Whether you’re preparing for a dream race or starting your first-ever trail running season, it always feels good to pull on a fresh, new pair of sneakers or a soft, well-tailored running shirt. At the beginning of this gear relationship, though, it’s hard to consider where those goods will go at their life’s end – typically, the dump.
In 2018, the United States generated 13 million tons of waste from clothing and footwear, estimates the EPA. The amount of that waste that was recycled was close to 1.7 million tons. That’s a 13 percent recycling rate (excluding reuse, such as through thrift store donations). Where did the other 11.3 million tons of textile waste go in that one year? Landfills.
“By taking steps like reusing, repairing, upcycling or recycling apparel, we—the collective apparel industry—can help to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Jess Rogers, Patagonia product lead of Trail Running and Hike. “Promoting a circular economy takes great effort from different steps in the product creation process, but also requires additional thought and consideration from consumers in how…
