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Even 100 billion clothing items are produced every year globally and this number is growing uncontrollably. 92 million tons of them go to landfills, we can equate this amount to one full truck every minute.
In the countries of the European Union, 12.6 million tons of textile waste are generated annually , out of which we recycle just 1% into new textile fabric. One European consumes 26 kg textile products annually, 12 kg. from them are thrown away. In Lithuania numbers are even higher - up to 20 kg. disposed textile waste.
According to Eurostat data, Lithuanians spend 4% of their income on clothes and footwear. Research shows that we only wear 20% of the clothes we buy.
Textile industry is the second largest polluter globally.
Although the textile industry is becoming more innovative and finding more ways to produce more sustainable products, it still has a huge negative impact on our environment. One of the biggest reasons for this is the fast growing segment of fast fashion. A considerable part of textiles that are no longer suitable for use are thrown into municipal waste containers and immediately become unsuitable for either secondary use or recycling.
In order to ensure the continued life of textiles, we must sort them and throw them in the containers intended for this purpose. Only clean and dry clothes, shoes, handbags, belts, curtains, bedding, soft toys, home textiles can be placed in the textile waste container.
We must pack the textile products in plastic bags, tie them and close the lid after putting them in the container. It is strictly forbidden to leave textile products next to containers.
Diapers, paper, wood, glass, plastic, food and plant and animal excrement cannot be thrown into textile containers. With such waste, we will contaminate the textile containers and damage their contents, the clothes, fabrics and materials there will no longer be suitable for further use, and the efforts of other residents to manage them correctly will go to waste. Carpets, pillows, blankets, parts of upholstered furniture, children's chairs and other large-size textile products must be taken to large-size waste collection points or item distribution stations.
Find the large-size textile waste collection points closest to you:
Research reveals that the wear time of textiles has decreased by 36% over the past year. We buy new textile products more and more often, and immediately throw out the ones we don't need. On average, we wear a garment just 8 times.
In Lithuania today, we collect only 13% of the textiles sold. Most textile waste ends up in landfills because it is thrown into mixed containers, even 8% is calculated specifically for textiles.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 57,000 tons of textiles end up in the mixed municipal waste stream, with which we can no longer do anything. Separately, we collect 19.2 tons of textiles in Lithuania, which are given a further life, sorted and selected. The part that is suitable for secondary use is sold to African countries (60%). The part is recycled into non-woven materials and only if it is no longer suitable for use is sent to landfills or incinerated.
What can each of us do? It is more responsible to use and carefully plan all your purchases.
Before buying products, let's think about whether it is really necessary, how long it will serve us. Let's look for environmentally friendly brands, be interested in the composition of the fabric. Let's give tired clothes and shoes to family members, exchange them with friends, sell them on dedicated platforms.
Let's dispose properly. Compared to other materials, textiles have the lowest recycling ratings. Not only due to difficult recycling options, but also due to improper disposal. Let's throw the textile products into the textile containers designated for that purpose.
