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Earth Focused Holidays

March 2, 2023

The months of March and April bring many different holidays and remembrances promoting recycling and ways of caring for our planet. These include: Global Recycling Day on March 18, Earth Hour on March 25, Earth Day on April 22 and Fashion Revolution Week the week of April 24. On this first day of March, we would love to share a little more about each of these days and the history as well as the potential impact each can play toward our future. There are many ways to celebrate and to get involved locally and on a larger scale.

Global Recycling Day – March 18

The first of these holidays is Global Recycling Day. Celebrated on March 18 on the heels of St. Patrick’s Day, “Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first.” (found here) It is a day to raise awareness and volunteer in a variety of ways to help care for our planet.

The Global Recycling Commission set out a twofold mission for this holiday:

“1. To tell world leaders that recycling is simply too important not to be a global issue, and that a common, joined up approach to recycling is urgently needed.

2. To ask people across the planet to think resource, not waste, when it comes to the goods around us – until this happens, we simply won’t award recycled goods the true value and repurpose they deserve.” (found here)

As the first holiday in our lineup, Global Recycling Day sets out an important agenda for calling on our leaders to unite in pushing for political reforms to highlight the importance of recycling and for enlightening others around the world about its importance in their day to day life choices.

Earth Hour – March 25

Our second planet-honoring holiday this season is Earth Hour, which is observed for one hour on the last Saturday in March. From 8:30-9:30pm on Saturday, March 25th people around the country and even world will be turning off their lights to honor Earth Hour. 2022 saw “people from 192 countries and territories [come] together in support of people and our planet. We saw landmarks turn off their lights and supporters switch off at home, as well as a range of activities such as virtual concerts, mangrove planting, street clean-ups and virtual runs.” (found here)

Earth Hour was “started in 2007 by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney to raise awareness of climate change,” (here) and has now “become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action.” It is easy to participate in this event. Simply turn off your lights for this one hour in March. And feel free to become involved in bigger ways too – through writing legislators to cleaning up parks and more.

Earth Day – April 22

A third, and very well known, planet loving holiday this Spring is Earth Day. Celebrated on April 22, Earth Day “marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.” (found here) Begun by two senators as teach-ins on college campuses, that first year “Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States — to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts.” Over the decades, Earth Day has become a global holiday involving over 100 countries in the mission to take better care of our planet.

On their website, Earth Day 2023 has six ways to make a difference this year:

Educate our youth through classroom learning
Break free from single use plastics
Plant trees (through the Canopy Project)
Use your voting power to protect our environment
Clean up communities, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails and parks
Choose sustainable fashion over fast fashion

Many cities post about Earth Day celebrations – so be on the lookout for ways to get involved in your own neck of the woods and help care for planet Earth.

Fashion Revolution – Week of April 24

The final way we spread awareness, and honor the care of our planet over these few months is through Fashion Revolution Week, which always falls on the week of April 24, commemorating the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh. You can read more about this in our blog “5 Ways to Fight Fast Fashion.” In 2013, over one thousand young women were killed and more than 2,500 more were injured when the building collapsed.

On their website, they list numerous ways to get involved here, including packets on ways to get involved, hosting an event, educational resources for teachers and educators and posters to print to help spread awareness. Also on our blog listed above, we share five ways to get involved in the fight against fast fashion.

We Can Care All Year Long

Though these four commemorations and holidays all fall within the months of March and April, don’t feel limited to volunteer or spread the word only during these months. Park services are always looking for volunteers to help clean up and take care of parks and beaches. There are many months where you can help plant trees or butterfly and bumblebee friendly plants. Educating others and spreading awareness can happen any time of the year. And we can always change our way of living by starting to recycle and making more conscientious decisions about the things we purchase.

Sustainable Shopping this Season, and Every Season

November 29, 2022

The Holidays are upon us. Twinkly lights, Holiday music, the Nutcracker ballet, peppermint mocha, and gift shopping..lots and lots of gift shopping. We buy all kinds of gifts for the Holidays…electronics, jewelry, music, shoes, toys, clothing and much more. And for the average buyer, not much thought is put into where these items were made and how the environment was affected by their purchase, and what kind of quality of life the workers who made this item have. For the purpose of focusing on what we know best, textiles, we would like to encourage you, dear follower, to think about these questions as you make purchases of textiles this Holiday season, and every season. When purchasing clothing items for Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or any other occasion, there are many ways you can think about and look into sustainable options, which support the worker and the environment. What does it mean to shop sustainably?

“Sustainability means maintaining an ecological balance by avoiding the depletion of natural resources. But sustainability is commonly extended to social systems—ensuring they promote the well being of all the individuals and communities affected. Sustainability also speaks to longevity – environmental, social and economic systems and industries need to be designed in a way that means they are in balance and can be maintained well into the future. So sustainable fashion is simply about fostering a fashion industry that takes a long term approach to the design, manufacturing, and consumption of clothes and accessories. It’s about fashion that both creates good and avoids harm, whether to people, the planet or animals.” (Found here)

What to Look For

What can a consumer look for in their purchases to help ensure that the clothing is as sustainable as possible?

