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Life cycle of unwanted clothes

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​Only about 20-25% is resold or reused locally. That’s because the volume of clothing donated is higher than the demand for local reuse. But not to worry, the rest isn’t thrown out – the remaining clothes are sold to used clothing brokers, who then sort and sell the clothing to markets where they can be used.​

What happens to unwanted clothes

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Consumer

Clothing donations typically go to a second-hand store or clothing provider charity. The clothing is donated at a collection bin, drop-off location, or through a pick-up service.

First destinations for donated clothes

Charities that offer free clothing

Clothing is collected to distribute directly to individuals in need. Charities tend to accept only specific items according to their charitable mandate (e.g. winter outerwear, interview outfits, etc.).

Second-hand store

Includes both for profit and non-profit organizations. Collected materials are sorted according to what can be displayed for sale in-store. Unsold clothing may be donated to clothing-provider charities, sold to sorter-graders, or sent for disposal.

Clothing collector

Once clothing is picked up or dropped off it goes to a second-hand store or directly to a sorter-grader.

What happens to collected clothing


20-25%
Local reuse

In addition to re-use through second-hand stores and clothing provider charities, clothes are redistributed locally through clothing swaps, online sales, and consignment stores.


75-80%
Sorter-grader

Collected materials are consolidated from the various streams and sorted into approximately 400 different categories according to type, condition, fibre blend, and other criteria – depending on which end markets they have contracts with.

Collected clothing is sold to global re-use markets primarily in Europe, Asia, Central America, and Africa. What can't be sold is made into wiper rags or sold as low value recycling feedstock to make non-woven products, such as insulation or emergency blankets.

50% Global reuse markets
20% Wiper rags
20% Low value recycling
10% Disposal

<5%

Disposal

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