Help Save the Planet with Consignment Shopping

Did you know the apparel and footwear industry is responsible for 4 to 8.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions?

That’s a higher carbon footprint than the aviation industry…

And Germany, France, and the UK’s total emissions combined.

That’s why sustainable fashion is so essential in the fight for a greener world. Eco-conscious fashion is a cornerstone in helping protect our planet from climate change. 

Sustainable fashion has been increasing in popularity for the last few years, and conscientious consumers are using their dollars to vote for change in the industry. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the negative impacts of fast fashion on the environment and are instead choosing to buy clothes that exist within a closed-loop fashion cycle.

What’s the easiest – but most impactful – way to start curating a more sustainable closet?

Consignment shopping. 

A 2020 report by Vestiaire Collective X Boston Consulting Group showed that the current resale (consignment) market is worth $30-40 billion, and 70% of study respondents feel compelled to purchase consignment goods for sustainable reasons. That’s because consignment shopping helps lower the impact of the fashion industry on local, national, and global scales.

Keep reading to discover all the ways consignment benefits our planet – and your closet! 

7 earth-friendly reasons to shop and sell consignment

1. Consignment shopping reduces landfill waste

When you sell or buy clothes on consignment, you’re diverting those materials away from landfills. This means less waste and fewer gasses emitted during the breakdown of those materials. You’re giving those clothes a second life and giving someone else the opportunity to enjoy those clothes as much as you did!

This practice of recycling clothes is a cornerstone of the circular fashion economy, which aims to extend the lifecycle of products for as long as possible.

2. Minimizes production waste

Buying on consignment reduces the need for the new production of clothes, thus minimizing textile, water, and chemical waste. This, in turn, reduces the waste leaching out into waterways and the air, which helps keep our environment pure and clean.

In fact, extending the life of one item of clothing by just nine months can reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprint by 20-30%. If everyone were to do this multiple times, we’d have a significantly less wasteful fashion industry.  

3. Minimizes transportation and packaging emissions

Most consignment shopping happens locally. That means shopping on consignment requires less shipping and packaging than new clothing. New clothes require extensive transport and packing – like sending textiles to production, producing clothes overseas, quality control, plastic packaging, and shipping to the store or online distribution warehouse.

But consignment shopping dramatically reduces this time and waste: the pieces go from the seller’s house to the consignment store to the buyer’s house. This dramatically cuts down greenhouse gasses associated with transportation and packaging.

4. Promotes mindful consumption

Instead of constantly buying new, lower-quality items that wear out quickly, consignment shopping encourages consumers to invest in high-quality pieces that have already proven their durability and style. This encourages a more mindful approach to curating a closet you absolutely adore.

By focusing on quality over quantity, you’re reducing unnecessary consumption and clutter. This shift toward a sustainable mindset helps break the fast fashion cycle and reduce the demand for new clothing production.

5. Utilizes sustainable fabrics

Clothing found on consignment is more likely to be made of high-quality textiles that have proven to withstand the test of time – natural fibers like linen, cotton, or wool. These durable and versatile fabrics make them great choices for a long-term investment. On the flip side, you won’t find too many synthetic materials with lots of chemicals in consignment stores because synthetics don’t hold up as well as the high-quality textiles. (That doesn’t mean all consignment store clothing is all-natural. You’ll still want to check the tags if that’s an important selling point for you.)

Many consignment stores, like Current Boutique, go the extra mile to ensure we emphasize sustainable, natural fabrics that fit beautifully and feel luxurious.

Even if the material is synthetic, you can feel good that you’re helping to divert it away from a landfill and extend its life!

6. Encourages sustainable brands

At Current Boutique, we proudly feature a selection of sustainable brands that prioritize environmental and social responsibility in their manufacturing processes. Brands like Eileen Fisher, Reformation, Mara Hoffman, and Stella McCartney are leaders in the sustainable fashion movement. They understand the importance of ethical practices and strive to minimize their environmental impact while delivering stylish, high-quality products. 

P.S. When looking for sustainable brands, be aware of greenwashing. This is when brands market in a way that seems sustainable… but really isn’t. Learn more about decoding “green” terms here.

7. Offers novelty without waste

People like fast fashion because it provides novelty. Shoppers like having new, exciting pieces to add to their wardrobes that reflect trends and their personalities.

But you’re not giving that up with consignment shopping. In fact, there’s even more novelty in shopping on consignment. In a consignment store, you’re not looking at all the same styles and pieces that everyone is looking at in the big box stores. You have access to newness and uniqueness with consignment shopping. This allows you to create your own distinctive style without being swayed by what corporate marketing is telling you.

Shopping on consignment is like going on a treasure hunt. You find new and exciting pieces every time you walk into the store. They might be from last year, five years ago, or twenty years ago… And they’re unique to you! They’re one-of-a-kind pieces that will make you feel gorgeous and special every time you put them on.

Check out these popular trends in sustainable fashion to learn more.

TL;DR - Why Earth Lovers Should Shop Consignment

• Reduces waste: Prevents clothing from ending up in landfills
• Promotes circular fashion: Reusing and recycling extends the lifestyle of garments
• Decreases demand for new production: Lowers the environmental impact of manufacturing new clothing
• Reduces shipping and packaging: Local purchasing significantly cuts down transportation greenhouse gasses
• Encourages mindful consumption: Promotes buying fewer, better-quality items
• Fosters sustainable fabric use: Encourages the purchase of natural fabrics
• Highlights sustainable brands: Boosts demand for eco-friendly and ethically made products
• Provides novelty: Unique offerings allow more personality to shine through in style

Every choice we make impacts the planet. By shopping and selling on consignment, you’re directly contributing to a more sustainable future.

At Current Boutique, we’re committed to our environmental and social principles. We invite you to join us in making a positive difference for our planet, one stylish piece at a time.

Read next… How Consignment Stores are Shaping the Future of Sustainable Shopping