Fabric Choice

The first consideration when shopping sustainably is paying attention to fabric choice. Not all fabrics are equal when it comes to sustainability. Whereas “silk, hemp, linen, and wool are all natural, low-impact textiles” (found here), certain fabrics are made from plastic fibers and release plastic microfibers during the washing process which eventually end up polluting our bodies of water. The best fabrics to choose as sustainable options are “cotton, linen, silk, wool, hemp, etc. — which will last the longest in your closet. Specifically, silk was found to be the longest-lasting fabric in terms of how long it remained in use, with wool in second place.” (found here) These choices are more beneficial at their end of life also because “when they do wear out, natural fabrics are biodegradable and recyclable.” (found Here) At times, we will need to purchase other pieces that don’t fall into one of these fabric choices, such as for a bathing suit. “If you must buy polyester or another synthetic fiber, look for polyester that’s made of recycled water bottles, fishing nets, carpet, and other post-consumer products.” (Found here)

Eco Certifications

The second consideration when shopping sustainably is checking for different eco certifications on the items for purchase or companies selling them. Here are a few certifications you can look for when shopping sustainably:

“OEKO-TEX is an independent test and certification system for textiles, and it offers multiple levels of certification, the most basic of which indicates that the product is free of hazardous chemicals.” (Found here)

“Fair Trade certification indicates that the factory workers are paid at least the minimum wage, and that the working conditions are safe.” (Found here)

“B-Corp is a general seal of approval for brands that have proven their commitment to sustainability and transparency.” (Found here)

“Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), which bills itself as the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world, reduces the impact of cotton farming and improves the livelihoods of farmers and their families.” (Found here)

In addition to these certifications and programs, there are also a few apps and web browser extensions that can assist you in your search to shop sustainably. One of these is Good on You. “The Good on You app lets you search for a brand’s environmental impact, labor policies, and even animal-friendly considerations, plus makes recommendations in different categories (dresses, hosiery, outerwear) of sustainable and ethical brands.” (Found Here) When shopping this Holiday season, take your time and check out some of these important certifications and sustainable apps to assist you in your gift hunting.

Durable and Versatile

A third consideration when shopping sustainably is finding textile pieces that are created to last – those that are durable – and pieces that can pair with multiple items in your wardrobe – those that are versatile. Sustainable companies take more care with the pieces they create, making products that are made of quality fabric and made to last across years.

When shopping sustainably looks like buying less clothing, it’s important to carefully choose those items that can benefit your wardrobe and pair with multiple pieces you already own. A year ago we shared a blog about choosing consciously and highlighted the idea of a capsule wardrobe, which involves paring down your closet to primarily pieces with a timeless style that can pair with multiple items you own. Capsule wardrobes mostly involve vintage, secondhand and sustainable pieces.

Other Ways to Shop Sustainably

In addition to what to look for in shopping from sustainable companies, here are a few more ideas on ways you can shop to show care for the environment and the workers involved.

Buy Secondhand

A few years ago we posted an article about shopping secondhand during the Holiday season. With the ability to find rare and vintage items by shopping resale for gift giving, loved ones can receive gifts that are one of a kind. Shopping secondhand is another sustainable option as you are giving a second life to items that have already been made, and not adding to the environmental effects of creating something new.

Buy Local

“Staying local is the key to sustainable shopping.” (Found here) Buying locally involves less of a footprint made by using gas to go from here to there, and can also benefit local artisans and mom and pop stores that may focus more on quality and sustainability.

Buy Online

In addition, some articles referenced in this blog have shown that shopping online can reduce your environmental footprint by combining numerous products in one delivery truck vs multiple cars driving to and from stores to shop around. When internet shopping is available, remember to look into the certifications and app or web extension browsers that can help you find companies that are sustainable.

The Holiday Season

We hope as you begin your Holiday shopping that this blog will help educate you, our readers, on the myriad of ways you can shop sustainably this season, and in every season. For more ideas, check out some of the articles we referenced above. Here at Chicago Textile Recycling, we wish everyone a warm and happy Holiday season and a Happy 2023.

Circular Economy

October 27, 2022

In learning about the importance of textile recycling and what we can do to be a part of the solution, we come across many unfamiliar terms, such as downcycle, chemical recycling and circular economy to name a few. Some of these we have defined in previous blogs, such as our blog on the difference between upcycle and downcycle and our blog on the 5 R’s. In this blog, we will learn more about the term “circular economy” and the role it plays in textile recycling.

What is a Circular Economy?

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation defines circular economy as “a systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution.” (Found here) When textiles are thrown away and end up in landfills, they produce greenhouse gasses and leach harmful waste into the soil, which affects the environment. To fight textile waste, the circular economy is based on “three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials and regenerate nature.” (Found here) So why is a circular economy important for textiles?

Importance of Circular Economy

A circular economy is important for textiles due to the larger and larger environmental impact made by creating new textiles and disposing of old ones.

“The current system for producing, distributing, and using clothing operates in an almost completely linear way. Large amounts of nonrenewable resources are extracted to produce clothes that are often used for only a short period, after which the materials are largely lost to landfill or incineration. It is estimated that more than half of fast fashion produced is disposed of in under a year. This linear system leaves economic opportunities untapped, puts pressure on resources, pollutes and degrades the natural environment and its ecosystems, and creates significant negative societal impacts at local, regional and global scales.” (Found here)

These resources used to create clothing will run out if continued in their current excess. Oil, fertilizers and water are used in great amounts to grow cotton and make other fibers for textiles.In addition to natural resources being compromised, greenhouse gas emissions are also contributing to the environmental impact of textile production and disposal. “In 2015, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from textiles production totalled 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, more than those of all international flights and maritime shipping combined.” (Found here) A pivot toward a circular economy would drastically reduce these figures and have a profound effect on the future of our planet.

