Is renting clothes better for the environment than buying clothes?
Rental fashion is considered an environmentally friendly alternative. The Renting clothes is worse for the planet than just throwing it away study examined the warming potential of five different ways of owning and disposing of clothes. In order to be able to compare the different ownership and end-of-life models for textiles, the study made the following assumptions:
- The five scenarios: (1) wear and then throw away, (2) wear longer than average and then throw away, (3) resell (4) recycle, (5) rent
- The study assumes that customers each drive 2km by private car to pick up their garments to rent, resulting in many additional emissions.
- The study also assumes that someone who buys an item wears it 200 times before throwing it away. Rather, the truth is that an article of clothing is worn an average of 10 times before it is disposed of ( source ).
- The study examined CO2 emissions from transport at the consumer level. Other aspects such as land use, water use and dye pollution have been blanked out
In summary, the study concludes that renting clothing has a greater negative impact on the environment than buying it and then throwing it away. The most sustainable way to consume fashion is to buy fewer items. Recycling had a comparatively high climate impact, since industrial recycling processes currently still cause a lot of emissions.
Of course, one can argue in favor of renting that clothes you love last longer. And what could be better than loving something and then letting it go so that someone else can love it? Buying second-hand clothing also corresponds to this idea. But will this really solve the problems of fast fashion?
I personally believe that in order to appreciate our clothes, we need to reconnect with them. In my opinion, constantly renting new clothes is not the ultimate solution. The behavior basically remains the same - we are even motivated to keep buying something new and then giving it back. This only fuels the pursuit of something new. It means that we can continue to consume with a clear conscience, without asking ourselves whether we really need the piece.
However, I find the possibility of borrowing something for a specific occasion to be quite positive. You've probably bought something for a night out, wedding, costume party, etc. that you knew you'd never wear again.
What is your opinion on the topic?