Editing Clothing (section)

===Recycling===
[[File:Clothing salvage centre at the General Engineering Company (Canada) munitions factory (I0004928).tif|thumb|Clothing salvage centre at the General Engineering Company (Canada) munitions factory during the Second World War]]
It is estimated that 80 billion to 150 billion garments are produced annually.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wicker |first=Alden |date=31 January 2020 |title=Fashion has a misinformation problem |url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/1/27/21080107/fashion-environment-facts-statistics-impact |work=vox.com |location= |access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022055652/https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/1/27/21080107/fashion-environment-facts-statistics-impact |url-status=live }}</ref> Used, unwearable clothing can be repurposed for [[quilt]]s, [[:wikt:rag|rags]], [[Carpet|rugs]], [[bandage]]s, and many other household uses. Neutral colored or undyed [[cellulose]] fibers can be recycled into paper. In Western societies, used clothing is often thrown out or donated to charity (such as through a [[clothing bin]]). It is also sold to consignment shops, dress agencies, [[flea market]]s, and in [[online auction]]s. Also, used clothing often is collected on an industrial scale to be sorted and shipped for re-use in poorer countries. Globally, used clothes are worth $4 billion, with the U.S. as the leading exporter at $575 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Minter |first1=Adam |title=No One Wants Your Used Clothes Anymore |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-01-15/no-one-wants-your-used-clothes-anymore |access-date=17 January 2018 |work=[[Bloomberg News#Bloomberg View|Bloomberg View]] |date=15 January 2018 |archive-date=16 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116172151/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-01-15/no-one-wants-your-used-clothes-anymore |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Banigan |first1=Melissa |title=East Africa Doesn't Want Your Hand-Me-Downs |url=https://www.racked.com/2018/1/25/16923226/east-africa-used-clothing-ban |access-date=26 January 2018 |work=Racked |publisher=[[Vox Media#Racked|Vox Media]] |date=25 January 2018 |archive-date=27 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127143144/https://www.racked.com/2018/1/25/16923226/east-africa-used-clothing-ban |url-status=live }}</ref>

Synthetics, which come primarily from petrochemicals, are not renewable or biodegradable.<ref>[http://sweatshirtstation.com/articles/the-textile-materials-eco-battle-between-natural-and-synthetic-fabrics/ The Textile Materials Eco Battle Between Natural and Synthetic Fabrics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130021/http://sweatshirtstation.com/articles/the-textile-materials-eco-battle-between-natural-and-synthetic-fabrics/ |date=2015-04-02 }} "Steven E. Davis, Sweatshirt Station".</ref>

Excess inventory of clothing is sometimes destroyed to preserve brand value.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lieber |first1=Chavie |title=Why fashion brands destroy billions' worth of their own merchandise every year |url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/17/17852294/fashion-brands-burning-merchandise-burberry-nike-h-and-m |access-date=17 September 2018 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |date=17 September 2018 |archive-date=17 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917165052/https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/17/17852294/fashion-brands-burning-merchandise-burberry-nike-h-and-m |url-status=live }}</ref>