Published

9 months ago

March 12, 2025

Alice Rush

Whether you just did a closet clean-out or you’ve just noticed a few pieces are looking a bit too tired for repair, you might be wondering what do I do with these old clothes?

The Clothing Waste Problem

In the United States, the EPA reported that nearly 67% of discarded textiles are landfilled and 19% were incinerated with less than 15% being recycled. Those stats mean that 14,520,000 tons of textiles were landfilled or burned in the year 2018 alone (which was the last year that textile waste numbers were reported by the EPA).

Plus, there isn’t actually much if any textile-to-textile recycling infrastructure that exists at scale yet, so most textile recycling is technically downcycling. This is where textiles are shredded and turned into things like carpeting or insulation. While it’s better than the landfill, it’s not always the best scenario for textiles (especially when they’re still in decent condition).

Given the state of textile recycling, you might be thinking ok, let’s donate it!?

Unfortunately only a small percentage (estimates range from 10-20%) of the clothes you donate are sold in the charity shops themselves.

A significant amount of the donated clothes end up getting exported to countries in the Global South like Chile, Kenya, and Ghana where they do not have the demand to sell all of that clothing nor the infrastructure to process the volume of clothing.

And these countries certainly do not have the textile recycling infrastructure to handle the amount of old, worn-out low-quality clothing that the Global North is dumping.

What Do We Do With These Old Clothes Then?

While the typical suggestions for what to do with old clothes fall flat, that doesn’t mean we should give up — this guide exists to help you find sustainable ways to manage these unwanted garments and other pieces.

Step one: determine if it’s really a no or actually a “maybe”.

Sometimes when we’re in the midst of a closet declutter or just feeling overwhelmed by our wardrobe, it can be tempting to get rid of all of our “maybe” pieces. I’ve certainly done this from time to time.

While I love a streamlined wardrobe, I have regretted getting rid of particular pieces in the past. I felt like I gave up on some gems too soon! So now I like to implement a pause before decluttering my “maybe” pieces.

What’s a “maybe” piece? This is a personal decision, but for me this category involves:

Pieces that I’ve worn in the past that I got tired of
Pieces that I do love alone, but don’t know how to style yet
Pieces that have just 1 or 2 things off about them

Essentially, “maybe” pieces are items that still have potential.

So to try to determine if it’s really time to say goodbye to that item, I first follow these practices:

If it’s an item I’m tired of wearing…

I’ll put it away for a season or two. It’s surprising how many items I’ve ended up loving again by just taking a break from seeing it in my closet every single day.

If it’s an item I don’t know how to style quite right…

I turn to Pinterest!

I like to search for that item on Pinterest + the term “outfit ideas”.

For example, if I have a sweater vest in my maybe pile that I want to wear more, I might search “sweater vest outfit ideas”.

I’ll save a few of the Pins that stand out to me and see how I might be able to emulate some of those looks.

You don’t have to own the exact pieces that are shown in the images but think about if you have something that could be similar and do a little try-on session.

If there is just one or two things off about a piece…

I consider if these things are fixable. Can I take my trousers to a tailor to get hemmed? If a v-neck is too low for my liking, can I add a snap closure?

Or I consider if I can wear those items in a different way. For example, does that fitted turtleneck work better as an under-layer? Will the button-down feel less stuffy if I cuff the sleeves and unbutton the top buttons?

I’m not suggesting you keep things that you genuinely dislike or that make you feel uncomfortable! But if a piece still has potential, I find that a bit of experimentation can go a long way.

If a piece is just not feeling totally “you”…

Try pairing it with a tried-and-true item in your closet. This is a suggestion that two podcast guests — personal stylist Sophie Strauss and Stylebook co-founder Jess Atkins — have shared and it has worked wonders for me.

Another approach is to bring in a piece that has the opposite feel. For example, if a dress is feeling too soft for your style, what would the outfit look like if you brought it a moto jacket? What if you wore it with a pair of leather boots or sneakers?

This is also where your style words can come in handy! My current style words are feminine, structured, and grounded. So if a blouse is feeling too frilly, I add in a structured blazer. Or if a structured outfit is feeling too stuffy, I’ll add in something like a raffia bag to ground it down or a feminine shoe to make it feel a bit lighter.

A piece can be totally transformed when paired with the right complementary — or juxtaposed — pieces.

Step two: separate out clothes in good condition

Now for the “no’s” or the “maybe’s” that just are not working, let’s talk about how to responsibly declutter these items!

The best approach is going to depend on the item (i.e. how desirable it is), the amount of time you have to rehome it, and if you want to get a financial return or not.

