Earth Day celebration at ricRACK highlights methods to combat climate change | Uptown Messenger

By Jeanne d'Arcy, Uptown Messenger

Keeping fabrics and used clothes out of the landfill is core to the mission of the non-profit organization ricRACK. On Friday (April 22), the textile recycler celebrated Earth Day with a variety of activities that support this and their other goals to help save the planet.

“Earth Day has always been a special day to ricRACK,” said Alison Parker, the founding director of ricRACK. “Most people don’t associate sewing with the environment — but fashion, costumes, textile production and recycling all play an important role in climate change.”

According to Business Insider, the fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply and pollutes the oceans with micro plastics. What’s more, 85% of all textiles go into landfill each year. And when this happens, the dyes and chemicals from the fabrics leach into the ground water and release greenhouse gasses.

“When you buy, wear, clean or sew clothes, you are making choices every day that affect the environment,” Parker said. “Our goal at ricRACK is to bring awareness to those things.”

The Earth Day celebration at ricRACK was a lively scene with a number of environmental groups participating. There were tables with information and demonstrations — all outside. And inside the shop was this year’s fashion designers’ challenge.

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