This year, we are promoting Goodwill’s role in the circular economy, which is defined as a system that keeps products in circulation for as long as possible (as opposed to a linear model of take-make-dispose). Goodwill organizations help communities extend the life of usable items which lessens the amount of material sent to landfills or incinerators. In doing so, Goodwill organizations create thousands of jobs and contribute to the economic health of communities while preserving resources and the environment.
There are many ways that shopping and donating at Goodwill help the planet, but we wanted to highlight three in particular:
- When you shop and donate secondhand, you give items a second chance. We sold more than 15 million items in our stores last year – items that may have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
- It takes 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make one pair of jeans. When you donate clothes you no longer want and buy secondhand items, you help preserve the planet’s water supply.
- Goodwill eliminates electronic waste. We recycled and refurbished more than 1.1 million pounds of electronics last year. Electronics that are donated in good working condition and items we’re able to refurbish are sold at our tech store, The GRID.
And when you shop or donate with us, you also do good for the community. Our shoppers and donors play a vital role in driving the Goodwill mission, and we’re very grateful for your support! Every time you donate or shop at Goodwill, you’re helping people in our area access opportunities to get career-ready and back to work – at no cost to them!
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference, start by donating to Goodwill. We make it easy to give stuff a new life to keep the planet a bit greener!
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