Addressing Overconsumption through Expanding Sustainable Choices
2021, December 9 • 10:15am – 10:45am – Track C
Where do your clothes go when you don’t want them anymore? For those that value recycling, donating unwanted clothing is an environmentally and socially responsible way to make room in our closets. While donating clothing is a great alternative to sending it to the landfill, it can have detrimental downstream effects, potentially fueling increased new clothing consumption. This session will discuss key studies in the psychology of recycling and fast fashion, and provide perspective on sustainable materials innovations and new business models that build circularity into the textile industry. From digital technologies that enable product tracking to pilot programs in closed-loop textile recycling, we will explore some of the ways the apparel industry is currently tackling waste reduction and helping extend the life of our garments.
Moderator: Chrise de Tournay Birkhahn, Zero Waste USA, City of Berkeley Zero Waste Commission Chair
Panelists:
- Rebecca Williams, Assistant Site Manager, Sustainability – Microsoft Account at SBM Management Services
- Nicole Kenney, Sustainability Manager at LifeLabs Design, Inc.