Here are your options from highest to lowest effort. Note that there are some links below that are affiliate links — as always, I only share organizations and brands I love that I think you’d love too.

Resell it yourself

Effort: high — you’ll need to photograph and upload the item to a marketplace, handle customer communications, and ship it out
Financial potential: high relative to the resale value of the piece
Best for: items with resale value that’d be worth the shipping cost
Where? Online marketplaces like Poshmark, Depop, Vinted, Mercari, Vestiaire Collective, or Ebay.

Consign it locally

Effort: moderate
Financial potential: moderate to low, depending on the percentage your local consigner keeps
Best for: seasonal items with resale value; check which brands and styles your local consignment shop takes
Where? Search for “consignment shops near me” or peruse the ratings to read the experiences sellers have had

Swap or share with a friend

Effort: moderate
Financial potential: none, but you might get a new-to-you piece
Best for: items your friend would love (I’d suggest sending pictures beforehand to a friend or in a friend group to see if anyone would be interested OR next time you see them in person you can show the pieces to them)
Where? In person with a friend

Go to a clothing swap

Effort: moderate
Financial potential: none, but you’ll get new-to-you pieces (and it can be fun!)
Best for: it depends on the swap, but any item in good condition
Where? Search for “clothing swaps near me” or search on event platforms like Eventbrite; I also suggest following any local sustainable fashion organizations to stay updated on events near you!

Direct donations

Effort: moderate
Financial potential: none, but you’ll feel confident your donations are actually getting used by those in most need of them
Best for: specific items (e.g., gently used coat to a homeless shelter or workwear to a women’s center; this will be specified by the organization)
Where? Search for local organizations that might be in need of clothing, like a women’s center, homeless shelter, or refugee agency. They should be listing out the items that the organization is currently in need of. If you’re uncertain, contact them first! Sending in unwanted items may lead to that piece getting tossed.

Consign it with an online consignment store

Effort: low
Financial potential: moderate to none (some stores give $0 for fast fashion items)
Best for: items you don’t have time to resell individually
Where? Online stores like ThredUp take all types of items; The RealReal consigns luxury and designer items

General donations

Effort: low
Financial potential: none (plus, these places often have more than enough clothing so the pieces may not actually be resold)
Best for: desirable pieces that have a high chance to get resold (though again, sell-through rates do tend to be quite low at charity shops so I try to avoid this approach)
Where? A charity shop that resells clothing in order to raise money for their cause, like a Goodwill, Salvation Army, or British Red Cross shop

Tips for donating and selling clothing:

No matter which approach you use, keep these tips in mind to maximize the life of your old clothing!

The piece is going to have the best chance at a new life when you’re reselling it in-season. (Donating or selling a parka in summer doesn’t have great odds!) If an item I want to rehome is out of season, I’ll store it away in a bin for later.
Wash the piece before selling, swapping or donating. This sounds basic, but it was clear at the clothing swap I just co-hosted that not everyone is doing this!!
If the piece is damaged beyond repair, stained, or worn-out, take it to step 3 instead!

Step 3: recycle or upcycle old clothes in poor condition

Some garments are simply unwearable. This is the toughest category to handle, given the lack of real textile recycling options. But there are still ways to make the most of these textiles!

If you want to try a creative project, old garments can become upcycling supplies. For a variety of upcycling classes, check out Skillshare or Domestika.

If you don’t want to upcycle these pieces yourself, SUAY LA has “Suay it Forward” Textile Recycling Bags.

They don’t export these textiles, but actually upcycle them in-house, which allows for full transparency.

A bag is $20, but in exchange you get a $20 credit to put towards one of their upcycled pieces. (I have my eye on one of their throw pillows!)

Another option for recycling your old clothes is Trashie. Their take-back bag works similarly — you purchase a bag for $20, fill it up with old clothing in any condition and they’ll sort through the textiles to find the next best use for that piece.

Trashie doesn’t have as much transparency into their process as SUAY LA does because they work with 40 external partners (rather than handling everything in-house), but they’ve been posting more behind-the-scenes videos on their Instagram page.

The benefit of Trashie is that you unlock dozens of rewards when you purchase one of their Take-Back Bags, rather than just getting credit at one store.

I do hope that in the future, all textile recycling options with full transparency will be free or at least that textiles can be accepted with the rest of our household recycling! I understand that paying for textile recycling is not accessible to everyone, even if you get a store credit in exchange.

In that case, you could contact your local thrift store to see how they handle unwearable garments. Textile-to-textile recycling is extremely rare so ask if they downcycle them domestically (preferable) or if they export them, making them a problem for communities in the Global South to deal with (avoid).

