With the fifth-biggest environmental footprint of any UK industry there is no doubt that making the clothing industry more sustainable is imperative. The public has a key part to play in this and keeping clothing in use for longer is the single biggest thing we can all do to reduce the environmental impact of clothing. WRAP research shows that 350,000 tonnes of used clothing needlessly goes to landfill in the UK every year, wasting precious resources that could be put to better use by being repaired, passed on or donated.  

Extending the wearable life of a t-shirt or any other garment by just three months would lead to a 5-10% reduction in the amount of carbon and water used and waste created. So, encouraging people to think about the way they buy, use and pass on clothes clearly helps to save money and resources while reducing our impact on the environment.

Buying a new t-shirt should be a big decision.  In the UK, we spend £1,700 per household on new clothing each year despite most of us not even wearing 30% of what’s in our wardrobes during the last twelve months. Before buying new clothing we encourage anyone to conduct a wardrobe audit, re-examining what clothes they already own.  Half of us own at least one item of clothing we don’t wear because of wear and tear and many lack the skills or time to repair or alter clothes.  WRAP's Love Your Clothes campaign is full of tips on how to create brand new looks using clothes you already own, transform outfits and give your clothes a new lease of life.  Equally consider buying a quality pre-owned option; a great way of side-stepping the need to buy something new.  And if you have decided to go shopping, think about what you’re buying and where you can, look to buy good quality, more durable items that complement your existing wardrobe.

Knowing how to care for clothes is equally as crucial for getting the most out of them. Laundry accounts for around one-quarter of the carbon footprint of clothing. Washing less frequently, using larger loads, tumble drying less and following the care label all make a difference to how long a t-shirt will last and could cut the carbon footprint by 7%.

Half of the 120 million t-shirts that are no longer wanted in the UK each year go on to be reused. The other 50% go to recycling, energy generation or landfill. Three quarters of those who bin clothes state that these clothes could never be used again and a quarter of people think their old clothes aren’t worth anything – that’s a perception we need to change. Ensuring consumers realise there is no reason for any item of clothing to end up in landfill – because it can all be re-used, donated or recycled is vital in reducing the impact our clothes have on the environment.

Check out the Love Your Clothes website for hints and advice on how you can get the most out of your wardrobe.

Love Your Clothes was developed by WRAP, in conjunction with industry, to support the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP). Leading clothing retailers, charities and textile collectors/recyclers have signed up to the SCAP 2020 Commitment and pledged to reduce the environmental footprint of clothing across its lifecycle.

Data taken from:
Valuing our clothes – The true cost of how we design, use and dispose of clothing in the UK
Benefits of Re-use Case Study: Clothing

The Life Story of your T-shirt

This blog was written as part of an online event run by The Institute for Social Marketing as part of the Festival of Social Science week (7th-14th November 2015).

Visit our event hub to learn more about how t-shirts are made, make decisions about sustainability and share the story of your own favourite t-shirt.