We can all put an end to the throw-away culture
In the UK alone more than a million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every single year, according to DEFRA. It’s hard to imagine what a million tonnes looks like, but if two thirds of the people on the planet took off their t-shirts and threw them in a pile, it would look something like it.
We can all put an end to the throw-away culture by being less care-free and recycling more. We can help to slow the use of resources and reduce carbon emissions and pollution.
It’s all about the RE – that’s RE-cycle, RE-claim, RE-make, RE-fashion and lastly, RE-consider.
It takes ten times more energy to make a tonne of textiles than a tonne of glass. That’s a lot of energy.
Our recycled clothes and accessories are made from both pre and post-consumer waste. If we describe something as recycled then we aim for it to have at least 50% recycled material though normally it’s nearer 100% (Often the recycled material is just one of the many great product characteristics).
Post consumer waste is anything that is discarded after it has been used for its intended purpose. (Like the skirt you bought for that party, wore once, then decided it wasn’t you.) Sometimes individual pieces are re-worked, other times the whole product is pulped and turned back into useful fibre.
Pre consumer waste on the other hand is stuff that was thrown away before becoming something for you to buy. Excess fabric, misprints, scraps left over from cutting out, all that kind of stuff that looks like it has no chance of being made into something wonderful.
Recyclable: pretty much anything can be recycled, although technology and recycling centres still have work to be done (Watch out for greenwashing - that little recycle logo might just mean that you can recycle it, not that it was made from recycled materials!)
Compostable: clothing made from natural materials can be composted. It normally takes a hotter heap than the one in your back garden but it’s fun and easy to find a way.
Check out www.wigglywigglers.co.uk for help and advice on how to get you started. For more info on recycling we like: www.recyclenow.com