Is Donating Your Old Clothes Good or Bad for the Environment?

At Scarlet Destiny, we believe in conscious consumption and collective empowerment. That includes looking beyond feel-good habits like donating clothes and examining the deeper truth behind what happens after we part ways with our wardrobes. On the surface, donating clothing seems like a responsible choice — a chance to reduce waste and help someone in need. But the full story is far more complex.

The Illusion of the Easy Out
Fast fashion has dramatically increased the volume of clothing we buy and discard. With cheap, trend-chasing pieces flooding wardrobes everywhere, we’ve now reached a tipping point. The lifespan of clothing has shortened and more garments than ever are being treated as disposable. Each year, millions of tons of textile waste are generated globally, with the vast majority ending up in landfills or incinerated. Donating may seem like a guilt-free way to deal with these excess clothes, but not all donations are created equal, and they don’t all end up where we think they do.

The Journey of a Donated Garment
When clothes are donated to second-hand shops or charity bins, the process that follows is often invisible. At best, only a portion of the donations make it to the shop floor. In many cases, garments are sorted at industrial centres, with some deemed sellable, others sent overseas for resale, and many more discarded due to damage, mildew, or low quality.

Even if you’re dropping your items off at a reputable donation centre, roughly one-third of donations are considered suitable for resale. The rest may be packed up for export, converted into industrial rags, or simply dumped. And the export process itself can introduce new problems – once donated clothing enters the global secondhand market, it can displace local economies, especially in developing countries. In regions like East and West Africa, local textile industries have been severely undercut by the influx of donated clothing, sometimes described as a "secondhand tsunami."

The idea that our old t-shirts and jeans will always go on to help someone in need is a comforting narrative — but it’s not always a realistic one.

The Environmental Cost of “Doing Good”
Even if clothes are successfully reused abroad, the environmental cost of shipping tons of textiles around the world is significant. Fuel consumption, carbon emissions and poor waste infrastructure in recipient countries mean that these donations can create new problems rather than solve existing ones.

On beaches in places like Accra, Ghana, growing piles of textile waste reveal the consequences of this overburdened donation pipeline. Mountains of discarded garments — many of them imported from the Global North — pollute coastal ecosystems, leak dyes and microplastics, and pose long-term health risks for communities living nearby. Some time ago, we came across some interesting stats from Ghana’s largest market for used garments in Accra, which usually really thrives on second-hand clothing being imported to their streets, but lately, are struggling with poor quality clothing being sent their way. You can check out our research here.

Adding to the problem, the synthetic fibres in much of today’s clothing, especially fast fashion items, don’t break down easily. Instead, they fragment into microfibers, which enter water systems and food chains, affecting both marine life and human health. These tiny pollutants are linked to hormone disruption, liver damage, and more.

When Donations Hurt More Than They Help
It’s not just an environmental issue. Charitable donation systems can be economically inefficient and socially harmful when not managed well. Charity shops in many parts of the world are becoming increasingly expensive, pricing out the very people they’re meant to support. Meanwhile, charities often spend tens of thousands annually just to dispose of poor-quality, unsellable donations; money that could otherwise support their services.

Unwashed, soiled, or damaged garments create additional burdens. Mildew from outdoor donation bins can ruin large quantities of clothes before they ever get sorted. Torn items, broken zippers, or missing buttons may get tossed out without repair — which is why preparation matters.

So, What Should We Do Instead?
Clothing donations aren’t inherently bad — in fact, they can be a powerful way to extend the life of garments, reduce resource use, and help others. But intention alone isn’t enough. To truly make a difference, our approach to donating needs to evolve.

Here’s what we at Scarlet Destiny recommend:

• Donate thoughtfully: Only donate clean, wearable, high-quality items. If something is torn, repair it first. Make it easy for your donations to find a second life.

• Skip the middleman: If possible, donate directly to shelters, community hubs, or mutual aid groups. This way, your garments go straight to those who need them, without passing through complex supply chains.

• Repurpose creatively: For items that are no longer wearable, get creative. Turn old tees into cleaning cloths or patchwork quilts. Extend the usefulness of the fabric before sending it to landfill.

• Buy less and better: The best way to reduce fashion waste is to buy fewer, better-quality pieces that are made to last. Invest in timeless styles and ethical brands that align with your values.

• Mend, rewear, reimagine: A small repair or restyle can breathe new life into an item that might otherwise be discarded. You don’t need to be an expert tailor to make a difference, just a mindful one.

The Verdict
So, is donating your old clothes good or bad for the environment? The answer is: it depends. Donating thoughtfully can be a powerful tool in our sustainable toolkit. But blind donation, especially as a solution to overconsumption, risks doing more harm than good.

At Scarlet Destiny, we’re committed to challenging throwaway culture and reshaping fashion into a force for care, not consumption. Whether it’s choosing to repair a jacket instead of replacing it, or giving mindfully instead of tossing mindlessly, every decision adds up.

Let’s break up with fast fashion, for good.

Info sourced on thecooldown.com, 1millionwomen.com