Circular Economy Changes

What would a circular economy look like for the textile industry? What changes need to be made to drastically improve how textiles are made and disposed of? There are four points that the Ellen MacArthur Foundation proposes to create systemic and lasting change. They are:

Phase out substances of concern and microfiber release
Transform the way clothes are designed, sold and used to break free from their increasingly disposable nature
Radically improve recycling by transforming clothing design, collection, and reprocessing
Make effective use of resources and move to renewable inputs

(Found here)

Each of these points are described in much greater detail in the report and broken down to show how these goals can be attained.

Phase Out Substances of Concern and Microfiber Release

This first point aims to change processes and production of how textiles are made in order to minimize dyes, water use, chemicals and other harmful environmental impacts from creating new textiles. In addition, it looks like changing the way they are made in order to drastically reduce or eliminate plastic microfibers created in the washing process of these textiles.

Transform the Way Clothes are Designed, Sold and Used to Break Free from their Increasingly Disposable Nature

Providing access to quality clothing through new business models and changing perception of clothing from disposable to durable are key components of moving toward sustainability and a circular economy.

Radically Improve Recycling by Transforming Clothing Design, Collection, and Reprocessing

Increasing collection of textiles and creating a big picture mentality connecting each phase of the lifecycle of textiles would enhance the body of recycled textiles overall and build a mindset of continued care from production to marketing to reuse to recycling to end of life.

Make Effective Use of Resources and Move to Renewable Inputs

Effects of a circular economy would greatly reduce the need for raw inputs as textile recycling increases and clothing is utilized in more long-lasting ways, including using renewable resources for creating new clothing.

The Hope for a Circular Economy

Though these changes may seem like a huge hurdle to overcome to create a circular economy, many companies and environmentalists are already making strides toward these goals. We have posted before about companies lowering their dye usage drastically, articles on the idea to add tracking mechanisms to clothing tags to follow textiles from creation to end of life, many designers and companies using recycled textiles in their businesses and designs and sustainable companies that care about all aspects of how their textiles are made, from the quality of life of the textile workers to the environmental effects of creating new clothing and how well the pieces are made. With laws being changed in different countries for the betterment of textile production and proposals such as this one from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the creation and recycling of textiles are being changed for the better, and for that we can hope for a future that involves a truly circular economy.

Slow Fashion & Rags

September 14, 2022November 7, 2024

In our post a few months ago, we introduced the term “slow fashion,” discussing what it means, how it’s different from fast fashion and why it is important to choose slow fashion when making decisions on what clothing to purchase. In this blog we hope to discuss another large reason slow fashion is so important, which is that the slow fashion movement is paramount for the rag and recycling industries directly.

Our parent company, Wipeco, Inc. is a supply company that focuses on providing quality wiping rags to those in the industrial, manufacturing and janitorial industries. And quality is of utmost importance when creating rags from pre-consumer waste and post-consumer used textiles. For the history of wiping rags and the role they have played across the years, check out our blog post, “Wipers”.

Quality Matters

Why is quality so important when it comes to creating wiping rags? Clothing that is poorly made doesn’t make good rags.

“The days of recycled 100 percent cotton wiping rags are pretty much over, and so are the days when wiping rag manufacturers could rely on industry specifications. The problem is that clothes and textiles simply aren’t as well made as they used to be. A shirt that falls apart after a few washes can’t be transformed into a rag suitable for wiping down a freshly washed car or a restaurant table. Cheap fast fashion isn’t just hurting thrift shops; it’s hastening a garment’s trip to the landfill or garbage incinerator.” (“Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”, Minter, p 162)

This is why slow fashion is so important for the wiping rag industry. When consumers choose to care about the quality of their clothing and how it is made and the people who make it, everyone wins. The consumer wins by having a quality item that will last wash after wash and one that they can feel good about buying. The secondhand store wins when the consumer no longer needs that item as it will be in good condition to be resold or sent to a grader. The wiping rag supplier wins by having quality material to sell to industries in need of rags. Because the clothes last longer there is greater demand for second-hand wear in the export market AND it is less labor intensive to sort, as there is a greater percentage of rewearable or reusable items.

Fabric Matters – Polyester vs Cotton

When it comes to wiping rags, the type of fabric matters. Depending on what the rag is needed for, different fabrics will absorb and clean in different ways. Cotton is stronger and more absorbent than polyester, so allows for greater reuse. “When assessing if an old garment will make a useful rag, [Nicole Malalieu, a fashion lecturer at Australian College of the Arts] says “to steer clear of anything that’s polyester or synthetic because it just doesn’t absorb as well”. (Found Here)

Polyester and polyester blends have multifaceted challenges in terms of recycling and reuse of fabric. Polyester and even polyester blended fabrics prove ineffective for use in the wiping rag industry, causing their end of life as a textile to come much sooner than other naturally made fabrics such as cotton. The problems with polyester continue as laundering this fabric releases microplastics into the water and it does not naturally biodegrade in landfills as other textiles would – 100% cotton for example.

Some might ask, “But what about its ability to be recycled again and again into new garments?” Though it may seem a greener alternative due to this possibility, there is no current strategy for efficient separation of blended fabrics such as polyester. In contrast, 100% cotton has multiple reuse options as the absorbent material makes it highly desirable for breathability and absorption, etc.

Slow Matters

From caring for the quality of life of textile workers to caring for the environment and the life of a textile, slow fashion is a win-win for everyone.