Step 3b: what to do with old underwear

Even tougher than repurposed unwearable clothing? Rehoming worn underwear! Almost nowhere excepts these items, and for very understandable reasons!

That said, here are two options to check out:

The Bra Recyclers is a social enterprise that donates new bras and repurposes used bras.

Subset has an underwear recycling program. The underwear brand works with a partner that downcycles these textiles into things like insulation and carpet bedding. Similar to SUAY LA and Trashie, you pay upfront but get a store credit in exchange. I’ve used Subset’s underwear recycling program in the past when I made the switch from synthetic underwear to their organic cotton pieces for health reasons.

My Final Thoughts on Managing Old Clothes Responsibly

When the reality of what it really takes to responsibly manage my old clothes sank in for me, it really made me way more intentional about my purchases. (There is no real “away”, because away is a real place, inhabited by real humans.)

That said, of course there will always be times where our clothing just doesn’t work for us anymore. That’s part of life — lifestyles change, identities change, needs change, sizes change, and even the climate we live in changes — and keeping 100% of our clothes forever is simply not realistic.

So when the time does come to declutter a few pieces, I turn to the three steps above to maximize their use and ensure they are getting a second (or third!) life that I can feel good about.

The post What to Do With Old Clothes, Sustainably appeared first on .

What to Do With Old Clothes, Sustainably

Green Living

How Toad&Co’s Clothes Help Everyone Enjoy the Outdoors

Published

4 days ago

November 25, 2025

Alice Rush

This is a sponsored article about a brand that was independently assessed by our rigorous ratings system. We’re proud to only collaborate with “Good” and “Great” rated brands. Learn more.

US brand Toad&Co has a socially and environmentally responsible approach to clothing, creating pieces inspired by the outdoors and with a lower impact on the environment. Not to mention an enduring commitment to helping everyone get outdoors through its work with non-profits. Read on to discover the brand’s environment-first ethos.

Focusing on what matters most

“We make feel-good clothes for positive impact—fostering community around doing good, enjoying life’s simple pleasures, and embracing the unexpected,” says Sarah Palladino, director of people and impact at Toad&Co as she introduces the Californian brand. This “simple pleasures” concept applies to Toad&Co’s approach to design, too, and prioritises quality and responsibility over trend-led items. This, in turn, means the brand focuses its energy on clothes that are comfy and practical enough for everything from work to outdoor exploring, and on maintaining its ongoing commitments to using lower-impact materials, partnering with cleaner factories, and looking for new ways to do more with less.

Since day one, it’s been about more than just clothes. From choosing sustainable practices in every corner of our business to supporting programs that protect the planet and make the outdoors more accessible to everyone—knowing we stand for more is what keeps us going

Gordon Seabury – CEO at Toad&Co

Lower-impact materials and producer responsibility

Opting for lower impact materials is one of the core ways brands can address their impact on the planet: “Sustainable materials make a world of difference,” Toad&Co says. “We use organic cotton, recycled fibres, and other high-quality materials known for low-impact growing and cleaner manufacturing.”

The brand’s selection of more sustainable materials includes organic cotton, hemp, TENCEL Lyocell, and recycled fabrics like wool, cotton, and polyester. It also looks to third party clothing certifications like bluesign®, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, and Global Organic Textile Standard, and it publishes its list of restricted substances for all to see.

Toad&Co also operates a resale platform, called ToadAgain, online and at its IRL store in Maine, US, to keep its clothes in the loop.

Supporting non-profits and access to the outdoors

Toad&Co donates 1% of its profits to organisations working to empower others and, in particular, enable better access to the outdoors for all.

In 1996, Toad&Co partnered with Search, Inc. to co-found the Planet Access Company, a full-functioning warehouse that trained and employed up to 70 adults with disabilities annually.

Determined not to stop at the front door, the brand also co-founded Search for Adventure in 2004, a unique travel program to facilitate vacations for adults with disabilities. Over 20 years later, the social venture partnership has evolved—and includes a flagship store in Chicago, a program called Visibility Arts that nurtures creativity through sharing Search, Inc. artist’s work, neurodiversity and disability awareness training, and an expanded Search for Adventure program. In 2024, the brand supported 147 nights of camping for adults with disabilities through the program.

We give back to—and partner with—organisations that align with our three pillars of giving: conservation for human enjoyment, equity and accessibility, and do the right thing

Sarah Palladino – director of people and impact at Toad&Co

One of Toad&Co’s key partnerships is with Brave Trails, which is dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership, to support it in putting on accredited camps, mentorship programs, and meet-ups for LGBTQ+ youth.

