While the process initially begins the moment old articles of clothing are deemed unwanted, its logistical journey commences the moment clothes are dropped off at donation bins and are subsequently collected by charities. These donations are then sorted in facilities where they are divided based on quality, condition, or brand. Facilities can range in distance from the donation pickup location and can often be overseas. This means that while the donation may have been picked up in Ontario, it could travel as far as other Canadian provinces, the USA, or even India to be sorted.
Once sorted, approximately half of what is collected goes on the shelf of an American or Canadian second-hand goods store, and only half of that, actually sells. Goods are turned over swiftly and what does not sell along with the goods that never made it on the shelf are then transported elsewhere. These donated goods are then subject to four possible destinies.
1. Sold Second-Hand Overseas
The overseas market for second-hand clothes is massive. Canada in specific exported about $173 million in second-hand goods overseas in 2017, a number that is on the rise. Kenya, Ghana, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, and Pakistan are major customers, accounting for 40% of the exports. These goods are either sold in other second-hand clothing stores or are donated to communities in need. Transporting these goods requires intermodal logistics that typically combines ground and ocean transportation to reach its destination.
2. Ground Up and Transformed
An emerging practice in the industry, grinding and transforming second-hand clothes into repurposed goods is an effective method to reducing waste. These goods can be transformed into stuffing for car seats, mattresses, insulation, cushions, and more. Although this practice is relatively new, it is a likely path for 20% of donations.
3. Processed into Rags
A more common alternative to grinding up and transforming clothes is processing them into rags. This path is a likely future for 30% of donations and consists of repurposing clothes into rags that can be found anywhere from auto shops and factories to animal shelters.
4. Landfill
Almost all donated clothing items can be recycled or repurposed however, about 5% are deemed completely unusable or are improperly sorted and therefore end up in landfills.
Key Takeaways
Although the process seems short when simplified, the thousands of cargo trucks, ships, and planes behind the scenes that are constantly at work reveal the complex journey that begins the moment a donation is dropped off. The chain of events that transpire after the matter unveil a major cycle that would be practically impossible without logistics and transportation.
References:
Paul Jay. “Here's Where Your Donated Clothing Really Ends up | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 29 May 2018, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/donated-clothing-where-it-ends-up-1.4662023
.Rodgers, Lucy. “Where Do Your Old Clothes Go?” BBC News, BBC, 11 Feb. 2015, www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30227025.
Souza, Anna De. “This Is What Really Happens to Your Used Clothing Donations.” Reader's Digest, Reader's Digest, 26 Feb. 2020, www.rd.com/article/what-happens-used-clothing-donations/.
Mike Lee. “The Truth About Where Your Donated Clothes End Up.” ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/WN/truth-donated-clothes-end/story?id=2743456.