The textile worker wins by being given a safe place to work and liveable wages.
The environment wins by having less of its resources used or polluted.
The consumer wins by having a unique, quality piece of clothing to wear that will last longer than fast fashion pieces.
The resale store wins by having quality clothing to resell for better prices.
The wiping rag supplier wins by having better quality wiping rags to supply to industries they serve.
And the environment wins yet again by having biodegradable textiles in landfills at their end of life versus ones that don’t break down.

It is easy to see that slow fashion is the best choice. As you look to purchase new clothing in the future, please consider long term benefits and choose slow fashion retailers that help all of us benefit.

Slow Fashion

July 18, 2022

Chicago Textile Recycling promotes the recycling and education around recycling of textiles. We care where your textiles end up when you no longer need or want them. We care about slowing the amount sent to landfills and the quality of items you choose to buy because eventually those items will leave your closet and higher quality items will last longer and have a better end in the secondhand and recycling market. We care that textiles are created with the environment and workers’ quality of life of high importance. And because we believe that fast fashion works against many of these things we care about and place importance on, we encourage our readers and recyclers to choose a lifestyle of “slow fashion”.

What is Slow Fashion?

So what is slow fashion and why is it important?

Put simply, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. It encompasses an awareness and approach to fashion that considers the processes and resources required to make clothing. It advocates for buying better-quality garments that will last longer, and values fair treatment of people, animals, and the planet along the way. (Read more here)

These are all important pieces to the slow fashion movement…caring for our planet, our animals and our people in the decision on how our clothing is made. Where did this term ‘slow fashion’ come from? “The term ‘slow fashion’ came about quite organically. It was coined by Kate Fletcher of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, following the phenomena of the slow food movement.” (Found here)

We have highlighted before in our blog the importance of Choosing Consciously and 5 Ways to Fight Fast Fashion, and the Slow Fashion movement is one big way we can do both. The slow fashion movement is a purposeful response to fast fashion and about choosing consciously what we wear and buy based on how the item is made and the morals of the company behind it.

Differences Between Fast Fashion and Slow Fashion

Most people have heard the term ‘fast fashion’ and know what it entails, a fashion industry pushing for ever increasing sales of many times cheaply made items with no regard for the environment or the people making the clothing. In fast fashion, there is a push for numerous seasons of new styles every year.

Big brands used to release 2 main collections every year: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. These days, the fashion industry is at an all time crazy peak. The facts: the big names are releasing a whopping 52 “micro-seasons” per year. In other words, we’re looking at one collection / week. Fact is, the fast fashion industry is designed to make you think you are out of style after just one week. (Found here)

In stark contrast, slow fashion

…flips this model on its head with slower production schedules, slow-batch collections, and zero waste designs. Instead of chasing trends (and clogging our landfills), these brands utilize enduring styles with layering options and create classic and versatile pieces. This encourages customers to build minimalist wardrobes and invest in garments that they keep for a lifetime. (Read more here)

What are some characteristics of a slow fashion brand?

“Made from high quality, sustainable materials like linen”
“Garments are more timeless than trendy”
“Often sold in smaller (local) stores rather than huge chain enterprises”
“Locally sourced, produced and sold garments”
“Few, specific styles per collection, which are released twice or maximum three times per year, or a permanent seasonless collection”
“Often made-to-order to reduce unnecessary production”

(List found here)

Why Choose Slow Fashion?

After reading the description and characteristics of slow fashion, what is holding us back from choosing this new way of looking at and purchasing clothing? With constant pressure and advertising from the fast fashion industry, it can be hard to resist the temptation to constantly buy new pieces for our wardrobe. However, keeping in mind the principles of slow fashion, which “include: sustainable materials, fewer collections, fair trade, minimizing waste, making great use of resources and transparency,” (found here) can help each of us remember those things which are more important than donning the latest style. What helps you choose slow fashion? Share on our social media pages or contact us here to tell us why you choose slow fashion.

5 Ways to Fight Fast Fashion

April 18, 2022

This week is Fashion Revolution week. Part of caring for our planet is highlighting the importance of recycling textiles and keeping them out of landfills. Another part of caring for our planet is caring how new textiles are made, including the usage of water and energy, how dyes are used and disposed and the people making those very textiles. Each year, Fashion Revolution week highlights the importance of caring for the conditions textile workers face in their day to day making the clothing items we buy.

History of Fashion Revolution

The Fashion Revolution began in 2013, surrounding the news story about the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh, which

“…housed a number of garment factories, employing around 5,000 people. The people in this building were manufacturing clothing for many of the biggest global fashion brands. The building collapsed and killed 1,134 people and injured more than 2,500 others, making it the fourth largest industrial disaster in history. The victims were mostly young women.” (found here)

Fashion Revolution week is about raising awareness and speaking out against companies that continue to abuse their textile workers through too little pay, long hours, terrible working conditions and various other reasons. It is about creating standards for these same workers and promoting clothing companies with sustainable clothing choices and ethical business practices.

Wondering how you can help? Here are five ways to fight fast fashion.

Social Media Awareness

“One of the simplest ways we can push for industry change is by using social media to challenge brands and hold them accountable to the people in their supply chain during Fashion Revolution week.” (Get Involved Guide, page 11)

How you do this is? Post a picture or video of yourself holding a poster from the Fashion Revolution website on any social media platform and tag the brand of clothing you are wearing. Hashtag your post according to the poster, the most popular of which is #WhoMadeMyClothes? Learn more about how you can help in this way on pages 10-11 of the guide here.

