Despite UCSB’s best efforts to build a more sustainable campus, there is a clear oversight regarding sustainable clothing efforts. 

It’s the last week of classes in Isla Vista, and students are packing up to move out. Suitcases are stuffed to the brim full of Shein and Amazon clothing purchased last minute for a party, and hundreds of new posts show up on UCSB Free and For Sale where people frantically look for a way to get rid of the single-use party outfits. Ultimately, a large number of these items end up in the trash, only for students to come back to Isla Vista in the fall with their credit cards ready to buy more clothing from fast-fashion brands in hopes of keeping up with trends and party themes. 

According to a study conducted by Tufts University, there is a significant spike in solid waste generated on college campuses--specifically an average of 230 tons of waste--a significant part of which is textile waste. Over the past two decades, the volume of clothing thrown away by Americans has doubled from 7 million to 14 million tons. The damaging environmental effects created by clothing waste and overconsumption are rapidly increasing, and by providing students with the option to shop secondhand, UCSB can help prevent the tremendous waste of energy and resources that occurs during clothing production. 

Waste and Resources Action Program (WRAP) in England conducted a study showing that extending the average life of clothing by three months could lead to a 5-10% reduction in each item’s carbon, water, and waste footprints. While thrift stores exist in the Goleta area, students without transportation are unable to access secondhand stores; this often leads to online clothing hauls from fast-fashion brands which often leads to more clothing ending up in the trash. By having an online thrift store and donation center on-campus, UCSB students would be able to donate items that they no longer use or wear, while also providing students with the opportunity to find items at more affordable prices. UCSB’s sustainability team can make a difference in the detrimental environmental impact of textile waste by creating an online campus thrift store and donation center.

End the oversight in sustainable clothing efforts at UCSB by signing and sharing this petition to urge UCSB’s sustainability team to create a donation center and online thrift store.