Teecycle Endorses: Reteez!

Reusing T-shirts are awesome, but not every single T-shirt is going to be a winner. Now for everything else, there’s Reteez.

The concept is simple and effect: Rejigger old T-shirts into everything from baby bibs to lunch bags to dog leashes. And much, much more. Here’s the straight story that explains why it’s so important to re-use what we have:

In today’s age of disposable clothing, the T Shirt reigns supreme. You know what we mean… look in your closet and you’ll see our love affair with this indispensable fashion item.

Whether you purchase the latest designer label or receive a shirt as a promotional give-away, they are a staple of our lives…cheap, cheerful and “fast food fashion”.

The problem is that when we tire of that cute little number, it has a good chance of rotting away in landfill sites. In fact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 11.8 million tons of textiles were generated in 2006, or 5 percent of total municipal solid waste.

Most T shirts are made with cotton – or a cotton / synthetic blend. As a material, cotton accounts for only 2.5% of all agricultural land use, but for 22.5% of all insecticides and herbicides applied in agriculture.

As the cotton is processed, a large amount and variety of chemicals are used to bleach and dye the fabric and a fair amount of water is used – ironically in areas of the world where water is not in plentiful supply.

So when you throw away that little T shirt, it can rot away in landfills, seeping chemical dyes and bleaches in to the ground and local water supply. And we won’t even get into the polyester shirts that are petroleum based! Ugh!

What to know more? You should. Click here and check out Reteez!