Email Your Policymaker

Another way to fight fast fashion is to email your policymaker and ask #WhoPaysLivingWages? In their “Get Involved Guide”, they offer an email template for doing this, which pushes “for tougher legislation to support” textile workers. You can find the template on page 15 of the guide. They also include a helpful link to find your local policymakers.

Become Knowledgeable About Textiles

Thirdly, Fashion Revolution offers a fanzine “Money Fashion Power” which “explores the hidden stories behind your clothing, what the price you pay for fashion means, how garment workers spend their earnings, and how purchasing power can make positive change.” You can find a link to the fanzine in the Get Involved Guide, page 21. There are also countless books published about textiles, that discuss everything from how clothing is made to the lifecycle of a textile to the history of sweatshops. Knowledge is power and simply educating ourselves about the rights of textile workers is sometimes all that is necessary to ignite passion in joining the cause to fight for others.

Share a Story

Sharing a story or writing a love letter about an article of clothing you own is a fourth way to fight fast fashion. One of the big problems with fast fashion is making textiles into completely disposable items, items that do not have importance or worth. But, if you have ever owned a pair of jeans that fit you like a glove, or been given a quilt that was on the bed of your great grandmother or found a pair of shoes that took away all of your foot pain, you know that this is not true. Textiles do and can have immeasurable worth. Textiles tell stories in and of themselves. Who made the shirt you were wearing? What was happening in that person’s life as they sewed on each sleeve? Who carried it in their cargo and how far did it travel? Each textile has a history and as we have posted in a previous blog, it is important to show respect for our clothes.

When you post a story or love letter, include the hashtags #LovedClothesLast and #FashionLoveStory.

Join the #SmallButPerfect Network

A final way to fight fast fashion is to join the #SmallButPerfect network that supports small businesses and connects them into a network “of change-makers and social enterprises who will transform fashion.” Small businesses often work hard to make sustainable, quality textiles that come from factories with quality living conditions and liveable wages. Supporting these small businesses and connecting them through a network helps them thrive and endure against the mega industry of fast fashion. Find out more in the Guide on pages 32 and 33.

Further Ways to Fight Fast Fashion

These five ways are a small sample to the many ways you can help fight fast fashion. The “Get Involved Guide” on Fashion Revolution’s website has further ways to get involved as well as being filled with information and support for consumers and producers of textiles.

Here at Chicago Textile Recycling, we care deeply about textiles. We care about where they end up, not in landfills but being recycled over and over to their end of life, and we care about where they come from, which includes the hands that weave the fabric and sew the pieces together. We hope that you, reader, will join us in our journey to educate others about the importance of textiles, that you will choose to recycle those in your care and further, that you will learn more about the starting point of these textiles and the hands that make them.

Earth Day Happenings

March 30, 2022

April 22nd is Earth Day, and as the world is slowly opening up again to the possibility of a time after Covid-19, there are many fun ways to get involved this year and help clean up our planet. From park/forest clean ups to educational opportunities to playdates helping teach the next generation about the care of Mother Earth, Chicagoland is offering numerous events to show support this Earth Day.

Chicagoland Events

There are so many exciting events happening this Earth Day. This list does not contain all of them, so feel free to reach out to your local forest preserve or village hall to ask about local events also. Here are some of the events happening in the Chicagoland area.

April 16 (10-12) – Join the Chicago Rotary Club for a morning cleanup of Grant Park.
April 20 (4-5pm) – Palatine Library is offering an hour of Earth Day related stories, science and activities for ages 4-7. Sign up begins 4/6.
April 21 (10:30-12) – If you have kids that love nature, there will be a Nature Play Date at Lincoln Marsh in the Prairie Patch Play Area with activities and open play. Afterwards, there is a picnic lunch.
April 21 (1-1:30) – Come learn how to recycle and create art out of recycled materials at Naper Settlement.
April 22 (1-3) – Clean up litter in Schiller Woods – East. We will provide all of the supplies needed.
April 22 (11-1) – BackYard Nature Center is hosting an Earth Day Celebration at Erickson Woods in Winnetka. There will be hiking, stick carving, nature play and more.
April 22 (3:30-4:45) – Trailside Museum of Natural History is hosting After School Earth Day Activities of planting a tree, making a bird feeder or recycled art.
April 22 (10-2) – Clean up litter in Sauk Trail Woods – Central. We will provide all of the needed supplies.
April 22 (3:30-5:30) – There will be Earth Day Activities offered at Century Park Pavilion all afternoon for families.
April 23 (11-2) – Clean up litter in Beaubien Woods. We will provide all of the needed supplies.
April 23 (12-3) – Crabtree Nature Center is hosting family-friendly Earth Day Activities in their three acre nature play area.
April 24 (All Day) – There are so many fun Earth Day events happening at Brookfield Zoo.

Other Ways to Love our Planet

If you are unable to make one of the above events or a local one in your area, there are other ways to get involved this Earth Day. As noted in our Earth Day post from two years ago, attending an event is not the only way you can show love to our planet. Other ways to be involved are:

Start Your Own Compost

Find out how much garbage you can reduce by placing all of your food scraps into a compost bin instead.

Recycle Textiles

Clean out your closets and dresser this Earth Day and donate all items no longer needed to your closest CTR bin or partner resale store.

Pick Up Trash in Your Neighborhood

Simply step outside your front door to help care for our planet. Go on a family walk with a trash bag and gloves and see what litter you can help clean up around your neighborhood.

Plant Flowers to Attract Bumblebees and Butterflies

Look up which flowers attract butterflies and bumblebees and plant them in your yard to promote the longevity of these species and pollination.

