Swedes throw away 90,000 tonnes of textiles per year, or 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) per person, according to the Swedish Society for the Conservation of Nature.

The EU average is 19 kilogrammes, according to 2022 statistics, up from 17 in 2019, data from the European Environment Agency showed

Is it just me or does that sound extremely high? Especially for an average, meaning there are outliers to well above that figure.

Is there anything heavy that drives up those numbers that I can't think of? Or is there an industrial use that gets mixed into those numbers that you don't see as a consumer? Because I just can't imagine going through 10kg or even 19+kg of clothing per year.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Yeah it's probably including stuff that never makes it to the consumer. Like in the US, every year, they print "super bowl champion" shirts, hats, etc. for both teams, so that they can sell them immediately after the game. The other half go right to recycling or shipped to developing countries. Same with misprints or stuff that doesn't pass QC. You spend time in developing countries, and you'll notice people wearing "Kansas City Super Bowl Champions 2025" (they lost that game) or random shirts with misaligned or reversed graphics.

Which is also harmful to their community because it undercuts local production.

[–] golli@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

Sadly that sounds like a likely explanation for a big chunk of textiles that a thrown away.

[–] Jhex@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Highlighting the efficiency of capitalism

[–] FelixCress@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Send them to the USA, they won't be able to afford Chinese Tshirts anymore.