Circular fashion, sustainability remain top priority for Goodwill Industries
THE JOURNAL RECORD - ncreasing sustainability and recycling may be a New Year’s resolution for many, but Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma has been promoting the reuse and recycle philosophy for decades. In fact, the organization helped divert 25 million pounds from landfills in Oklahoma’s metro this year alone.
The average consumer discards up to 85 pounds of clothing each year, and most people wear only about 15% of their closet contents regularly. Nationwide, approximately 11.3 tons of textile waste ends up in landfills every year, according to Earth.org, and of the 100 billion garments made each year, 92 tons end up as waste. Textile waste does more damage than just filling landfills, however; the global “fast fashion” industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions.
“Right now, recycling and reusing is a big, big trend among the younger generations but is also stretching across Gen Z and the millennial generation,” said Sophie Schwechheimer, director of communications and marketing for Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma.
“People just are a little bit tired of supporting the churning of trends and fashion and are trying to find a way to support the environment in a really easy way that they can do locally. Without going to extreme lengths, that can be secondhand shopping. So we’ve made it a big goal for us this year to kind of put that topic of sustainability and circular fashion, and how you can support the environment as someone who still likes to shop and likes to buy things, by embracing secondhand.”
Shopping secondhand not only allows consumers to help the environment but also helps them save money during high inflationary times, she added. According to a 2022 Deloitte study, inflation is top of mind for consumers who are looking for bargains more than ever.
Already, according to a 2022 OfferUp Report, 82% of Americans buy and/or sell pre-owned items.
“It’s just so easy nowadays to throw away a pair of heels that have a heel broken versus going out of your way to fix it,” Schwechheimer said. “Obviously, we do get donations and things that are just beyond salvage and beyond repair. In those instances, we work with third-party recyclers and other vendors that help us get some extra value and use out of those items so we don’t contribute to that landfill more than we need to.“
The throwaway culture has worsened progressively over the years. At present, said Earth.org, many items are worn only seven to 10 times before being discarded, equaling a more than 35% decline in use in the past 15 years.
However, companies and organizations like Goodwill Industries and The Salvation Army support more than just sustainability. The thrift industry also employs and trains hundreds of workers or helps fund social programs.
The Salvation Army’s thrift stores help fund The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center, which helps those struggling with alcohol and substance abuse by offering support and rehabilitation.
At Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, the continued donation and sale of pre-owned items provide job opportunities for 700 people through its 24 retail stores, 17 attended donation centers, one outlet store and Job Connection Center.
“As a Goodwill shopper, you’re helping fulfill our mission with your purchase, which is offering job training services needed here in the community,” Schwechheimer said. “You do a double-whammy, and you’re helping people overcome barriers to employment. That’s a big agenda for this year, but going into next year, we are leaning into that topic of sustainability because we haven’t really in the past.”
Schwechheimer said shoppers and Goodwill’s team of social media influencers have advocated for sustainability and reuse. Even if donations cannot be sold at the store, Goodwill Industries works to find another use for them. “One example I have is that shoes actually may very well end up as flooring at some point,” she said. “The rubber and plastic and even leather can be upcycled and repurposed and turned into flooring. If we have clothing that is still in good shape but hasn’t sold either in our stores or in our outlet, we can package that and work with third-party vendors in countries across the globe to get that to a second audience there.”
Finding the perfect outfit at a thrift store can sound easier than it actually is, but Schwechheimer said being flexible and open can lead to quality finds.
“Come it with an opportunity mindset rather than, ‘Oh, I’m looking for a very specific red shirt,’” she said. “Letting the thrift journey take you where it will is always a good start. But then also learn what works for you and what doesn’t.”
Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma also has two Good Threads Boutiques in Moore (805 S. Eastern Ave.) and Edmond (1632 S. Broadway), where name-brand items are offered at an affordable price. Its online boutique, ShopGoodwill.com, is an alternative to in-store shopping that is entirely auction-based. Shoppers determine the price and value of an item from shop inventory from Goodwill stores across the country.
“We have incorporated curated boutiques into some of our stores,” Schwechheimer said. “We went in with the managers and some of our influencers to pick out some more on-trend items and make it easier for people to find those more high-end professional things.”
Schwechheimer said thrift stores are always looking for donations, no matter how much or how often. “Everything you donate gets converted into manpower and into support and training for our clients and our Goodwill employees,” she said. “Anytime you donate, you’re directly impacting our mission. We definitely don’t want people to think there’s such a thing as too much donation or too many donations or too difficult to sort through or any of that. We encourage people to keep supporting us.”
