SHIFT, 15/2/2023

The fashion industry is a significant contributor to waste and landfill. Here are some statistics related to this issue:

- Textile waste: The fashion industry produces over 92 million tons of textile waste each year, which includes discarded clothing, as well as offcuts and scraps from manufacturing processes.

- Landfill: Around 73% of this textile waste ends up in landfill or incinerated, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. 

- Fast fashion: The fast fashion industry, characterized by rapid production and consumption of low-cost clothing, is a major contributor to this waste. It is estimated that the average American discards around 80 pounds of clothing each year.

- Water consumption: The production of textiles and clothing is a water-intensive process. It is estimated that it takes around 2,700 liters of water to produce one cotton t-shirt, equivalent to the amount of water an individual drinks in 2.5 years.

- Chemical use: The production of textiles and clothing involves the use of many different chemicals, including those that are hazardous to human health and the environment. It is estimated that 20% of industrial water pollution is coming from textile dyeing and treatment. 

- Greenhouse gas emissions: The fashion industry is responsible for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions come from various stages of the production and consumption process, including textile production, transportation, and end-of-life disposal.

A circular economy is an economic system that aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible by reducing waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. It is a departure from the traditional linear economy, which follows a "take-make-dispose" model, and instead emphasizes the importance of designing products for longevity and recycling, repairing, and repurposing materials and products at the end of their life. The goal of a circular economy is to create a more sustainable and resilient economy that benefits both people and the planet.

These statistics highlight the urgent need for a more sustainable way of dealing with fashion and feeling good about your next clothes purchase by adopting a 'forever fashion' mindset.  In seeking new ways to re-use what's already out there before digging in to consume more of our planet's resources. 

If you would like to lead in this 'forever fashion' movement and support some more circular practices in the fashion industry, you now have the opportunity in making a SHIFT in the way we trade these treasures.  Don't throw them in the trash, create a community in SHIFT and invite all your stylish friends to sell their stuff in a multi-vendor marketplace where you can all enjoy 'a change that's as good as a holiday' without all the guilt and expense to the environment. 

Visit https://www.shift.ooo and get started today.