From 2 to 200 years: how long does it take for our clothes to disappear?

Have you ever wondered what happens to your clothes once you make the decision to get rid of them? That's good, today we answer your question.

You are in the midst of storage and sorting, or you simply want to compose a more minimalist dressing room. Some of your clothes may be damaged, and you don't see yourself giving them away or transforming them. But then what happens if you decide to throw them away? Thanks to the very relevant book "Choosing a sustainable fashion" by Orsola de Castro, we have the answer!

Linen shirt, tights, sportswear... How long does it take to biodegrade?

Orsola de Castro, pioneer of sustainable fashion and founder of the Fashion Revolution movement (created in 2013 following the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh, editor's note) sets the tone. When thrown away and therefore likely to be buried in the ground, not all of our clothing is equal when it comes to biodegradation.

Good students? The linen shirt, which takes about 2 weeks to disappear in nature, or the viscose T-shirt, which takes between 1 and 6 weeks. But the dunce cap comes down to lycra sportswear (20 to 200 years to biodegrade), nylon tights (30 to 40 years) and polyester dress, for which biodegradation will take at least 200 years. Yes, you read correctly.

Natural fibers and synthetic fibers: what differences and what impact?

A garment made of natural fibers does not have the same environmental impact once thrown away as a garment made of synthetic fibers. Indeed, the latter will survive for years to the one who wore it. Not cool.

Anyway, all clothes (in natural fibers or not), have harmful effects for the environment if they are thrown away and buried. The reason ? When they break down, they release methane. This substance is partly responsible for global warming. Orsola de Castro is formal: "All clothes should be made to be worn and not to be buried or burned".

Find more info and figures in the book Choosing a Sustainable Fashion by Orsola de Castro published by Marabout (€19.90).

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