Shop favourites from Toad&Co’s new collection

Read on to discover some of the standout items that balance style with practicality from Toad&Co’s lineup.

Merino Heartfelt Hoodie

Woven with a beautiful alpine jacquard pattern, this hoodie is made from non-mulesed Merino wool and features pockets at the sides. It’s ideal as a mid-layer under a longer coat when you’re out exploring, or as a cosy item for grabbing a post-walk hot chocolate.

person wearing white knitted alpineglo jumper from toad&co

Alpineglo Sweater

This Alpineglo sweater is a blend of 50% organic cotton and 50% non-mulesed Merino wool, so it’s going to help regulate your temperature in most climates. On top of that, the neutral tone and straight fit make it really versatile—you’ll be reaching for it on the regular.

printed floral chaka trousers from Toad&co

Chaka Wide-Leg Trousers

Toad&Co calls these cropped trousers “sweatpant comfortable, going-out presentable”, which makes sense, given they’re made with organic cotton and Tencel Lyocell for softness and have a comfortable wide waistband, not to mention a pretty floral pattern.

people wearing reversible nomader jacket from toad&co

Nomader Reversible Jacket

This Nomader jacket is reversible, packable, and water-resistant. In other words, it’s the ideal item to take with you for outdoor adventures. It’s made from recycled nylon and lightly quilted for warmth.

person wearing printed padded manzana jacket from toad&co

Manzana Quilted Jacket

Toad&Co picked the crepe-like organic cotton for this jacket so that you could fold it away in a bag and have it still look presentable when you pull it out. It’s also packed with recycled polyester padding for extra warmth.

Balsam Cutoff Trousers

These Balsam Trousers are made with a tiny bit of stretch and a special waistband for comfort, so they’ll flex with you and feel good all the time. The neutral brown colour also goes with so many options.

Kennicott Shirt Jacket

Going from a walk to dinner? From the office to drinks? This Kennicott shirt jacket fits the bill for all of the above. The smart twill fabric incorporates recycled Italian wool.

Airsmyth Shirt

This is Toad&Co’s Re-Form Herringbone: a blend of recycled cotton and polyester that offers a soft drape and an attractive herringbone weave that looks smarter than the average checked shirt.

Balsam 5-Pocket Trousers

Like the women’s equivalent, these Balsam trousers have a touch of stretch and a comfortable ‘FlexForm’ waistband that mean they’re going to feel comfortable from the get-go—and you won’t need to worry about a belt, either.

Discover more of Toad&Co’s clothes.

The post How Toad&Co’s Clothes Help Everyone Enjoy the Outdoors appeared first on Good On You.

How Toad&Co’s Clothes Help Everyone Enjoy the Outdoors

Green Living

50 DIY Christmas Presents Anyone Can Make

Published

1 week ago

November 21, 2025

Alice Rush

Last Updated on November 21, 2025

If you’re on the handmade Christmas kick this year, you’re not alone. So am I!

I’m choosing presence over presents this year and bringing back the 90s Christmas I loved as a kid – simple, crafty, low pressure, and full of small moments that feel meaningful.

If you want to gift thoughtfully, and without breaking the bank, these DIY Christmas presents are for you. There’s something for everyone on this list – whether you prefer easy or complex DIYs.

I’ve included all kinds of DIYs – beauty, cooking, fashion, and practical gifts alike. Best of all? Many of these tutorials are zero waste (or close to it).

what are good homemade Christmas gifts?

Good homemade Christmas gifts include consumable items, like homemade nut butters, vanilla extract, or jams. But not all homemade gifts are edible – you can also make items like bath bombs, candles, body scrubs, beeswax wraps, and so much more.

If you’re extra crafty, you could even make wooden gifts (like shelving or tablet holders), ceramic items (like mugs or jewelry), or knitted/crocheted pieces (like blankets, scarves or hats).

It all depends on your level of skill, time at your disposal, and ingredients/materials you have access to.

50 DIY Christmas Presents Anyone Can Make

what are good inexpensive Christmas gifts?

Some good inexpensive Christmas gifts are DIY cornstarch ornaments, handmade body or lip scrub, seasoned salt blends, and homemade treats (like these chocolate chip cookies or vegan sugar cookies).

And never forget to hit up your local thrift store – you can find so many great items that would make affordable gift baskets!

Wrapping DIY Christmas gifts also doesn’t have to be expensive. Reusing gift bags and ribbons from last year, upcycling packaging paper, or even repurposing a scarf for furoshiki wrap are all low-waste and affordable!

how can I make a last minute gift?

