That old sweater you’re no longer wearing just might make the world a better place.
Researchers at Virginia Tech say giving used clothing and worn textiles to low-income countries has several benefits. Professor emeritus Marjorie Norton says these hand-me-downs are especially important in countries where non-agricultural jobs are scarce. And, she says, it also helps the environment here in America.
“So much of it today contains synthetic fibers, polyester and nylon and acrylic as well as plastic buttons and plastic zippers that will not decompose, at least for hundreds of years or maybe thousands of years.”
Frank Shafroth at George Mason University wonders what will happen to all those plastic zippers once they reach their destination. And he worries about disrupting local economies across the world.
“There’s a tailor in every village I ever visited anywhere in Africa, and in most of the cities I visited in South America. So it’s a little bit like we’re potentially threatening those jobs that are valuable jobs in those communities.”
But the folks at Virginia Tech say their research, funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, show your old clothes will actually help local economies in struggling countries across the world, where you can literally give them the shirt off your back.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
