Swap the way you shop for clothes and help the planet

Local councils are urging residents to think differently about their clothes shopping habits to benefit the planet this autumn – with Greater Cambridge households currently throwing away around 2,500 tonnes of clothes in their rubbish every year.

This means a huge amount of clothing ends up being buried in landfill – harming the environment when much of it could instead be repaired, re-used or passed on.

The global fashion industry accounts for up to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions – more than aviation and shipping combined. Meanwhile, an average Briton has around 50 items of clothing in their wardrobe that they have never worn.

September marks several national prompts to think about our wardrobes, from Zero Waste Week and Oxfam’s Second-hand September to Sustainable Fashion Week. Whether it’s the vast amounts of water and land used, poor working conditions of garment workers or the pollution and mountains of waste clothing generated, what we wear and how many clothes we buy carries a heavy cost.

Greater Cambridge Shared Waste – a partnership between South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City councils – is keen to point out how easy it can be to make positive changes in our wardrobes.

Executive Councillor for Climate Action and Environment at Cambridge City Council, Cllr Rosy Moore, said: “There are so many options now for swapping the way you shop, passing on unwanted clothes and mending. You can shop for pre-loved clothes on apps like Vinted and Depop, websites like eBay or local charity shops and vintage market stalls. Hiring clothes is cheap and easy with websites like Hirestreet. Donate your old clothes to charity, take them into M&S or other shops with take-back schemes or even pop them in the post with free envelope schemes like Oxfam’s. Visible mending is a lovely trend right now which celebrates the life of your clothes, or you can get help from local repair businesses or from volunteers at Repair Cafes.”

Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, Natalie Warren-Green, said: “There are many opportunities for all of us to change the way we consume clothes.

"We buy far too many new clothes – more than any other shoppers in Europe – and throw them away too easily.

"We’ve just had a lunchtime ‘Swish’ event – a clothing swap – for staff at South Cambridgeshire Hall which was a great way to get an updated but sustainable wardrobe and have a clear-out all in one.

"Local businesses and community groups can borrow a Swish Kit funded by the council to put on their own events, from the charity Cambridge Carbon Footprint.

"I’d also like to remind residents never to put clothing in their blue recycling bins, where it gets ruined, but to please take it to clothing banks like those often found at supermarket car parks or directly to charity shops to pass on instead.”