You can make a last minute gift by getting crafty using the materials you have on hand!

For example, if you have a cardboard box, why not try making an upcycled cardboard dollhouse, vehicle, or pirate ship for a child? For adults, a DIY storage container or a shoe rack works.

One of my fav last minute gifts is scented bath salts in an upcycled glass jar – just a little Epsom salt and essential oil blends will do the trick!

Here’s my list of DIY Christmas gifts – something for everyone and every skill level.

Bath salts
DIY makeup like mascara/eyeliner, or lip to cheek
Bath bombs
Lip scrub
Lip balm
Face mask
Body lotion
Natural perfume
Dry shampoo
Shampoo bar
Body soap
Deodorant
Rose water toner
Hand-poured coconut/soy/beeswax candles
Simmer pot in a jar
Cookie, brownie, soup mix or hot cocoa mix in a jar
Handmade seasoning blends
Vanilla extract
Vegan caramels or plant-based butter wrapped in compostable parchment paper
Herb or citrus infused olive oil
Peanut butter + jam
Beeswax wraps
Apple or pumpkin butter
Sourdough or no-knead artisan bread
Finished embroidery hoops
Embroidered pillows, tote bags, clothes or cloth napkins
Sewn cotton rounds
Knitted scarf, hat, gloves, sweater, or blanket
Hand warmers
Quilt blanet, quilted coat or quilted wallet
Tie dyed secondhand silk scarves, clothing or sheets
Hand painted or drawn artwork
Air dry clay paint palette
DIY wooden frame for paintings or print photos
Handmade ceramics (mugs, chawan, chasen holder, vase, spoon rest, etc.)
Woodworked items (birdhouse, shelving, bookcase, wall guitar mount)
Carving wooden bowls by hand
Natural branch coasters
Plant propagations in one of these DIY planters
Seed balls using native seeds
Handwoven baskets or bowls
Macrame produce bag
Macrame plant hanger
Fabric paper mache bowls
Upcycled paper earring jewelry
Clay earrings
Handmade plush toys
Felt ‘food’ toys
Wooden toys (like vehicles, blocks, or dollhouses)
Knit or crocheted baby clothes

What do you think of these DIY Christmas presents? Let me know in the comments!

The post 50 DIY Christmas Presents Anyone Can Make appeared first on Going Zero Waste.

50 DIY Christmas Presents Anyone Can Make

Green Living

8 Best Non Toxic Rugs For a Sustainable Home

Published

3 weeks ago

November 6, 2025

Alice Rush

Last Updated on November 6, 2025

Did you know most rugs are made from polyester, aka plastic? Arguably, a good chunk of our furniture and home decor is nowadays.

And lets not forget – rugs can get a lot of foot traffic. If it’s made from polyester, chances are those plastic fibers are going to shed and get onto us. Or worse, in us.

8 Best Non Toxic Rugs For a Sustainable Home

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy.

Microplastics have been found in human feces, blood, and even placentas. And according to a study from Stanford University, those who had microplastics in their plaque had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death than those who didn’t.

On top of this, 5 billion pounds of rugs go to waste each year – that’s 2% of total US landfill. And if they’re made from plastic? They won’t biodegrade.

It’s more important than ever to reduce our exposure to microfibers where we can. Which is why I’ve rounded up the best non toxic rugs on the market.

what is the least toxic rug?

The least toxic rug will have sustainable materials and use no harsh chemicals (like PFAs) in their production.

Here’s what to look for when purchasing a non-toxic rug:

Sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, jute, sisal or wool
Low-waste packaging + delivery
Natural, non-synthetic dyes
Third-party certifications like OEKO-TEK, Fair Trade, GOTs
Easy to spot-clean or machine wash
Available in various styles, patterns + colors to suit your needs

do all rugs have PFAS?

According to Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), only four samples of 201 carpets and rugs were found to contain more than 100 parts per million in their fibers, indicating PFAS were intentionally added to the products.

However, while PFAs may not be a huge concern for rugs, microplastic pollution is, specifically if your carpet is synthetic. Your best bet is to check the material your rug is made from and choose natural fibers whenever possible.

what is the best non-toxic rug for nursery?

The best non-toxic rug for a nursery would be made from natural materials like wool and organic cotton (which are soft on baby’s skin).

I recommend also checking for natural latex for the rug backing and underlay pads. Brands on this list that offer kid-friendly sizes and patterns include Lorena Canals, Nestig, Quince, and Loomy (more on each below).

what brand of rugs are non-toxic?

The brands of rugs that are non-toxic are listed below. I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorite features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.