Rethinking Wardrobe Waste: The Eco-Friendly Benefits of Buying Used Jeans

Constantly updating your wardrobe with new clothes, only to see the old ones end up in landfills? It's high time to rethink how we approach fashion and start considering sustainable fashion. If you are not sure about where to start - take a closer look at your favorite pair of jeans. 

A classic wardrobe staple but one of fashion’s biggest environmental footprint - jeans, specifically blue jeans. A pair of jeans uses a lot of water in its production while its dying also accounts for water pollution. Jeans also contribute to a substantial amount of waste generated by the industry. 

One of the possible solutions - used jeans. An eco-friendly way that also helps extends the lifespan of your favorite pair of denims but also helps you save money. Buying used jeans helps reduce waste and lessen carbon footprint. You save money and the environment every time you shop!

To truly understand the difference you make when you buy a pair of used jeans, you need to understand the process of denim production. Let’s explore what goes into the process of creating your favorite denim and why opting for second-hand denim has multifold impact. 

The environmental impact of denim production

From the 1800s, denim has been a staple in fashion for decades, with the average American owning seven pairs of jeans. Oversized, low-slung, baggy, straight-fit, bootleg - the list goes on and on. However, each step in denim production from growing cotton to dyeing and finishing processes, has its own set of environmental consequences.

High-levels of water consumption - One major environmental issue with denim production is the use of water. According to a study by WWF, it takes approximately 2,700 liters of water to produce one t-shirt made from conventional cotton – equivalent to what an average person drinks in two-and-a-half years. This means that just one pair of jeans can require around 10,000 liters of water during its production process.

Air pollution - Brand Jeans production also contributes to air pollution through textile dyeing and finishing processes. Synthetic indigo dyes are commonly used to achieve the iconic blue color of denim jeans. However, these dyes release harmful chemicals into the air and can have adverse effects on both human health and the environment.

Waste generation - Another significant concern with denim production is waste generation. During denim manufacturing processes such as cutting and sewing, large scraps or offcuts are left behind and often end up in landfills. 

Water pollution - Many chemical treatments and dyes are used during denim finishing processes to create various washes and distressed looks popular among consumers. These additives are highly alkaline and corrosive in nature. These chemicals contaminate the water and waterways if not disposed of properly. 

The environmental impact of denim production is significant and cannot be ignored. Used jeans for sale can help reduce the demand for new denim and alleviate some of these environmental consequences.

Creating a circular supply chain - one used jeans at a time

By giving a second life to pre-loved used denims and jeans, there is a significant decrease not just in contribution to textile waste but also water usage, air and water pollution. By choosing a pair of secondhand jeans on sale or used jeans, the consumer also extends the life cycle of the garment and thereby prevents it from ending up in a landfill. This further helps in conserving resources that would have been used in producing a new pair of jeans. 

Bringing used jeans back into the consumption cycle also has environmental benefits after purchase. The washing and drying process is another significant contributor to water and energy consumption when it comes to clothing care. However, since used jeans have been worn before, they require less frequent washing as compared to new ones that may have chemical finishes or stiff fabric that needs multiple washes before becoming comfortable enough to wear.

Additionally, buying used women’s sustainable clothing jeans and used men’s jeans online and in-store promotes circular fashion by keeping items in use for longer periods for sale, both online and in-store. As opposed to the linear model of "take-make-dispose," circular fashion aims to create a closed-loop system where materials are continuously circulated through different stages without being wasted or disposed of. By participating in circularity through purchasing pre-loved denim pieces, we actively contribute towards reducing overall textile waste generation.

Furthermore, buying second-hand jeans also decreases the demand for new products from brands with unsustainable practices. This sends a message to companies that they need to improve their production processes and adopt more eco-friendly techniques if they want consumer support.

Most significantly, from a consumer perspective - purchasing second-hand or used jeans not only aligns with the core values of sustainability but also allows you access to unique pieces of a jeans clothing line at affordable prices. This helps provide a sense of satisfaction knowing you are contributing to reducing waste.

By making small changes like opting for pre-loved denim, we can collectively make a positive impact on our planet's health. Buying used jeans has a significant impact on decreasing textile waste and promoting sustainable clothes fashion. It not only helps to conserve resources and prevent pollution but also encourages circularity in the fashion industry. 

Conclusion 

At RawRevel, our BORO (Buy One, Recycle One) program allows consumers to be an active part of the sustainable fashion industry. Consumers can recycle their old piece of clothing. The company sorts the pre-loved clothes that come via the program into what is in good and poor  condition. The ones that are in good condition get listed to be thrifted or donated to charities. If they are unusable, it gets sent for industry recycling. Every time a piece of clothing gets exchanged, the consumer falls into the cycle of "reduce, reuse, recycle."

So next time you're looking to throw away a pair of jeans, consider donating them. On the other hand if you are looking  to buy a new one, consider purchasing them secondhand – your planet will thank you.