Clothing reuse has a 70 times lower environmental impact reveals new study

A new life-cycle assessment (LCA) commissioned by the European textile reuse and recycling industry  has confirmed the significant CO2 and water savings of reusing textiles compared to producing new clothing. The environmental impact of reusing textiles is 70 times lower, even when accounting for global exports for reuse including transport emissions.

More specifically, the study revealed that a massive 3kg of CO2 is saved for each high/medium-quality clothing that is reused. While only a mere 0.01% of the water used to produce new clothing is required for reuse. These results come on the back of the EU launching its Strategy for Sustainable Textiles just a few months ago and requirements for Member States to start collecting textiles separately by 2025.

While the study confirms waste hierarchy assumptions on the environmental benefits of reuse over recycling, in the case of low-quality clothing, typically entirely composed of polyester, recycling also has comparative environmental benefits when consumers are less likely to purchase second-hand clothing.