LETTERS: Textile wastage is becoming a global phenomenon and has been a worldwide concern for several decades including in Malaysia.
In 2018, Malaysians dumped a record 195,300 tonnes of textile waste and SWCorp Malaysia revealed that the amount of textile waste entering our landfills had doubled from 2.8 per cent in 2012 to 6.3 per cent.
Textiles are the second most polluting industry. Whereas a garment's average life period is three years, textiles generate a significant amount of waste.
Dumped textile waste accounts for 5 per cent of all landfill space worldwide. It is impossible to avoid textile waste during the production or usage of textiles. A thorough review of consumer shopping habits and product life cycles is required.
Households are the largest contributors to textile waste generation in this situation. This is due to the fact that only 15 per cent of all textiles are currently recycled by individuals, despite the fact that 95 per cent of them have the potential to be reused or recycled.
Because this figure solely refers to municipal solid trash, which is what people throw away in their public waste stream, this disproportionate percentage is thought to be the result of a lack of understanding, creating a dangerous situation for the planet.
Post-consumer textile waste is another name for this. This is where the owner opted to dump household things or apparel that he or she no longer requires including garments, footwear, fashion accessories, towels, bedding and curtains that were previously purchased.
Old textiles were traditionally recycled and utilised in the home as a mop or washcloth, but with the current disposable textiles, the use and throw method has become popular.
There is much individual behaviour when it comes to discarding garments. The common reasons are because the garments no longer fit or are damaged. However, some individuals simply discard clothes when their tastes change, such as when they become weary of wearing them and the clothes become out of style.
Then, they go out and buy new clothes, claiming they don't have enough. This is also known as overconsumption. People can become over-consumptive if they always believe they don't have enough clothes despite the fact that their closet is full.
I feel this overconsumption arises from the confusion and intertwining of necessities and wants. I believe that everyone should make an effort to change their habits and reduce textile waste. We should study and put into practice 5R concepts of "Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle" in our daily lives.
First and foremost, always consider whether or not you absolutely require that item of clothing. Before buying new clothing, consider whether you currently own the item and whether it is truly necessary.
Furthermore, you do not need to purchase an entire outfit for every occasion or event. Consider renting outfits especially if you only need to wear them once. There are numerous companies that can rent high-end clothing.
Companies are also experimenting with new services that allow customers to rent garments on a monthly basis. Those who wish to keep up with fast fashion can do so without their clothes ending up in landfills.
Individuals must also decrease their purchase of clothes and ensure that no textile waste is disposed of. You must strive to extend the life of existing clothes. When purchasing new clothing, aim to purchase items that are manufactured totally or partially from recycled materials, or ensure purchasing items for long term use.
Also, before giving up and discarding clothes, try and repair them. There are numerous methods for repairing our clothing. Watch lessons on YouTube to learn how to sew, mend old holes and even replace a zipper. Hence, one can save favourite clothes and cut down on new purchases this way.
Strive to be thrifty before buying new clothes. It might take a little longer to find what you are searching for, but you save money and the environment saves even more! Finding specific products that you are looking for is much easier with online thrift stores.
ThredUP and Swap are examples of online stores where we may discover ecological and economical clothing. These online stores provide the organisation and search engine features you have always desired at your local thrift store, plus they also pay for donations, so you can gain from donating your used stuff.
With friends, you can also host a wardrobe swap. For example, bring your friends around so that everyone can update their wardrobe with brand new items. After that, inform your friends that anything left over will be donated or recycled.
You must also learn to mix and match styles instead of making constant purchases. This is due to the fact that some people are always buying since they do not like to wear the same outfit twice and don't want their social media accounts to be overrun with the same outfits. Thus, reuse your clothes without having to buy new ones if you discover a variety of styles.
On the other hand, the fabric can be used as a blanket or a cleaning cloth even if it is worn out. Consider turning an old shirt into a stylish pillow cover or reupholstering a chair with the fabric if you no longer want to wear it. Or, you can sew a cloth for your doll. There are a lot of wonderful tutorials online for inventive ways to repurpose your clothes.
Finally, rather than throwing away your garments, recycle them into something useful, by placing them in collection containers. If you want to donate your clothes instead of throwing them away, follow these steps. As a result, we will be able to assist those in need of clothes.
Everyone should make an effort to follow these guidelines to reduce textile waste. I hope that these solutions will inspire everyone to make positive improvements in the world.
By following these, it is estimated that we can reduce the huge pile textile waste in a year and save money on clothing too.
Syarifah Nurul Hana Syed Abdul Khalid
Accounting, Kuliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times