Thrifting Your Way to a Smaller Carbon Footprint: Sustainable Shopping for the Win!

Written By Laura Bowman

Okay, let’s talk about the planet for a sec. We all want to do our part in saving the Earth, but let's be honest: sometimes it feels like a lot of pressure, right? Between reducing plastic use, eating plant-based, and driving less, it’s easy to feel like you’re just spinning your wheels. But what if I told you there’s a super fun, low-effort way to shrink your carbon footprint—and it involves shopping? Yep, you guessed it. Thrift shopping!

That’s right. By purchasing secondhand clothing, you’re not just scoring unique pieces at amazing prices—you’re also making a real impact on reducing your carbon emissions. Don’t believe me? Well, buckle up, because I’m about to drop some knowledge and stats that’ll have you saying, “I’m never buying new again.”

Why Thrifting Matters: The Carbon-Heavy Impact of Fast Fashion

First, let’s talk about the issue with fast fashion—the villain of the clothing world. Fast fashion is all about producing tons of cheap clothes to keep up with constantly changing trends. Sounds fun, but here’s the catch: the clothing industry is the second-largest polluting industry in the world, just behind oil (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, n.d.). In fact, it contributes about 10% of global carbon emissions every year (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2021). And you know who’s responsible for most of that? You guessed it: brand-new clothes.

  • Clothing production alone accounts for roughly 92 million tons of textile waste each year (ThredUp, 2022).

  • The production of cotton (a key material for many fast fashion items) uses 2,700 liters of water per T-shirt, which is enough for one person to drink for 2.5 years (EPA, 2021).

  • And let’s not even get started on the carbon emissions from transportation—fast fashion brands are shipping items worldwide at the speed of light, which, you guessed it, isn’t doing the environment any favors (Global Fashion Agenda, 2021).

So yeah, fast fashion = big environmental mess.

How Thrifting Helps: Your Secret Weapon for Carbon Reduction

Now here’s where thrifting comes in. When you buy secondhand, you’re keeping clothes out of landfills and reducing the need for new clothes to be made. That’s a huge win! In fact, studies have shown that if we shopped secondhand instead of new for just one year, it would save around $33 billion worth of goods from being thrown away (ThredUp, 2022). That's a lot of stuff!

But the environmental savings don’t stop there. Consider this:

  • Buying a secondhand T-shirt reduces carbon emissions by 73% compared to buying a new one (ThredUp, 2022). That's a carbon savings equivalent to driving a car for 30 miles!

  • A single pair of secondhand jeans can save nearly 5,000 liters of water (that’s the same as two months’ worth of drinking water for one person) (EPA, 2021).

When you opt for thrifted clothes, you’re not just saving money—you’re also saving water, energy, and raw materials. Your new-to-you vintage jacket? It’s basically a climate hero in disguise. 🦸‍♀️

Thrifting: The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Habit

So, let’s talk about what happens when you hit your favorite thrift store instead of running to the mall. Each time you buy secondhand, here’s how you’re making a difference:

  1. Less waste: Instead of tossing unwanted clothes into the trash, they get a second life in your closet. Plus, you’re diverting them from landfills, where they would otherwise take years—sometimes decades—to break down.

  2. Fewer emissions: Since you’re buying clothes that were already produced, you’re helping to cut down on the manufacturing emissions associated with new clothing production.

  3. Conserve resources: No new raw materials needed when you thrift. The water and energy used to create new clothes—that’s all saved when you buy secondhand.

Stats That’ll Make You Want to Thrift Like There’s No Tomorrow

Here’s the real kicker: the numbers don’t lie. If we all made just a few small changes to the way we shop, we could see big improvements for the environment. Check out these stats:

  • Secondhand shopping reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 3,800 tons per year. That’s like taking about 800 cars off the road for a year (ThredUp, 2022).

  • In 2021, thrift store sales saved 3.5 million metric tons of CO2 (thanks to all those secondhand shoppers out there!) (The RealReal, 2021).

  • Thrifting saves more than 70% of the water and energy needed to make new clothes. Imagine how much better off the planet would be if more people joined the secondhand movement! (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, n.d.).

The Takeaway: Thrift and Be Mighty!

So, what have we learned today? Thrifting isn’t just a fun way to score unique, vintage pieces—it’s an effective, eco-friendly habit that reduces your carbon footprint and helps keep the planet a little greener. From saving water and energy to preventing textile waste from piling up in landfills, secondhand shopping is a simple yet impactful way to make a difference.

Not bad for a trip to your local thrift store, right? 🌿

Next time you’re in need of a new wardrobe refresh, skip the fast fashion and head to a thrift store instead. Your closet (and the Earth) will thank you! 🌍💚

Want to start thrifting? Check out your local thrift stores or online platforms like Reduce Reuse Rewear!

Sources:

Laura Bowman
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