Transparency in measuring the environmental impact of circular fashion
At Recloth, we believe that true sustainability requires measurement and transparency. Every item resold through our platform helps reduce the environmental impact of fashion, and we're committed to quantifying these benefits accurately.
Our carbon calculator is built on internationally recognized standards and peer-reviewed research, providing you with reliable estimates of the carbon savings achieved through circular fashion.
10,000L
Water per pair of jeans
A single pair of jeans requires up to 10,000 liters of water to produce – equivalent to 3 months of daily showers.
92M
Tons of textile waste yearly
Each year, 92 million tons of textiles end up in landfills. Reselling extends clothing lifecycle by 2+ years.
10%
Of global CO₂ emissions
The fashion industry produces more carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
73%
Of clothes landfilled or burned
Less than 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments. Circular fashion through resale is the sustainable solution.
See how reselling clothes with Recloth.io compares to traditional fashion consumption
| Metric | Traditional Fashion | Circular Fashion (Resale) |
|---|---|---|
| Water footprint per garment | Up to 10,000 liters | 0 liters (reused item) |
| CO₂ emissions per item | 10-20 kg CO₂ | 0.5 kg CO₂ (shipping only) |
| Average garment lifespan | 2-3 years | 5-7 years (extended use) |
| End-of-life destination | 73% landfill/incineration | Continued circulation |
| Cost to consumer | Full retail price | 30-70% savings |
Sources: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WRAP UK, ThredUp Resale Report 2024
By quantifying carbon savings, we aim to demonstrate the tangible environmental benefits of buying and selling second-hand clothing. Every resold item extends product lifecycles and reduces demand for new production.
We provide transparent, data-driven insights that help users understand their environmental impact. Knowledge is the first step toward meaningful change in consumption patterns.
We advocate for standardized environmental reporting across the fashion industry, using recognized methodologies that enable fair comparisons and drive collective progress toward sustainability goals.
Our carbon calculator implements a substitution approach based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles. We calculate the net carbon savings by comparing the environmental footprint of reselling an item versus the baseline scenario of purchasing a new equivalent product.
Carbon Saved = (Production Emissions × Displacement Rate) − (Shipping + Cleaning + Packaging + Refurbishment) + End-of-Life DeltaThe carbon footprint of manufacturing a new comparable item. We use emission factors from the PEFCR (Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules) for apparel and footwear, which account for raw material extraction, manufacturing, and distribution.
The fraction of second-hand purchases that actually prevent a new item from being bought. Based on recent research (Depop 2025, Vestiaire Collective 2024), we use category-specific displacement rates with conservative defaults (typically 0.5-0.8).
The environmental cost of enabling the resale: shipping distance and mode, cleaning (electricity and detergent), packaging materials, and minor refurbishment. These are subtracted from the avoided production emissions.
Reselling delays disposal, providing a small positive climate benefit. We account for this using EPA WARM v16 factors, which consider different disposal pathways (landfill, recycling, incineration).
Electricity grid emissions vary by region. We use ADEME Base Carbone v17 data to account for regional differences in cleaning and refurbishment energy sources.
Our methodology aligns with the following internationally recognized standards:
We rely on peer-reviewed and industry-standard emission factor databases:
Carbon footprint calculations are estimates based on average values and assumptions. Actual emissions vary significantly depending on specific materials, manufacturing locations, supply chains, transportation modes, and individual behavior.
Our calculator uses conservative default values and industry-standard emission factors, but cannot account for every variable in complex global supply chains. Results should be understood as indicative estimates rather than precise measurements.
Displacement rates—the degree to which second-hand purchases replace new purchases—involve behavioral uncertainties. We use evidence-based conservative estimates, but actual displacement can vary by individual, category, and market conditions.
We are committed to transparency and continuous improvement. As new research emerges and data quality improves, we regularly update our methodology and emission factors.
We believe in open methodology and continuous improvement. As climate science evolves and better data becomes available, we'll update our calculations to provide you with the most accurate environmental impact estimates possible.