Capstone:

Textile Waste
By: Sarah Latham, Morgan McHaney &
Grace Lawley
Overview
Why is this an issue?
● More than 15 million tons of used textile waste is generated each year in
the United States, and the amount has doubled over the last 20 years
(LeBlanc - Sustainable Business).
What is being done to help?
● Many clothing companies across the United States are working to
advocate and practice more eco friendly clothing production and
sustainable shopping.
What can we do to help?
● The main thing we can do to help is learn and educate others more about
the importance of sustainable shopping and the difference your clothing
donations can make.

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Fast Facts about Fast Fashion
● 84 percent of unwanted clothes in the United States in 2012 went
into either a landfill or an incinerator (Wicker)

● In less than 20 years, the volume of clothing Americans toss each

year has doubled from 7 million to 14 million tons, or an astounding
80 pounds per person. (Wicker)

● It costs New York City $20.6 million annually to ship textiles to

landfills and incinerators - this is why brands are starting to be

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Our Main Goal
● For our Capstone project we ultimately want to
advocate for sustainable shopping and how to
effectively donate your unwanted clothing.
● Make a significant
clothing donation to
benefit a local non-profit.

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What We Learned
● Fast fashion companies’ pollution

● Most sustainable companies (US and Austin)

● Importance and impact of donating

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Audience
● Our project will influence people in our community
and how they shop for clothing as well as how
they donate clothes.
● We are reaching out to non-profit organizations
such as American Red Cross, SAFE Alliance and
the Settlement Home in Austin.

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Communication Plan
Reached out to:
● Outdoor Voices
● Reformation
● SAFE Alliance
● American Red Cross
● The Settlement Home
for Children

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Overall Plan
● Research sustainability so we are able to educate the
public
● Reach out to local nonprofits to see how clothing
donations can best support them and their principles
● Organize a clothing drive
○ Spread the word on social media such as
Instagram, Tarrytown Next Door and Travis
Country Next Door.
○ Have donation boxes at Austin High and in the
neighborhood (tbd).
○ Donate all clothes to a non profit in need.

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 Work Cited
LeBlanc, Rick. “Textile and Garment Recycling Facts and Figures.” The Balance Small
Business, The Balance Small Business, 27 Apr. 2019,
www.thebalancesmb.com/textile-recycling-facts-and-figures-2878122.

Wicker, Alden. “The Earth Is Covered in the Waste of Your Old Clothes.” Newsweek, 16
Mar. 2017,
www.newsweek.com/2016/09/09/old-clothes-fashion-waste-crisis-494824.html.

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Questions?

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