Sustainability in the Use Phase
By: Sydney Hogan and Valerie Lin
Figure 1. Consumer strategies in the sustainable anti-consumption of clothing.
One of the main issues with the use phase of the life cycle of clothing is overconsumption. In 2020, global consumption for clothing was around 62 million tonnes per year, which was projected to increase to over 102 million tons per year by 2030 (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Over the past 15 years, output has doubled, yet the amount of time people wear a clothing item before disposal has decreased by 40% (Gueye, 2021). Since 1999, the United States has seen a 40% increase in the amount of textile waste deposited in landfills by customers due to a combination of factors including rising clothing and shorter clothing lifespans (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Therefore, individuals need to understand their consumption habits and find ways to reduce their overconsumption.
There are several strategies that individuals can use to start reducing their consumption right away. The first falls under the category of abstinence which would be restraining you from purchasing new items and finding ways to utilize your closet (Vesterinen & Syrjälä, 2022). This can start with going through your closet to understand the items you wear most often and other items you are not a fan of. This will allow you to understand your style to prevent you from buying new clothing that does not meet your closet needs. If you were to need to buy something new it is good to ask yourself why you are buying the item and how it will fit in with your current wardrobe. Reducing your shopping frequency not only paves the way for a more sustainable approach but also allows you to invest in high-quality pieces that will last. For example, rather than acquiring numerous inexpensive, synthetic sweaters, consider directing your resources towards a single well-constructed sweater that promises years of lasting quality. This can be done by looking for labels on clothing such as the Bluesign discussed in the manufacturing phase and the clothing materials discussed in the raw materials phase.
A way to utilize your clothing is by taking proper care of it to prolong its use. One way to do this is to read the label of clothing to understand how to properly care for the garment, such as which laundry settings to use. Mending and repairing clothing will also prolong the life of clothing already owned, such as replacing buttons or sewing up holes. Or if an item no longer meets your needs, you can find ways to upcycle the garment to give it a new purpose. However, if the item can not be mended or reused then the garment may be able to be returned to be properly recycled by the original store if they participate in a take-back program.
Therefore, by performing some of these simple steps and becoming more conscious of one’s consumption the use phase of garments can be prolonged resulting in less demand for new clothing and less post-consumer textile waste being produced.
There are several strategies that individuals can use to start reducing their consumption right away. The first falls under the category of abstinence which would be restraining you from purchasing new items and finding ways to utilize your closet (Vesterinen & Syrjälä, 2022). This can start with going through your closet to understand the items you wear most often and other items you are not a fan of. This will allow you to understand your style to prevent you from buying new clothing that does not meet your closet needs. If you were to need to buy something new it is good to ask yourself why you are buying the item and how it will fit in with your current wardrobe. Reducing your shopping frequency not only paves the way for a more sustainable approach but also allows you to invest in high-quality pieces that will last. For example, rather than acquiring numerous inexpensive, synthetic sweaters, consider directing your resources towards a single well-constructed sweater that promises years of lasting quality. This can be done by looking for labels on clothing such as the Bluesign discussed in the manufacturing phase and the clothing materials discussed in the raw materials phase.
A way to utilize your clothing is by taking proper care of it to prolong its use. One way to do this is to read the label of clothing to understand how to properly care for the garment, such as which laundry settings to use. Mending and repairing clothing will also prolong the life of clothing already owned, such as replacing buttons or sewing up holes. Or if an item no longer meets your needs, you can find ways to upcycle the garment to give it a new purpose. However, if the item can not be mended or reused then the garment may be able to be returned to be properly recycled by the original store if they participate in a take-back program.
Therefore, by performing some of these simple steps and becoming more conscious of one’s consumption the use phase of garments can be prolonged resulting in less demand for new clothing and less post-consumer textile waste being produced.
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