Recycling old clothes

Why it’s important and Why Recycle Your Textiles?

Recycling old clothes and textiles is important for several reasons. First and foremost, it helps to reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. When textiles are sent to landfills, they can take hundreds of years to break down and release harmful greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.

By recycling textiles, we can also conserve natural resources such as water and energy that are used in the production of new textiles. Recycling textiles also reduces the demand for new textiles, which can help to decrease the negative environmental impact associated with textile production, such as water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the use of toxic chemicals.

In addition, recycling textiles can create new job opportunities and stimulate the economy by providing raw materials for new products. It also promotes the circular economy, where waste is seen as a valuable resource that can be reused, repurposed, or recycled.

Partnering with companies like UPPAREL can also help to ensure that recycling processes are sustainable and traceable, and that nothing is sent offshore or to landfill. By choosing to recycle your textiles, you can help to create a more sustainable and responsible textile industry and make a positive impact on the environment.

This is why Slappa’s Thongs has partnered with UPPAREL because they share a commitment to sustainability and environmental management.

Partnering with UPPAREL also allows Slappa’s Thongs to take responsibility for their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. By working with UPPAREL, Slappa’s Thongs can ensure that their textile waste is repurposed or recycled in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

Slappa’s Thongs partnership with UPPAREL is a positive step towards reducing textile waste and promoting sustainability in the fashion industry.

How to recycle clothes

Slappa’s Thongs has made it easy for consumers to recycle their unwanted textiles by building a landing page specifically for this purpose. By partnering with UPPAREL, Slappa’s Thongs can ensure that the textiles are recycled in the most sustainable way possible. And by offering rewards to consumers who recycle with their brand, Slappa’s Thongs is incentivizing consumers to make a positive impact on the environment.

UPPAREL’s approach to recycling is admirable and aligns with the principles of a circular economy. By recycling just about anything and everything, UPPAREL is maximizing the use of resources and minimizing waste. This is particularly important in the fashion industry, where textile waste is a significant problem.

By using recycled textiles to replace synthetics made from virgin materials, UPPAREL is helping to reduce the demand for new textiles and conserve resources. This approach also helps to reduce the environmental impact of textile production, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems.

Where to recycle unwearable clothes

Recycling clothes can be done in a variety of ways, and consumers have many options to choose from. Here are a few ways to recycle clothes:

1. Donate clothes to charity – Many charities accept clothing donations, which can be sold or distributed to people in need.
2. Swap with friends or family – Organize a clothes swap with friends or family members to exchange clothes that are no longer wanted.
3. Sell clothes online – Websites like eBay or Depop allow consumers to sell their unwanted clothes online.
4. Recycle clothes with a brand – Many fashion brands have recycling programs where consumers can send in their old clothes to be recycled. Some of these programs offer rewards or incentives for recycling with the brand.

Recycle clothes directly with a recycling company like UPPAREL is an Australian textile recycling company who have partnered with Australian company Slappa’s Thongs, https://upparel.com.au/slappasthongs

Why is it important to recycle clothes

Every 10 minutes, 6,000kg of textile waste is discarded into Australian landfills. 

On average, Australians purchase 27kg of new textiles and discard 23kg annually. About 7% of these items get recycled and the rest is left to decompose in landfills over hundreds of years. 

This needless waste releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and leeches dyes into the waterways and the soil – contaminating crops and safe drinking water. It’s clear that the linear fashion economy we currently use is unsustainable, and change is well overdue. 

The world is in a textile waste crisis and the need for a circular economy has never been more important – let’s stop landfills becoming landfilled! 

Reusing clothes

For items that are still fit for wear, UPPAREL have an open-door policy for charities, social enterprises, non-for-profits. They can come to our warehouse and collect as much clothing as they need and go out and make an impact with it.

Every charity/social enterprise we vet to ensure they are Australian or New Zealand based and all activities are onshore.

UPPAREL are providing them with guaranteed wearable goods and can facilitate opportunities for people to come in and make an impact.

Recycling clothes

Where items are not fit for wear, UPPAREL break down the textiles into different materials and different fabrics. From there they begin the recycling process.

Mainly this means taking these textiles and tearing them into a super fine cushion-like fibre material. From there this fibre can be used again in pillows, insulation, furniture etc.

Through their textile reuse and repurposing processes, they are creating innovative changes. Taking what we would normally see as waste, converting it and utilising it as a resource.

Upcycling clothes

Upcycling clothing is the process of transforming old, worn-out or unused clothes into something new and useful, rather than simply throwing them away. It is a sustainable practice that helps reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

There are many ways to upcycle clothing, depending on your creativity and skill level. Some common methods include:

1. Patchwork: Using fabric scraps to create new pieces of clothing or accessories.
2. Dyeing: Giving old clothes a new colour or pattern by dyeing them.
3. Embellishing: Adding buttons, beads, lace, or other decorative elements to spruce up old clothes.
4. Refashioning: Cutting and sewing old clothes into new styles or designs.
5. Reusing: Turning old clothes into new items such as bags, pillow covers, or even rugs.

Upcycling clothing is not only environmentally friendly but can also be a fun and rewarding creative project. It allows you to give a new lease of life to old clothes and create unique, personalized items that reflect your personal style.

Recycle your clothes today for Slappa’s Thongs credit

Recycling old clothes is an essential aspect of sustainable living. It not only helps reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills but also helps conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of new clothes.

That’s why I highly encourage everyone to consider recycling their old clothes instead of throwing them away through the partnership with Upparel and Slappa’s Thongs.

Slappa’s Thongs offers a unique deal when you send 10kg of your old and unwanted clothing you will receive a $20 online store credit to spend online at Slappa’s Thongs.

All you need to do is visit https://www.upparel.com.au/slappasthongs

Please note: Your worn and old Slappa’s Thongs currently cannot be recycled with Upparel. We actively working with Upparel and other recycling companies to find solutions for recycling old thongs. In the meantime, we recommend reaching out to Denise at info@slappasthongs.com.au for guidance on how to properly dispose of your old Slappa’s Thongs for suggestions on alternative recycling or repurposing options.