too good to toss


Too Good to Toss

The fashion and textile industries employs over one sixth of the worlds population and subsequently has a huge impact on the environment, and health and well being of millions of people.  Consumers and communities around the world (including here in New Zealand) feel the effect of fast fashion, as cheap prices have encouraged us to buy more and we no longer understand the true value of clothing, which was once a treasured possession and is now viewed as a throwaway item.

New Zealand Charity stores estimate 40-80% of textile donations are of such poor quality they are unsalable, and are sent to landfill, the Pacific islands or turned into rags.  In 2006, 4% of our total landfill was textiles (equivalent to 31.5kg per person), however this figure is expected to have risen dramatically as the U.K. have reported textiles account for 30% of landfill which has risen from 7% over the last 5 years.


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