In the age of TikTok clothing hauls and ultra-fast fashion, our shopping habits are harming our environment in a big way. Australians have recently overtaken Americans as the world’s biggest fashion consumers, with the highest per capita carbon footprint from fashion consumption in the world. This overconsumption translates to 227,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in Australian landfills every year. Yikes.
The average Australian buys a whopping 56 garments per year. That’s more than one new piece of clothing a week. According to Green Industries SA’s lead educator Shani Wood, the number of new garments we should be buying each year is five, if Australia is going to keep its Paris Agreement pledge to help global warming stay at less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
“I don’t think the general public really understands the impact that buying clothes when you don’t need them has on the environment,” says Shani.
The high cost of cheap clothes
Globally, the fashion industry produces a shocking 10 per cent of global CO2 emissions – that’s more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Shani says it’s second only to mining, which is responsible for 20 per cent of global wastewater emissions.
“With the rise of easy to access online ‘ultra-fast fashion’, it’s becoming worse,” says Shani. The average person now buys 60 per cent more clothing and keeps items for half as long as they did 15 years ago. If unchecked, the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions could surge more than 50 per cent by 2030.
South Australia’s circular solution
Our state leads the nation in its drive towards circularity by diverting more than 82 per cent of our waste from landfill thanks to recycling efforts to recover glass, plastic and paper. And now we’re turning our attention to circular fashion.
Forget the old “buy, wear, toss” routine – circular clothing is all about keeping those threads in use for as long as possible. “The circular model means that first, if you needed an item of clothing, you’d source it as sustainably as possible,” says Shani.
“You’d then try to buy a durable item that you know will last longer, wear it for as long as possible, repair it if needed, and then give it to a friend or charity if you no longer want it. If it’s at the end of its life, you’d send it off to be recycled.”
Adelaide’s thriving second-hand scene
Want to make a difference? Shani says the most sustainable way to buy clothes is to go vintage. Luckily for local fashionistas, Adelaide boasts a vibrant second-hand fashion scene with rent-a-rack stores, consignment shops, thrift stores, clothing swaps, markets and online platforms. These options offer affordable and sustainable ways to refresh your wardrobe.
In 2013, Marjukka Wilson brought a slice of her Finnish upbringing to Adelaide – the “rent-a-rack” concept. A sustainable fashion model popular in Finland since the 80s, it allows people to rent space in a store to sell their pre-loved clothing. Shoppers can snag affordable, quality preloved bargains, while sellers easily recycle their clothes and earn money without the hassle of online listings.
“I grew up with this concept of recycling and selling clothes,” says Marjukka. “It’s very popular in Finland, and in every suburb of Helsinki there’s a shop like that. When I moved to Australia, I missed that way of shopping.”
Identifying this gap in the market, she opened the country’s first rent-a-rack market in Prospect in 2018. The eco-friendly model quickly gained traction.
Today, Marjukka’s Prelove stores can be found across Adelaide, at Hove, Marion and West Lakes. Her latest store, called Goldie, has just opened in Beulah Park. Marjukka attributes her stores’ success to growing consumer awareness: “I’m sure sustainable fashion will get better in the future as people learn more about it. It’s important to start somewhere.”
Marjukka’s tips for sustainable shopping:
Prioritise quality, sustainable brands: “Look for sustainable brands, but if budget is an issue, try finding those items at a preloved clothing store.”
Shop your own wardrobe: “Really think – do you need to buy something new, or do you already have something similar at home?”
The one-in-one-out rule: “If you buy something new, recycle something old from your wardrobe. Don’t just add without thinking.”
Leading the change: Green Industries SA
Green Industries SA (GISA), the state government department driving the circular economy, is actively tackling textile waste. They invest in recovery technology, research waste reduction and promote responsible disposal.
GISA partnered with textile recycling company BlockTexx and eight metropolitan councils to host its first “Give a Sheet” linen drive across metropolitan Adelaide in May. South Aussies were invited to drop off their old and worn bedroom, bathroom and kitchen linens for recycling.
Shani was delighted by the turnout. “We had eight locations across Adelaide open for six hours,” she says. “In that time, 850 households donated almost 10 tonnes of linen—the equivalent of 40,000 bed sheets and 10,000 bath towels.” Shani and GISA are confident this is just the start of our state leading the way towards a circular textile economy.
A national effort: Seamless
The Australian fashion industry is also stepping up with the Seamless Clothing Stewardship Scheme. Backed by the federal government, this Australian Fashion Council initiative launched in July and aims to improve clothing design, reuse, and recycling through a four-cent levy on each piece of clothing sold by participating brands.
Your guide to circular fashion
Want to make a difference? Here’s how:
Shop smarter. Choose second-hand and consider renting for special occasions.
Choose quality. If you want to invest in a pricey new piece, look for well-made, durable items that will last a lifetime.
Learn to mend at a repair café (or visit a tailor!). Sewing a button back on is cheaper and easier than buying a new coat.
Care for your clothes. Follow washing instructions and air dry when possible – they’ll last longer.
Dispose responsibly. If the item is still in good condition, you can sell or donate it to charity. If not, look for recycling options. If you have to bin it, use the waste bin – NEVER the council recycling bin. Shani says it messes up the whole recycling process by jamming and breaking the machines that sort recycled waste.
For more information on how Green Industries SA is promoting circular textiles and sustainable fashion, click here.
This story originally appeared on The Post – a media partnership between the Government of South Australia and Solstice Media to inform young South Australians about the policies that underpin issues affecting their lives.