Consumption

Sometimes sustainability lies in small things, and as a consumer you can definitely do your part. Old habits die hard, but keep in mind: the things you’re used to doing or that your parents may have taught you are not necessarily the best options. Washing machines and laundry detergents have changed, and other rules apply these days.

For instance, a dryer can be a big help, but it puts an enormous strain on the environment. Moreover, the quality of washing powders has gone up, so check if you’re not overusing. Every supermarket offers environmentally friendly washing detergents these days, and there are a lot of zero-waste alternatives available, too. The washing temperature also has its consequences: hot water is bad for your garments. On a brighter note: we iron too much!
 

Food for thought:

Lowering the average washing temperature in Europe by 3°C would result in a reduction in CO₂ emissions that equals removing 700,000 cars from our roads. (I Prefer 30)

Some basic guidelines to help you out: try not to wash your clothes too often and wash them at low temperatures (30°C). Use the dryer as little as possible and opt for an airer instead. In addition, you can also try to iron a little less by putting freshly washed clothes on a hanger as quickly as possible to avoid wrinkles. You can also hang wrinkled clothes in the bathroom when you take a shower. The steam will help smoothen the fabric (a top tip for travelers!).

As a consumer, you can act sustainably by not always buying new items, but taking a good look at what you already own. Swap the pieces that you no longer wear but that are still in good condition, buy second-hand or rent clothes.

THE BUYERARCHY OF NEEDS

Sarah Lazarovic wondered what consumers really need and used her reflections to compose her very own version of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The pyramid playfully reminds us that – next to the usual impulse buys – there are other ways to breathe new life into our wardrobes. (More information)

SWAPPING

You can participate in swishing and swapping events that take place all over the country or perhaps organize your own afternoon or evening – among friends or for a larger crowd. Belgian events of this type can for instance be found at swishing.be.

RENTING

Next to thinking long and hard before buying new clothes or swapping clothes, you can also rent your clothes. These days the three main variants are:

• Clothing libraries, where you can borrow clothes with various subscription options, just like in any regular library.
• Online rental platforms, where you can order clothes  that you have to send back after a certain time. 

You can find some examples here.

The idea of renting clothes coincides with the shift in ownership. When we no longer own clothes, new business models will emerge that incorporate leasing systems or even ‘deposits’ on clothing. Read all about this in our 'Retail' section or turn to MUD Jeans for inspiration.

More traditional brands are also catching on, launching collections that customers can lease. These brands take it on themselves to maintain the items from these collections.

SECOND-HAND

Consider the second-hand market when you want a bit more variation in your wardrobe. There are lots of on- and offline initiatives for all kinds of clothes, no matter the segment, label or brand.

While it used to be the most natural thing in the world to mend your own clothes, nowadays we have forgotten how to do this. 

The argument that we have to save in order to buy something new is less valid these days than it used to be. Buying new things is no longer an attack on your wallet. Quite the contrary: because ‘time is money’, buying something new may actually be cheaper than trying to fix old stuff.

Yet this attitude is slowly changing. Several initiatives are emerging, both online and offline, to help consumers (literally) take matters into their own hands again.

Offline you can get together in a Repair Café, where you get help with your first steps into the world of repairing. In the meantime, sewing and knitting workshops are also on the rise.

Online there are also loads of places to go to to learn about repair, DIY, … and to score tips & tricks on how to creatively transform old clothes into something new.

What to do with clothes you no longer like? This question undoubtedly pops up at least a few times a year. What are the options in that case? Do you give your unwanted clothes away, sell them online, donate them to charity, exchange them for others at swapping events?

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

• door-to-door clothing collections by charities
• depositing items in your municipality’s clothing drop boxes

The clothing that is collected via these two channels is picked up and sold to sorting companies. The clothing that is collected via these two channels is picked up and sold to sorting companies. Charities can invest the resulting profit in their mission. The sorting companies select those items that are suitable for the second-hand market. These clothes are then shipped to for instance Africa and Eastern Europe in large quantities (sometimes pressed into bales). Items that can no longer be worn are turned into cleaning cloths and insulation material for the automotive industry, or burned. Only a small percentage is actually recycled. Because textiles have to meet a lot of requirements before they can be recycled (in terms of purity and so on; see ‘End of life’), this strategy is not nearly as popular as we’d like. Be the fibre is a Belgian organization that closes the loop by processing clothes into fibers, and then into new products.

RETAILERS ALSO STEP IN

Retailers have been involved in this story for quite some time now, sometimes putting take-back boxes in their stores so customers can drop off old clothes in exchange for a discount. The profits earned from these projects are donated to charities or invested in research in innovative recycling techniques.

KRINGWINKELS OR SECOND-HAND STORES

If you prefer to give your clothes a second life, you should look for initiatives that sell second-hand. They’ll take your clothes and put those that are still in good condition in their stores, so other people can buy and enjoy them. Kringwinkels are experts at sorting clothes. As a brand, you can team up with them for take-back systems and to keep old stock in the loop. Thanks to their year-long experience with manufacturing, they also know their way around the social economy.

WHERE ELSE?

Next to these more traditional options, there are still more fun and interesting ways to collect clothes!

To those who fancy a night out and like to gain something from depositing their clothes, swishing or swapping events are the way to go. These initiatives have taken your home-variety swap to the next level. The idea is to bring your clothes and hand them in in exchange for coins, tokens, tickets … that you can buy other people’s clothes with. Easy, and fun!

In addition, the internet also offers a lot of cool platforms that help you get rid of those items you no longer want.