
{"id":14157,"date":"2025-10-01T11:37:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T15:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T18:48:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T22:48:05","slug":"the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"The impact of a cotton garment&#8217;s long journey"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-14157\" data-postid=\"14157\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-14157 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_zu4l123 tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_yfez123 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_3q0l768   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When we buy a new item of clothing, we rarely think about the journey it has taken to get into our hands. Yet that journey involves numerous trips, the use of resources, and&#8230; the generation of waste. Did you know that in Quebec, each person throws away an average of   <\/span><b>23 kilograms of clothing per year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">? That&#8217;s nearly  <\/span><b>four large garbage bags full of clothes<\/b> per person!<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So, what is this mysterious journey of a garment? Let&#8217;s follow the long journey of a cotton sweater, from the plant&#8230; to the landfill. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NOTE: This blog is not intended to make you feel guilty about buying new clothes. We explain the impacts here so we can present solutions in future blogs. <\/span><\/em><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_ydc5785 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #969696;margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 10px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_e1gj402 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_emhv402 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_qtj9234   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>1. It all starts in the fields<\/h3>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_c52l702   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cotton is a plant that is grown in warm climates, such as India, China, the United States, Pakistan, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This fiber offers many benefits compared to synthetic fibers; it allows for better ventilation of the skin, has a longer life expectancy, is more recyclable, and, when organic, does not contain endocrine disruptors. Its biggest drawback: growing cotton requires a lot of water and pesticides. For example, it takes about   <\/span><b>9,000 liters of water<\/b> to make a single pair of jeans, which is equivalent to <b>285 showers<\/b>.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_roe8320 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #969696;margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 10px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ck7j321   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>2. Manufacturing: from fiber to garment<\/h3>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_hrau321   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After the fields, the cotton travels to the factory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once harvested, the cotton is spun into yarn and then woven into fabric. These fabrics are then  <\/span><b>dyed, cut, and assembled to create beautiful garments<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Who doesn&#8217;t love colorful clothes? A rainbow wardrobe to match the seasons makes you happy, right? It does for me, but I&#8217;m still aware of the impact of this choice, which is why I opt for secondhand clothes.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cotton is a naturally white fiber. Several chemicals are used to change its color. These chemicals are highly toxic and can cause damage to workers&#8217; health in addition to polluting local rivers.<\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_4haz321 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #969696;margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 10px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_xvw954 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_0cr354 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_lknx54   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>3. The great journey around the world<\/h3>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_i9kk54   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our clothes travel a lot. If they had passports, they would be well stamped! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, for a T-shirt: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cotton may be grown in <b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India<\/span><\/span><\/b>,<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">fil\u00e9 et tiss\u00e9 en <\/span><b>Chine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">dyed in a different city in <\/span><b>China<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sewn in <\/span><b>Bangladesh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">shipped to a warehouse in the <\/span><b>United States,<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and then sent to the store where you will find it in <\/span><b>Canada<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before even arriving in stores, this sweater may have traveled <\/span><b>thousands of miles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> by boat, truck, or plane! Each trip releases greenhouse gases. It&#8217;s important to be aware of this when buying new clothing.  <\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_x2gx54 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #969696;margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 10px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_2f7a309 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_4fmn309 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ob6j309   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>4. Life with us: wearing, washing, wearing out<\/h3>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_rb20309   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once purchased, the garment begins its life at home. If our garment is lucky, we wear it, wash it, wear it, wash it&#8230; until it is too worn, too small, or stained. For the less fortunate garments, we forget about them in our closets or dressers\u2014oops!  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You may notice that clothes that are washed more often wear out faster. To avoid throwing away clothes frequently, try wearing them several times before washing them. This will reduce both the water and electricity consumption needed to clean them while extending their life.  <\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_u41y309 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #969696;margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 10px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_uuc0138 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_aui1138 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_eo0p138   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>5. End of life: trash or new opportunity?