BucStyle: Creating a circular economy

Creating a Circular Economy

(Contributed/atozenlife.com)

The fashion industry is a leading contributor to the growing landfill epidemic, but consumers and businesses are combatting this by creating a more circular economy.

A circular economy focuses on the reuse and regeneration of materials and products.

Environmentalists and sustainability experts advocate for this system to help reduce much of the damage caused by overproduction and overconsumption.

The most common practice used is to resell old clothing through apps like Poshmark, Mercari or ThredUp. Consumers make money through the sale of previously loved clothes and avoid putting fully intact garments in the trash.

Fashion rental companies are also popular. Traditional rental apps work with retailers directly to rent out products to consumers. However, peer-to-peer rental is becoming increasingly popular.

Loanhood and ByRotation allow consumers to lend out personal clothing to be rented and returned to other consumers, cutting out the middleman. Some users have made upwards of $1,000 just by renting out a single item of clothing.

Small and student fashion designers are joining these apps by producing small collections that can be rented out. They receive visibility and make money, while reducing the need for overproduction.

Unfortunately, this model places the responsibility of laundering, maintenance, and shipping on the consumer.

Consumers are not the only ones sourcing pre-owned goods. LePrix is a business-to-business model that sources pre-owned luxury goods, authenticates them, and distributes them to various businesses.

Outside of reselling and reusing clothes, consumers can also recycle them.

(Contributed/ecomena.org)

Retold recycling and For Days allow consumers to ship unwanted and unsellable clothing to be recycled.

These take-back programs sort through used and damaged clothing and do one of three things: donate to charities, send to thrift stores, or downcycle them into new materials.

There are a multitude of ways to engage in creating a circular economy, and it is up to the consumer to decide which is the best fit for them.

Related

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
• SDG 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
• SDG 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
• SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
• SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 12.5: Waste generation per capita
• Indicator for SDG 12.8: Number of people reached with information and awareness-raising campaigns on sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
• Indicator for SDG 13.3: Number of education and awareness programs on climate change
• Indicator for SDG 14.1: Amount of marine debris and nutrient pollution in oceans
• Indicator for SDG 15.5: Extent of habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: easttennessean.com

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