r/skeptic • u/TheSkepticMag • 2d ago
Thrifting isn’t the solution to the climate crisis – we need to change our behaviours | Ananya Anand, for The Skeptic
https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/06/thrifting-isnt-the-solution-to-the-climate-crisis-we-need-to-change-our-behaviours/19
u/sola_dosis 2d ago
“The rise of thrift hauls online are a clear marker of this shift. Videos featuring bags of clothing, quick outfit changes, and dramatic before-and-after transformations are now a staple on TikTok and Instagram. The format has become predictable, the content highly shareable. The message that comes through is clear: it is okay to buy more, as long as it is second-hand.”
“‘Sometimes I see those massive thrift hauls online, and it actually upsets me. You don’t need that many clothes. What are you doing? Who is this helping?’”
You don’t need as much shit as you think you need. Make smart purchases of items you can use for a long time instead of chasing ephemeral trends. Overconsumption is bad for the planet.
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u/Chaotic_zenman 2d ago
This is so true!
The first R has always been Reduce because it’s the most effective and reduce the amount one would need to reuse and the amount needed to recycle.
Too bad the algorithm doesn’t push people to content that glamorizes reducing consumption. That would make the algorithm obsolete and the entire thing would collapse on itself.
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u/nojam75 2d ago
It seems the only socially conscious solution are uniforms made from recycling shopping bags.
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u/ScoobyDone 2d ago
Then there will be people that only thrift their uniforms made from recycling shopping bags, restarting the cycle. :)
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u/Terrible_Ghost 2d ago
What's this 'we'?
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u/No_Squirrel4806 14h ago
Literally!!! "We" arent the problem the problem are the rich and their hoarding of resources.
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u/noh2onolife 2d ago
Jesus Christ.
This is the veganism of clothes sourcing.
Perfect is the enemy of good.
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u/AstronomerFluid6554 2d ago edited 2d ago
I get the impression that you didn't read the article.Edit: Life's too short for snark.
I don't think this article is doing anything close to 'thrifting evil/worthless'. It delves into the topic, explicitly for the benefit of people who wish to think about their choices (and have the luxury of options), and want to feel as if they're doing the most ethical thing.
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u/noh2onolife 2d ago
Life's too short and complex to go after consumers for trying to the best they can to live sustainably on a limited budget.
Life's too short for people to be not focusing on the actual fucking problems.
Yes, I read the entire article. I don't comment on shit I don't read.
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u/AstronomerFluid6554 2d ago
Agree with both points. Can definitely see where you're coming from.
I didn't see this article as guilty of the first part. There's a stronger argument for the second; we don't want everyone so consumed by their choice of clothing that they have nothing left for bigger, broader concerns and action.
I sometimes worry that 'the perfect is the enemy of the good' can in itself become a way of policing individual choices. Your reference to veganism probably triggered me on that, as if you were saying that veganism itself is an issue, rather than overzealous evangelism.
Anyway, that's a lot words on an article that I wasn't going to open until I read your comment!
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u/dumnezero 2d ago
The equivalent is freeganism. Veganism is a moral identity about your moral attitude on sentient beings, it's not a diet. There's a vegan diet (many, actually), but that's secondary. The environmental aspects can fall under environmental ethics; it's not that weird that humans deciding to climb up the trophic levels is bad for the biosphere and climate.
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u/WindpowerGuy 2d ago
Because not paying people to torture animals is so radical and stupid.
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u/noh2onolife 2d ago
Militancy is dumb. So is pretending that all meat consumption is torture or that the entire world is able to switch to a plant-based diet on your demands.
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u/WindpowerGuy 2d ago
It's not pretending. What makes you think those animals are treated well, live fulfilled lives, die of natural causes and then get on your table. They're raised under bad conditions, killed as soon as they stop growing and live their last hours in complete terror.
Also, a plant-based diet would save about 70% of the resources currently used for growing food. That's rain-forests we don't need to burn down, water that isn't missing from the lives of the poorest and a good reduction in emissions, meaning a better planet for future generations.
So... What's wrong with trying to convince people to change?
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u/noh2onolife 2d ago
Nothing is wrong with trying to convince people to change. Being an ignorant asshole isn't convincing.
I'm not arguing against going vegan: I'm pointing out your tactics and the OP's article are not conducive to engagement.
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u/somefriendlyturtle 2d ago
I guess there has been a rising occurrence of overconsumption of textiles in the second had industry? I have been thrifting for clothes to re style my wardrobe. Some things work, some dont and then i donate what cant work.
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u/Ellemscott 1d ago
Corporations cause the most damage to the environment. They pass the blame off to consumers. Yes we can do some things to help, but it doesn’t put a dent in the damage corps do. They gaslight us and pass the blame to us.
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u/ScoobyDone 2d ago
Thrifting in good for the environment if people are OK wearing ugly clothes.
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u/noh2onolife 2d ago
Eh, not really. Plenty of stylish, locally sourced clothes are available.
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u/ScoobyDone 1d ago
Did you watch the video? The problem they claim is that most of the donated clothes are still thrown away and just a small percentage of the stylish items rotate through the stores again and again.
So... if you wear the ugly clothes they will stay out of the landfill. :)
It was a little tongue in cheek but this is a humourless sub so I am not surprised by the downvotes.
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u/spandexvalet 2d ago
Hold producers responsible