To read more about these ideas on caring for our planet, click on the link above. And if you know of any other events happening in your area, please share them by commenting on the social media post so we can add them to our list. There are many simple ways to get involved and if we all work together and do our part, they all add up to big changes for our planet.

15 Reasons to Recycle

February 28, 2022

Have you ever stopped for a moment as you are once again sifting through your closet or dresser, deciding what to give away, and asked yourself, “Why is it even important to recycle these? What good does it do?” Our answer is that those are great questions! There are countless reasons to recycle textiles. From the health of our planet to decreasing demand in sweatshops to helping others afford gently used clothing to serving communities, there are so many reasons to donate textiles and not simply throw them in the trash. Here is a list of some of the reasons we have come up with to recycle your textiles…

Reduce Waste in Landfill

The first reason to recycle your textiles is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. “More than 146 tons of municipal solid waste (50.0 percent) were landfilled in 2018.” (data found here) From this number, 11.3 million tons of textiles were landfilled in 2018. Both of these numbers increased from 2017 to 2018. Reducing waste sent to landfills has numerous benefits, from saving villages and cities money to slowing the number of landfills needed to accommodate our waste to reducing harmful greenhouse gasses emitted by landfill waste.

Reduce Greenhouse Gasses

The second reason to recycle your textiles is to reduce greenhouse gasses being emitted by landfills. “[Landfilled textiles’] lack of oxygen leads to decomposition through anaerobic digestion, which means that microorganisms break down the organic manner, producing byproducts like methane. Produced consistently and uncontrollably, methane escapes into the atmosphere, harming our air quality and our planet.” (quote found here) Reducing the number of textiles being sent to landfills can improve the air quality, and in turn improve the health of our planet.

Helps Others in Low Income Households

In addition to improving air quality and the health of our planet, recycling textiles also helps others in low income situations. “Selling gently used clothing at a discounted price can help families and individuals dress themselves with dignity and style without breaking the bank. This can help increase self esteem and even help one more easily gain better employment and social mobility.” (quote found here)

Helps Others in Your Community

In addition to helping those in low income households, recycling textiles also supports your community. When you recycle textiles locally, most charity shops or thrift stores use money from sales to pay it forward to different charities and organizations nearby. Whether it is a women’s shelter, or job training facility or serving the homeless, you can feel good about knowing your donations are helping others in your community. And of course, this is in addition to the other benefits of taking care of our planet.

Reduces Energy and Water Consumption

“Every piece of clothing you’re wearing has gone through a complex manufacturing process that uses a high amount of electricity, water, and other energy sources. Recycling clothes saves energy by reducing…the need to make materials from scratch.” (found here) How much does this help? “Manufacturing products produced from raw materials requires consuming a lot of non-renewable energy – up to 95% more energy utilized during the production of virgin materials as opposed to recycled materials.” (found here) Reducing the use of non-renewable resources helps care for our planet.

Sends Message to Fast Fashion

Another reason to recycle textiles and buy secondhand is to send a message to fast fashion that you are not okay with their current business practices. From constantly rotating fashions to never-ending new product lines, fast fashion produces constant pressures to keep up and buy more and more. By choosing to consciously step out of that pressure and focus on making conscientious choices about how you care for the clothes that you own and the new items you do buy, you can send the message by not supporting what fast fashion has to offer. Fast fashion companies AND consumers are responsible for making a new way for consumerism with more ethical practices and more environmentally-friendly methods of production.

Fewer Sweatshops

“The demand for clothing can often lead to outsourcing business practices that result in poor treatment of foreign workers and other basic rights violations.” (found here) In Pietra Rivoli’s 2005 book, “The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy,” she writes,

“According to figures from the U.S. National Labor Committee, some Chinese workers make as little as 12–18 cents per hour working in poor conditions. And with the fierce global competition that demands ever lower production costs, many emerging economies are aiming to get their share of the world’s apparel markets, even if it means lower wages and poor conditions for workers.”

Recycling textiles and buying secondhand reduces the demand for new clothing purchases and sends the message to fast fashion companies that consumers care for those who make their clothing and how it is made.

Helps Others in Developing Countries

In addition to helping those in low income households and supporting those in our communities, recycling textiles can also help others in developing countries. When recycled textiles are sent overseas, workers are employed to sort through bales and other workers are employed to help sell the products in the market. The employment of workers and sale of these used textiles can help bolster a country’s economy when it is struggling to thrive.

Protecting the Planet for Future Generations

“The resources on this planet are ultimately finite. The two key fibers in the textile industry are cotton and polyester which represent over 85% of global fiber production. Cotton relies on a finite land mass for agriculture and competes with food production. Polyester relies on finite sources of oil (petroleum based) and its extraction is damaging to the environment.” (found here)

In addition to depleting finite resources in producing new textiles, there are many harmful environmental factors with sending textiles to landfills. From reducing waste and greenhouse gasses to reducing contaminated groundwater and deadly diseases, there are numerous reasons to recycle textiles to help protect our planet. Instead of contributing to its demise and playing a further role in the problem, we each can choose to help our planet become a cleaner and better place to live, both for ourselves and future generations.

Reduces Demand for Dyes and Fixing Agents

Another reason to recycle textiles is to reduce the need for dyes and fixing agents that contaminate groundwater.

