SUSTAINABILITY

April 22 – 26 is recognized as Earth Week around the world and is a great time to look at personal habits and find ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Shopping and donating to Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee is an easy way for community members to do their part.

Sustainability lies at the heart of Goodwill. Every time you shop in Goodwill stores or donate unwanted, gently-used items, you are helping us diminish the carbon footprint and reduce waste in middle and west Tennessee. The local non-profit organization is committed to doing its part for the planet by extending the life of donated items. 

In 2023, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee diverted more than 25 million pounds of items from landfills through its salvage and recycling efforts. The majority of those items, 17.4 million pounds, were textiles. With the rise of the fast fashion industry in recent years and its negative environmental impacts, it’s never been more important for each person to consider changes within their personal shopping habits. 

Earth Day encourages us all to act boldly, innovate broadly, and implement equitably towards the dream of a clean and healthy planet. This is at the root of Goodwill’s mission to amplify the message of environmental sustainability through “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Goodwill is the middleman of a donation-based circular economy of clothing and household goods and being green is an underlying philosophy of all the organization has done for more than 100 years.

While donating provides fuel for the circular economy, the most effective and sustainable way to have a positive environmental impact is by preventing new things from being produced or consumed. The best way to do this is by shopping second-hand first as much as possible. When you shop second-hand versus at a retail store, you’re signaling to big brands and corporations that demand for new items is not as high, causing them to reduce production. 

This choice is the most sustainable and affordable way to shop, and it’s fun to do too. You never know what you’ll find at Goodwill, which means you’re likely to not only find the thing you need, but so much more. In many cases, Goodwill is the last chance for reuse of an item, which means the more you contribute to the second-hand circular economy of donating and shopping, the more you’re helping to save the planet.

Goodwill has taken several steps in recent years to ensure the organization’s commitment to the environment. As of April 1, 2024, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee eliminated all single-use plastic bags from its 30 retail stores and two outlets. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable and proven to end up as deadly waste, which can harm marine and wildlife. Shoppers now have the option to purchase a reusable shopping bag at all of the middle and west Tennessee Goodwill store locations.

SHIFTING TO THRIFTING

cavina
New to thrifting?? I got you!! ❤️

denim.donna
everyone should be #shiftingtothrifting ️

skukura_
Check out my tips to shift to thrift!

DONATE

DONATING LESSENS THE AMOUNT OF ITEMS SENT TO LANDFILLS

Goodwill organizations help communities extend the life of usable items, lessen the amount of material sent to landfills or incinerators, and decrease reliance on the extraction and production of virgin materials. Last year, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee recovered the value in 25,556,999 pounds of people’s used goods, giving these items a second life .

Goodwill Helps Employee Leave Behind a Past of Hardship

SHOP

BUYING USED IS SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee helps consumers realize that buying gently used items can be both a sustainable and affordable option. The act of buying secondhand items helps stop waste at the source by reducing the demand for new goods. Motivating conscious consumers to shop used is the most effective way to ensure that secondhand materials are put to good use, and given an extended life.

Ms. Cheap: Future brides can save money by saying ‘yes’ to the Goodwill wedding dress

CHANGE A LIFE

GOODWILL BELIEVES NO INDIVIDUAL IS DISPOSABLE

Sustainability has always been at the heart of Goodwill’s work and mission. Our founder, Reverend Edgar J. Helms, once said, “Goodwill saves the waste in men and things.” Through job training programs, resume preparation, adult education opportunities and more, Goodwill of Middle Tennessee’s social initiatives reinforce the circular economy by advancing the idea that no individual is disposable.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee launches free Solar Installer Training Program