Did you know that nearly 85% of clothes in the U.S. end up in landfills or burned each year? That's an average of 81 pounds of textile trash per person annually. Of course, this is not just a North American issue.

According to the Huffington Post, "The equivalent of one garbage truck full of textiles gets landfilled or burned every single second of every day of the year.”

Why Does So Much Clothing Go to Waste? 

One of the many reasons is that cheaper, usually plastic-based clothing, doesn't last as long as its sturdy and more sustainable counterparts, hemp and organic cotton.

Beyond Hemp is on a mission to reduce fashion waste, contribute to lower carbon emissions, and provide 100% compostable activewear that looks great, feels comfortable and lasts for years.

Hemp has been used for centuries and is currently a key ingredient in garments and textiles, papers, bath and body products, food, and much more.

Here are 7 incredible facts about hemp that will make you question why you don't use this textile for all of your wears:

1. Hemp is extremely strong and durable, lasting for years and holding its shape without stretching out.
   
   
2. Hemp has great insulation properties, keeping you warm in the winter and cooler in the summer, with great effectiveness in warding off UV rays.
   
   
3. Hemp is soft, breathable, absorbent and more mildew-resident than alternative fibers, making it cleaner and perfect for activewear.
   
   
4. Hemp is biodegradable and will naturally decompose in compost and regenerate back into the Earth.
   
   
5. Hemp can be recycled and repurposed into many alternative products.
   
   
6. Hemp has a fast grow rate and is more easily renewable than trees
   
   
7.  Hemp doesn't need the pesticides that many other fabrics do. It has a deep root system that helps to prevent soil erosion, removes toxins, provides a disease break, and aerates the soil to the benefit of future crops.

Knowing that hemp is a more renewable, reusable and recyclable resource than plastic, why do we still have a plastic problem and how can we be a part of the solution?

Fast Fashion Contributes to Textile Pollution: Nearly 60% of Clothes are Made from Plastic and Ultimately End up in the Landfill

Fast fashion is about big and cheap levels of production. It encourages consumers to buy often and replace their wardrobes with the latest trend. This overwhelming amount of consumption results in lesser quality pieces that consumers throw out due to lack of quality control, short-lasting materials, or to replace with the latest trend, ultimately costing consumers more money than if they had invested in a higher quality piece originally.

Additionally, the synthetic materials in plastic clothing could take nearly 200 years to decompose in a landfill. Therefore, the more materials produced, the more trash we’re left with without a real solution for disposal.

The harms of fast fashion reach far beyond the landfill; however, they also have negative impacts on the food and water we consume, land and ocean animals, as well as the livelihoods of garment workers, who are often held to unsafe standards of production and exposed to the chemicals that go into plastic-based clothing. 

One thing we know is that while it may be cheaper to manufacture plastic fibers, the impact on our environment and our health is profound. 

How to Be a More Conscious and Sustainable Clothing Consumer

1. Buy truly eco-friendly clothing, such as Beyond Hemp. Our athleticwear is naturally-derived from compostable materials that are safe for your skin and the planet.
   
   
2. Hem, fix, sew, and alter items you already have. Clothing may lose elasticity or you may outgrow items but a tailor may be able to mend wearable items and adapt them to your specifications.
   
   
3. Use a washing machine microplastic filter to catch microfibers our synthetic clothes shed every time we wash our clothes.
   
   
4. Shop secondhand for seasonal finds, as well as special occasion items that you may only use one-time or infrequently.
   
   
5. Donate quality clothing to shelters, thrift stores, and online through places like Trash Nothing and Facebook Marketplace.
    
6. Find a clothing recycling center near you and look into brands' disposal and recycling initiatives directly.

While the impact of clothing waste may seem overwhelming, the good news is that there are many organizations working toward reducing carbon emissions, improving end-of-life disposal and recyclability of materials, and ensuring ethical working practices for garment workers.

You can be a part of this positive change too by diving into the sustainable solutions above and being intentional about your clothing investments and disposal.