“Textile products use dye when manufacturing from virgin sources – recycling allows less production and usage of harmful dyes. Many dyes do not degrade in water, while others produce harmful substances that leach into surrounding soil and groundwater. Recycling reuses materials that have already been dyed, which helps in reducing wastewater – another major contributor to large amounts of pollution.” (found here)

This is yet another factor in taking care of our planet. We have posted before about companies that are finding ways to reuse dyes in their textiles or ways around this harmful practice. By recycling textiles and buying secondhand, we can slow the process of this contamination.

Recycling Saves Money

Contamination also occurs in landfills, which can cost villages and towns a large amount of money to maintain and clean up. When comparing costs of recycling facilities and landfills, “landfilling can be three times more expensive than recycling. The health cost benefits from reduced pollution and greenhouse gas emissions can add up to more than $55.00 per ton less than landfilling.” What causes these higher costs for landfills? “Landfills eventually leak. The toxic waste can seep into the ground, contaminating soil and water. Cleanup costs run into tens of millions of dollars [to] taxpayers.” (quotes found here)

Reduces Contaminated Groundwater

As mentioned in the previous two reasons for textile recycling, contaminated groundwater is a serious issue affected by production of new textiles and sending old textiles to landfills. The wastewater that results from using harmful dyes and fixing agents in textile production leeches into groundwater and pollutes water used by communities and wildlife. Textiles that are non biodegradable sent to landfills eventually leak toxic waste into surrounding soil and water, also affecting surrounding communities and wildlife. “Landfills leach a myriad of pollutants that range from heavy metals to priority pollutants to organic compounds that contaminate groundwater. Once groundwater is contaminated it is impossible to clean up and the EPA recommends abandoning the source.” (found here)

Recycling Creates Jobs

“For each one job that is created by a landfill, recycling processing can create 10 new jobs, and an additional 25 jobs are created by recycling-based manufacturers.” In textile recycling, there are nearly countless jobs to fill: thrift store employees, graders, sorters, downcyclers, barge operators and shipyard workers, researchers, entrepreneurs, chemical recyclers, designers, seamstresses, jobs for you and me who sell used items on internet platforms, and on and on.

Reduces Deadly Diseases

One more reason to recycle textiles is to reduce potential deadly diseases from contamination in landfills. In their post on reasons to recycle, Cacala states “inhaling greenhouse gasses can lead to respiratory ailments, and contaminated water leads to infectious diseases like typhoid, diarrhea, and dysentery.” When we choose to recycle textiles, we decrease the amount that is headed into landfills, thus reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted and reducing the amount of pollutants contaminating the groundwater.

Buying Used is Fashionable

“Repurposed, recycled, and reused clothing is gaining a larger niche each year in modern society. Thrift store finds are not only good for the environment, humanity, and your wallet, but they are also actually very fashionable.” (found here) We have posted before about buying used and vintage at the Holidays for a one of a kind piece to give to those you love. Resale sites are growing exponentially and include millions of sellers and buyers scouting items for rare and vintage, as well as everyday used items in good condition. In our previous blog on the Conscious Closet, Elizabeth Cline talks about purchasing vintage items in thrift stores and on online resale platforms to create her capsule wardrobe and her own unique look.

Recycling Textiles

Here at Chicago Textile Recycling, we are thankful for each of you who chooses to donate old textiles. “By supporting an initiative like clothing recycling, you are not only taking action against overconsumption, violation of human rights, and environmental degradation, you are contributing to your own personal empowerment.” (found here) Textile recycling and shopping secondhand are small ways to help out in big ways. For more information about acceptable items or any questions you may have, please contact us.

5 Fast Facts about Textile Recycling

September 8, 2021

Here at Chicago Textile Recycling, we think recycling your textiles is not only important, but vital to the well-being of our planet. It cuts down immensely on waste at landfills and has an incredible impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Ready to learn five fast facts?

3.8 Billion Pounds

“The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average person throws away 81 pounds of clothing per year. That adds up to 3.8 billion pounds of unnecessary waste added to our landfills.” (quote found here)

Why do people choose to throw away textiles? Potential reasons could be:

Not enough information about what can and cannot be recycled (found here)
Easier to throw away (found on infographic here)
Resources for textile recycling are too far away

Each of these reasons are things we can work to eradicate together. As we educate our readers on textile recycling, we can all do our part in sharing this information with neighbors and friends and families, extending knowledge so more people know the profound and long-lasting benefits of recycling. We can likewise encourage and challenge ourselves and others to take the time and make the choice to recycle textiles instead of throwing them away. And if you know of areas in need of a textile recycling bin, please contact us so that we can provide more coverage for those who want to recycle.

Clean and Dry

“Any textile item, even if it’s worn, torn, or stained, can be recycled. You can even recycle a single shoe! Items simply need to be clean and dry.”

In our previous blog on “Textile Recycling 101”, we discussed our ability to accept worn, torn or stained textiles as long as the items are clean and dry. Even one wet or smelly item in your donation bag can render the whole bag or box unusable so please make sure each and every item is clean and dry before dropping off your donation.

And yes, though paired shoes are preferred, we also accept single shoes.

Decreased Need for Natural Resources

“Recycling clothing and textiles decreases the use of natural resources, such as water used in growing crops and petroleum used in creating new clothing and textiles. It also decreases the need for chemicals used in manufacturing new textiles and the pollution caused by the manufacturing process.”