<\/h3>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_9ptf138   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What should you do with your clothes once you no longer wear them? In most Western countries, these clothes are thrown away.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Quebec, <\/span><b>95,000 tons of textiles<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are sent to landfills every year. Canada produces  <\/span><b>2% of the world&#8217;s textile waste.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Your clothes don&#8217;t have to suffer the same fate. There are much better places for them to end up than in the trash. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other options are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Donate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> your clothes to the Super Recyclers, thrift stores, or organizations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Repurpose<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> your clothes by creating something new (bag, toy, puppet).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We will be sharing tips on how to revamp your clothes in an upcoming blog post.<\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_59z6138 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #969696;margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 10px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_lhqa771 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_2hs2771 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_30qn771   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Reinventing the garment&#8217;s journey<\/h3>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_9hp0771   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The long journey of a garment is impressive&#8230; It&#8217;s a shame that after all this adventure, our clothes spend most of their lives in the trash. We buy them, wear them for a short time, and then throw them away. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We have a key role to play in ensuring the well-being of the planet and future generations:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Give clothes <\/span><b>a new lease on life<\/b> <\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buy less, but buy better<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Raise awareness in our community<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> about the importance of taking care of your clothes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each piece of clothing is more than just a piece of fabric: it is a precious resource, the result of the work of many people and a long list of significant impacts on our planet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ti_icon size-default corner-square icon-left bg-color-white text-color-white icon-color-blue\"><i class=\"ti-hand-point-right\" style=\"\"><\/i> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Together, let&#8217;s make sure that the journey of our clothes doesn&#8217;t end in the trash, but continues through <\/span>r<b>ecycling, donation, and upcycling<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_bc2j771 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #969696;margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 10px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When we buy a new item of clothing, we rarely think about the journey it has taken to get into our hands. Yet that journey involves numerous trips, the use of resources, and&#8230; the generation of waste. Did you know that in Quebec, each person throws away an average of 23 kilograms of clothing per [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[421],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-en","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The impact of a cotton garment&#039;s long journey - Site officiel des Super Recycleurs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The impact of a cotton garment&#039;s long journey - Site officiel des Super Recycleurs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When we buy a new item of clothing, we rarely think about the journey it has taken to get into our hands. 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Did you know that in Quebec, each person throws away an average of 23 kilograms of clothing per [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Site officiel des Super Recycleurs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SuperRecycleurs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-01T15:37:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-20T22:48:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Super-Recycleurs_FB.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Les Super Recyleurs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SuperRecycleurs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SuperRecycleurs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Les Super Recyleurs\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Les Super Recyleurs\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ef7efd63218116ef8d739933a013b14b\"},\"headline\":\"The impact of a cotton garment&#8217;s long journey\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-01T15:37:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-20T22:48:05+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/\"},\"wordCount\":826,\"commentCount\":0,\"articleSection\":[\"Blog\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/\",\"name\":\"The impact of a cotton garment's long journey - 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Yet that journey involves numerous trips, the use of resources, and... the generation of waste. Did you know that in Quebec, each person throws away an average of 23 kilograms of clothing per [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/","og_site_name":"Site officiel des Super Recycleurs","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SuperRecycleurs\/","article_published_time":"2025-10-01T15:37:43+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-20T22:48:05+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Super-Recycleurs_FB.