Greenager

The fast fashion industry has come under scrutiny for its negative impact on the environment, including the use of vast amounts of energy and water, as well as the significant amounts of textile waste it generates. For companies looking to improve their sustainability efforts, reused T-shirts present an attractive alternative for company merchandising. 

Reusing T-shirts, through the processes of sorting, washing, and screen-printing, can conserve significant amounts of resources compared to producing new shirts. According to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the production of a single T-shirt requires 700 gallons of water, whereas the reusing process requires only a fraction of that amount, conserving an estimated 2,271,000 liters of water per year for a company with 1000 employees. This amount of water saved is equivalent to the amount of water consumed by 20 average households for one year. Additionally, the production of new clothing releases large amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere, with a single T-shirt production emitting approximately 2.5 kilograms of CO2. By switching to reused T-shirts, a company with 1000 employees could reduce their carbon footprint by 2,037 metric tons of CO2 per year. This amount of CO2 reduction is equivalent to removing 437 cars from the road for one year.

 In terms of economic benefits, the lower cost of reused T-shirts can provide companies with significant savings. By using reused shirts, companies avoid the high costs associated with producing new clothing, including raw materials, labor, and shipping. The lower cost of reused shirts can also result in increased sales, as companies can offer more affordable merchandise to their customers. 

In addition to the environmental and economic benefits, reused T-shirts also offer a unique touch to company merchandising. By printing witty quotes or slogans on shirts that have already lived a life, companies can add a fun element to their merchandise that sets it apart from the traditional corporate fare. Finally, the use of reused T-shirts in company merchandising can also help reduce textile waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US generates over 16 million tons of textile waste annually, and only a small portion of that waste is recycled. By utilizing reused T-shirts for company merchandising, companies can play a role in reducing this waste and conserving resources. For example, if a company with 1000 employees were to switch to using reused T-shirts, the reduction in textile waste would be equivalent to preserving over 7,000 acres of forest, which is roughly the size of New York City’s Central Park. By making conscious choices in their merchandising efforts, companies can help mitigate the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry and contribute to a more sustainable future.