How can donating clothing reduce the amount of textile waste sent to landfills?

Donating clothing is a vital strategy for diverting textiles from landfills, which are currently burdened by the high volume of waste generated by the clothing and footwear industry. By choosing to donate rather than discard garments, consumers extend the lifecycle of these items, allowing them to be resold or repurposed.1

When donated items are not suitable for resale in secondhand shops, they are often sent to recycling centers. At these facilities, the textiles can be processed and transformed into useful materials, such as filling for furniture or insulation for buildings.1

However, it is important to recognize that the rise of fast fashion—characterized by low-quality, mass-produced garments—has created significant challenges for this system. The sheer volume and inferior quality of modern clothing make it increasingly difficult for donation centers to manage the influx of goods. While donating remains a more ethical and environmentally responsible choice than immediate disposal, the most effective way to mitigate textile waste is to adopt "slow fashion" practices, such as purchasing fewer, higher-quality items that are designed to last longer.1