The Environmental Impact of textiles
Textiles, and clothing in particular are different from most other recyclable materials. The foremost idea is to collect and reuse the clothing, to find other people that will wear it. It is almost impossible to reuse clothing once it goes through the process used in most curbside recycling programs (the recycling carts at your house). This material is handled by large machines, all the contents mixed together and then mechanically sorted by other large machines. At the end of this process the clothing is no longer wearable. All items deposited into a donation box are collected and separated (clothing from non-clothing items) by hand, then hand-packed or made into bales while keeping the clothing in the best shape possible for the people who will wear it in the future.Clothing that is not sold locally in the US is often shipped to developing countries.
Campus California provides the communities in these parts of the world with the needed, low cost and affordable clothing. In fact for many people used clothing is the only kind they can afford. If these clothes and shoes are bought, sold, and paid for, it can generate a much needed economical movement in the otherwise stagnating or declining economy. The poorest countries typically do not have their own clothing industry any more and lack the strength to develop one. It could be because the lack of materials, skilled workforce and investment availability, not even mentioning the global competition from Southeast Asia. Often the local production is too expensive for the poorest to afford it and so the import of second hand clothing can have positive effects on the economy. In fact millions of people all through Southern Africa and South America make their living by buying, selling, repairing and/or altering the clothes or shoes which many of us would not wear any more. Last but not least; cotton, the raw material for most of clothing produced today is one of the most water, nutrient, labor and pesticide intensive crops grown on industrial scale. It takes over 900 gallons of water just to grow a pound of cotton; the amount of pesticides and fertilizer needed to grow enough cotton to make one T-shirt is almost the same as the final weight of the T-shirt itself!
Textiles, and clothing in particular are different from most other recyclable materials. The foremost idea is to collect and reuse the clothing, to find other people that will wear it. It is almost impossible to reuse clothing once it goes through the process used in most curbside recycling programs (the recycling carts at your house). This material is handled by large machines, all the contents mixed together and then mechanically sorted by other large machines. At the end of this process the clothing is no longer wearable. All items deposited into a donation box are collected and separated (clothing from non-clothing items) by hand, then hand-packed or made into bales while keeping the clothing in the best shape possible for the people who will wear it in the future.Clothing that is not sold locally in the US is often shipped to developing countries.
Campus California provides the communities in these parts of the world with the needed, low cost and affordable clothing. In fact for many people used clothing is the only kind they can afford. If these clothes and shoes are bought, sold, and paid for, it can generate a much needed economical movement in the otherwise stagnating or declining economy. The poorest countries typically do not have their own clothing industry any more and lack the strength to develop one. It could be because the lack of materials, skilled workforce and investment availability, not even mentioning the global competition from Southeast Asia. Often the local production is too expensive for the poorest to afford it and so the import of second hand clothing can have positive effects on the economy. In fact millions of people all through Southern Africa and South America make their living by buying, selling, repairing and/or altering the clothes or shoes which many of us would not wear any more. Last but not least; cotton, the raw material for most of clothing produced today is one of the most water, nutrient, labor and pesticide intensive crops grown on industrial scale. It takes over 900 gallons of water just to grow a pound of cotton; the amount of pesticides and fertilizer needed to grow enough cotton to make one T-shirt is almost the same as the final weight of the T-shirt itself!
Campus California
Campus California's Impact
Campus California has been an active non-profit organization since 2000. It's work has contributed to teaching over 400 people from dozens of countries to do a variety of development work in Africa and Central America by working to combat poverty and help those most affected by global climate change. Campus California is committed to continuing this piece of it's mission and incorporating innovative programs to help California reach its waste reduction goals.
The clothing collection program that began as it's main source of fundraising in 2003, is now reporting diversion of thousands of tons of textiles from the waste stream every year. In the field of textile reuse, Campus California beileve that people want to do the right thing, but they need an easy and convenient way to do it.
Campus California creates long term, sustainable jobs locally and contribute to the growth of the reuse recycling industry nationwide. The presence of clothing boxes at many schools around the Bay Area helps the next generation to see from concept to practical solution the effects of reuse and recycling. There are also social changes that come from used clothing as an industry. In many countries in Sub Saharan Africa up to 60% of the small business owners involved in the used clothing trade are women. This is a big change that gives women power over their lives and confidence that we hope will lead to more gender equality in all aspects of the society.
Campus California has been an active non-profit organization since 2000. It's work has contributed to teaching over 400 people from dozens of countries to do a variety of development work in Africa and Central America by working to combat poverty and help those most affected by global climate change. Campus California is committed to continuing this piece of it's mission and incorporating innovative programs to help California reach its waste reduction goals.
The clothing collection program that began as it's main source of fundraising in 2003, is now reporting diversion of thousands of tons of textiles from the waste stream every year. In the field of textile reuse, Campus California beileve that people want to do the right thing, but they need an easy and convenient way to do it.
Campus California creates long term, sustainable jobs locally and contribute to the growth of the reuse recycling industry nationwide. The presence of clothing boxes at many schools around the Bay Area helps the next generation to see from concept to practical solution the effects of reuse and recycling. There are also social changes that come from used clothing as an industry. In many countries in Sub Saharan Africa up to 60% of the small business owners involved in the used clothing trade are women. This is a big change that gives women power over their lives and confidence that we hope will lead to more gender equality in all aspects of the society.