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Les Super Recyleurs","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@SuperRecycleurs","twitter_site":"@SuperRecycleurs","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Les Super Recyleurs","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/"},"author":{"name":"Les Super Recyleurs","@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ef7efd63218116ef8d739933a013b14b"},"headline":"The impact of a cotton garment&#8217;s long journey","datePublished":"2025-10-01T15:37:43+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-20T22:48:05+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/"},"wordCount":826,"commentCount":0,"articleSection":["Blog"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/","url":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/","name":"The impact of a cotton garment's long journey - Site officiel des Super Recycleurs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-10-01T15:37:43+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-20T22:48:05+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ef7efd63218116ef8d739933a013b14b"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/the-impact-of-a-cotton-garments-long-journey\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Accueil","item":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The impact of a cotton garment&#8217;s long journey"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/","name":"Site officiel des Super Recycleurs","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ef7efd63218116ef8d739933a013b14b","name":"Les Super Recyleurs","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3ba9785847f73ea1a07f67cd59cdf708f0e1be654196d1b776498347c81a7abe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3ba9785847f73ea1a07f67cd59cdf708f0e1be654196d1b776498347c81a7abe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3ba9785847f73ea1a07f67cd59cdf708f0e1be654196d1b776498347c81a7abe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Les Super Recyleurs"},"url":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/author\/sgibelin\/"}]}},"builder_content":"<p>When we buy a new item of clothing, we rarely think about the journey it has taken to get into our hands. Yet that journey involves numerous trips, the use of resources, and... the generation of waste. Did you know that in Quebec, each person throws away an average of <b>23 kilograms of clothing per year<\/b>? That's nearly <b>four large garbage bags full of clothes<\/b> per person!<\/p> <p>So, what is this mysterious journey of a garment? Let's follow the long journey of a cotton sweater, from the plant... to the landfill. <\/p> <p><em>NOTE: This blog is not intended to make you feel guilty about buying new clothes. We explain the impacts here so we can present solutions in future blogs. <\/em><\/p>\n\n<h3>1. It all starts in the fields<\/h3>\n<p>Cotton is a plant that is grown in warm climates, such as India, China, the United States, Pakistan, etc. <\/p> <p>This fiber offers many benefits compared to synthetic fibers; it allows for better ventilation of the skin, has a longer life expectancy, is more recyclable, and, when organic, does not contain endocrine disruptors. Its biggest drawback: growing cotton requires a lot of water and pesticides. For example, it takes about <b>9,000 liters of water<\/b> to make a single pair of jeans, which is equivalent to <b>285 showers<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n<h3>2. Manufacturing: from fiber to garment<\/h3>\n<p>After the fields, the cotton travels to the factory.<\/p> <p>Once harvested, the cotton is spun into yarn and then woven into fabric. These fabrics are then <b>dyed, cut, and assembled to create beautiful garments<\/b>.<\/p> <p>Who doesn't love colorful clothes? A rainbow wardrobe to match the seasons makes you happy, right? It does for me, but I'm still aware of the impact of this choice, which is why I opt for secondhand clothes. <\/p> <p>Cotton is a naturally white fiber. Several chemicals are used to change its color. These chemicals are highly toxic and can cause damage to workers' health in addition to polluting local rivers.<\/p>\n\n<h3>3. The great journey around the world<\/h3>\n<p>Our clothes travel a lot. If they had passports, they would be well stamped! <\/p> <p>For example, for a T-shirt: <\/p> <ul> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cotton may be grown in <b>India<\/b>,<\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\">fil\u00e9 et tiss\u00e9 en <b>Chine<\/b>,<\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\">dyed in a different city in <b>China<\/b>,<\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\">sewn in <b>Bangladesh<\/b>,<\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\">shipped to a warehouse in the <b>United States,<\/b><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\">and then sent to the store where you will find it in <b>Canada<\/b>.<\/li> <\/ul> <p>Before even arriving in stores, this sweater may have traveled <b>thousands of miles<\/b> by boat, truck, or plane! Each trip releases greenhouse gases. It's important to be aware of this when buying new clothing. <\/p>\n\n<h3>4. Life with us: wearing, washing, wearing out<\/h3>\n<p>Once purchased, the garment begins its life at home. If our garment is lucky, we wear it, wash it, wear it, wash it... until it is too worn, too small, or stained. For the less fortunate garments, we forget about them in our closets or dressers\u2014oops! <\/p> <p>You may notice that clothes that are washed more often wear out faster. To avoid throwing away clothes frequently, try wearing them several times before washing them. This will reduce both the water and electricity consumption needed to clean them while extending their life. <\/p>\n\n<h3>5. End of life: trash or new opportunity?<\/h3>\n<p>What should you do with your clothes once you no longer wear them? In most Western countries, these clothes are thrown away. <\/p> <p>In Quebec, <b>95,000 tons of textiles<\/b> are sent to landfills every year. Canada produces <b>2% of the world's textile waste.<\/b>. Your clothes don't have to suffer the same fate. There are much better places for them to end up than in the trash. <\/p> <p>Other options are:<\/p> <ul> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Donate<\/b> your clothes to the Super Recyclers, thrift stores, or organizations.<\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Repurpose<\/b> your clothes by creating something new (bag, toy, puppet).<\/li> <\/ul> <p>We will be sharing tips on how to revamp your clothes in an upcoming blog post.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Reinventing the garment's journey<\/h3>\n<p>The long journey of a garment is impressive... It's a shame that after all this adventure, our clothes spend most of their lives in the trash. We buy them, wear them for a short time, and then throw them away. <\/p> <p>We have a key role to play in ensuring the well-being of the planet and future generations:<\/p> <ul> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Give clothes <b>a new lease on life<\/b> <\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Buy less, but buy better<\/b><\/li> <li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Raise awareness in our community<\/b> about the importance of taking care of your clothes.<\/li> <\/ul> <p>Each piece of clothing is more than just a piece of fabric: it is a precious resource, the result of the work of many people and a long list of significant impacts on our planet.<\/p> <p>[ti_icon icon=\"ti-hand-point-right\" size=\"default\" style=\"icon-left\" text_color=\"white\" background_color=\"white\" icon_color=\"blue\"]Together, let's make sure that the journey of our clothes doesn't end in the trash, but continues through r<b>ecycling, donation, and upcycling<\/b>.<\/p>\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14157"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14159,"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14157\/revisions\/14159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.superrecycleurs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}