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ASCP FREE STORE

About the free store

The ASCP Free Store is a program that was spearheaded by the waste diversion team in the Spring of 2021. The Free Store helps divert items from the landfill, giving them a second life and making them accessible to the Auraria campus community. Store items include feminine and masculine clothing items of all kinds, shoes, school supplies, furniture, and more! Store hours run Monday through Thursday between 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visit the ASCP office, located in the Tivoli Student Union in 346, today!

What is "fast fashion"?

“Fast” fashion: retailers mass-produce clothing quickly riding waves of trends and discarding product no longer in season. 

Quick facts:

  • 62 million metric tons of apparel consumed globally

  • 80 billion pieces of clothing purchased each year 

  • $1.2 trillion annually in the global fashion industry 

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Environmental Impacts 

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  1. Public health issues

    • Hazardous conditions for people living in proximity to manufacturing facilities

    • Human reliance on microplastics 

  2. Environmental issues 

    • Dyes, microplastics in local water systems 

    • Water ecosystems in danger, more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 

    • Ozone layer destruction (N20 is highly concentrated!) 

  3. Labor rights 

    • Work conditions 

    • Fair compensation 

    • Dangerous chemicals are hazardous to workers 

More on water...

10,000 liters of water are needed to produce one kg of cotton; 3,000 liters of water for 1 cotton shirt 

  • Textile dyes (contain toxic chemicals) accumulate to 20% of the worldwide wastewater (hazardous, untreatable) 

  • 35% of all microplastics from synthetic materials; low quality, low price material, more carbon emissions than cotton 

  • Microplastic creates a toxic substance than harms marine ecosystems  

  • 57% of all discarded clothing ends up in landfill; incineration process causes public health and environmental dangers to people in nearby communities 

  • With industry continuation, an increase of 50% in greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade 

How can I help?

  1. Explore alternatives to fashion: thrifting, buy second-hand, upcycle, slow fashion practices 

  2. When doing laundry, wash full loads to help save on water. Limit washes to extend the lifespan of your clothes!

  3. Mindful consumption (fast fashion brands awareness, background research into brands) 

Toxic materials and possible alternatives:

Petroleum-based synthetic materials: 

  • Polyeseter 

  • Acrylic 

  • Spandex 

  • Elastane 

  • Lycra 

  • Nylon 

Material alternatives: 

  • Organic cotton 

  • Linen 

  • Hemp 

  • Recycled polyester (energy-intensive to create) 

  • Cellulosic fiber! (99% less water production cost than cotton, biodegradable, less dye 

The ASCP Free Store accepts donations on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Drop by the ASCP office, located in Tivoli 346, between 10am and 3pm Monday-Thursday or locate the donation box outside our office.

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View our list of accepted items before donating:

Looking to donate?

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