The circular economy for textile production and consumption aims at reducing the negative impact fast fashion has on our planet. At its core, the circular (loop) economy faces two opposing forces:
- the mounting regulatory oversight and compliance costs in textile production and selling, even after the end of the life of the goods, and
- the growing competition between clothes brands in pro-consumer practices, prioritizing choice and ease of shopping, especially for online shoppers.
Each side will need to adapt and change, the sooner, the better, but what to do?
Manufacturers and sellers
- Donate unsold and returned clothes, rather than incinerate (that release gases and chemicals) or dump in landfills (increasingly regulated and pollutes the planet)
- Encourage reuse and not recycling as the act of recycling the fibres requires fuel for transporting to warehouses and factories that need water, electricity, staff facilities etc to operate
- Encourage reuse by promoting renting services, second-hand shopping, mending clothes
- Raise the barriers to return goods that have been purchased, for example, by increasing the level of difficulty and discomfort to return goods; shortening the time for accepting returns; publishing accurate size guides and product specifications
- Improve the quality of the clothes.
Consumers
- Think twice, click once when shopping online - if in doubt, don't buy
- De-clutter the contents of house and office
- Support thrift shops, clothes banks and charities
- Rent outfits for those special occasions but check the size guides and the costs.
Small changes here and there and everywhere from everyone will go a long way to stop fast fashion costing the earth.
Contact us: www.lexify.co.za
***