardrobes or vice versa, or simply re-wearing items. These tactics can be a first step when avoiding the global issue of overconsumption.
Overconsumption in Thrift Stores
When buying sustainably, it could be easy for consumers to go overboard due to low prices and previous shopping habits. This can lead to the same issue fast fashion faces when clothes are being dumped into landfills.
Image Source: Ashlee Burns via Caller Times
For example, thrift stores are experiencing an excessive amount of donations and are unable to hold the overflow of clothes. Fewer than 10% of the items donated are actually sold to customers, while the other 90% are sold to textile recycling firms. Many of the unwanted items from these shops are shipped off to developing countries in Africa or Asia. The people living in poorer areas are given the “leftovers,” and the clothes received are dumped from the textile landfill near them.
The landfills are also extremely unsafe to be near and are often placed in poorer areas. These textile landfills create unsafe living conditions by releasing CO2 emissions and e-waste near homes. These chemicals are extremely dangerous to children – as a byproduct of living in areas such as these, around 20 million children were found with lead in their blood.
Mindset of Consumers
Many Western consumers who switched to thrifting don’t realize the negative impacts of overconsumption still exist in thrift stores. These habits include buying a new wardrobe for each season. Many consumers feel the need to buy new clothes to fit in with the new trend or don’t see other ways to style one item. Consumers will buy new clothes, then donate their old wardrobe, that then ends up in landfills and causes the cycle to continue.
To help slow down rapid clothing consumption in Western countries, consumers must change their mindset. Instead of buying new items frequently, you can try to style items you already have in different ways. This can mean layering or upcycling old pieces to make them look how you like. For example, wearing a thick scarf as a shirt. All of these can make it seem like you are wearing something new, while all you really did was upcycle an old clothing item.
Even though this issue seems huge, making these small changes in your life can make a difference. Not only does it help the global issue, but also can show consumers that having less is more.
Shopping Sustainably
Even though slowing down consumption is the main solution, expecting shoppers to stop altogether is unrealistic. It is still a fun activity that can be great in moderation! Thrifting is one of the most accessible and affordable ways to shop sustainably. Though the sheer variety of clothing can make thrift stores feel overwhelming, it’s important to take the time to find items you may like. When thrifting, you can find unique items for a low price that are no longer sold in stores. Not only is it a better alternative to buying from fast fashion stores, but it gives people an opportunity to try new pieces they normally wouldn’t gravitate towards.
Written by Kara Haas
Kara is a high school student who is an aspiring writer. She is hoping to study journalism in college to write about the fashion industry in the future. As well as having a passion for writing, Kara also loves to study fashion and try new, different looks out of her comfort zone. In her free time she loves baking, trying new makeup looks, and watching cartoons.