In addition to keeping textiles out of landfills, recycling old clothing and textiles also benefits the earth when others use your donated items. Wearing used clothing and shoes or purchasing used textiles such as curtains reduces the need for producing new items. This cuts down on precious natural resources needed to produce new textiles.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

“10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by clothing and footwear production. This is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.” (found here)

Overproduction in the fashion industry is a huge problem. Though fashion companies need to do their part in producing less clothing and make their products more sustainable, the consumer also has a responsibility in what they purchase. With such a large amount of clothing available in the world, choose wisely and sustainably in your purchase decisions. To cut back on greenhouse gases, consider buying used at thrift stores or in one of many online used marketplaces.

95% Can Be Recycled

According to the infographic found here at the website for Secondary Materials And Recycled Textiles, “95% of textiles worn or torn can be recycled.”

This is a HUGE reason to recycle old textiles. With 85% of textiles being thrown away, what a big difference it would make to instead recycle those items. Of those recycled textiles, 95% can be used again, either for reuse by a new owner, downcycled into wiping rags or broken down to fiber content.

Recycling Recap

Now that you know these five fast facts, what is stopping you from recycling your textiles? Help us in our mission to educate others about the importance and impact of textile recycling and share this blog with your friends and family. Have you heard any interesting facts about textile recycling that you’d like to share with us? Comment below on the blog or on our social media pages.

The Value of Textiles

June 16, 2021June 4, 2021

Less than a century ago, clothing was a valued possession. Mostly made by hand, it was expensive and hard to come by. Very well-made pieces could be passed down. Much of it was tailored to fit the owner. The few pieces a person owned were well cared for, washed gently and quickly mended to last longer. This is seldom true today.

“We’ve adopted a disconnected, throwaway attitude that extends into the laundry room, and it has erased our knowledge of caring for our clothes. I see wearable clothes in trashcans on my block on a regular basis. While sorting clothes, I see pieces tossed out with stains and small rips that, with proper know-how, can be tackled in minutes.” (Cline, Conscious Closet, p 211-212)

Is this a problem of the durability of clothes or the attitude of consumers or simple lack of knowhow in clothing care? It seems a little bit of all three.

Durability of Clothing

“How long should clothing last? We don’t often find out. Most everyday casual clothing like jeans, T-shirts, socks and basic knits can and should last at the bare minimum one hundred to three hundred wears, or three years of regular wear and washing.” (Wrap UK Guide cited in Conscious Closet)

However, many consumers never reach that mark.

“Let’s put that in perspective. We know from Chapter 16 that some consumers wear their clothes only three times, which amounts to 3 percent of a typical garment’s useful life.” (Telegraph article cited in Conscious Closet)

If clothing is made to last three years, what is the reason much of it is being worn only three times? Most likely it is the problem of overconsumption. If you have more clothes than you can possibly wear, much of it is not reaching its use potential. Articles of clothing are made to last several years, but amidst a closet of hundreds of items most likely won’t reach that potential.

“More durable items like suits, blazers, jackets, coats, and tailored dresses can last even longer, five years to a decade at least, if cared for properly. Whether you plan to wear, sell, or donate your clothes, we should each do our part to make all clothing last several years or 100 wears. Let’s get to it!” (p 212)

So what can we do to help our clothing reach its use potential? We can pare our closet down to items that we truly love and want to wear, and donate the rest. We can shop smart and only choose to buy pieces that fit us well, or that we love so much we would be willing to tailor and wear again and again.

Changing Our Mindset

“Another study of UK consumers, found that a third of consumers toss out a garment if a stain doesn’t lift on the first try. A quarter admitted to not even bothering to lift a stain, if the item was cheap.” (Vanish Article on PRNewswire cited in Conscious Closet)

In her book Conscious Closet, Cline encourages her readers to change their mindset about inexpensive clothing. Even clothing that is inexpensive deserves to be treated well. We need to change our mindset about clothing in general in order to make a difference in the problems of overconsumption and overproduction. Clothing, as Cline shares, is such an intimate product we use and should be cared for accordingly.

When we change our mindset about the value of clothing, we choose to care for each item we own. We take care to mend small holes and rips. We ask for advice on lifting stains and wash multiple times with care if necessary. We donate items when they no longer fit our bodies or our style or in our closet.

Clothing Care Knowhow

“A 2014 study found that the millennial generation, raised on fast fashion, lacks mastery of basic clothing repairs and laundry skills when compared to their parents and grandparents.” (HuffPost article cited in Conscious Closet)

In middle school, I took home economics. Though believed by many middle school kids to be a silly and unnecessary class, it was there that I learned basic sewing skills that remain quite useful as an adult. But how many kids take this class, and of those that do, how many choose the sewing center? Are parents teaching their children these basic skills or is this one more thing being lost amidst the age of technology? Fortunately with the ever expanding information found online, youtube and other video sites abound with how-tos for basic hand sewing and sewing machine knowhow. For those who didn’t learn from parents or school, a quick lesson is a click away.

In her book, Cline covers the differences in textiles and the minimal cleaning much of your clothing actually needs. We are raised to assume that all pieces of clothing need to immediately go to the wash after being worn once, but Cline shares that this is not the case.

“The fashion industry is peddling so-called easy-care clothes, while laundry detergent brands and appliance makers have automated the process of stain removal and cleaning, all with higher and higher environmental costs. We’re doing laundry around the clock, calling into question the idea that washing machines are saving us time. We can do so much better.” (Conscious Closet, p 211-212)

Reset and Change

Whether it is a quick lesson on stain removal, simple mending, clothing care or a complete change in our mindset, let’s work together to educate ourselves and each other around the value of textiles. May we choose sustainable and quality pieces, slowly building up a wardrobe that we love. May we take proper care of each item regardless of the price we paid for it. And may we always remember to donate our textiles.