Environmental
As a leader and pioneer of the for-profit thrift category, we seek to positively impact the environment by reducing waste, promoting reuse of textiles and household goods, the recycling of excess metal, cardboard, and plastic, and extending the life of reusable goods.
The textile and clothing industry is one of the most environmentally damaging sectors of the economy; it relies on non-renewable resources such as oil for synthetic fibers, fertilizer to grow cotton and chemicals associated with the production, dyeing and finishing of fibers and textiles. This process is also energy and water-intensive. Meanwhile, discarded clothing is the largest source of textile waste in the world, with the average U.S. citizen throwing away 81 pounds of clothing each year, 95% of which could have been reworn or repurposed.1 Further, less than 1% of the material used to produce new clothing – whether factory offcuts or clothing after it is used by the consumer – is recycled to make new clothing, which makes reuse key to mitigating the environmental impacts of the textile industry.2
By sourcing and selling second hand items, we contribute to the conservation of resources. Thrift is inherently circular and provides one of the most effective solutions to mitigate the environmental cost of clothing and extending its life.
The vast majority of the clothing and textiles we source are sold to our retail or wholesale customers. During fiscal year 2024, we processed 1 billion pounds and sold 291 million items of secondhand goods to our thrifters, respectively.