In this episode, we focus on what happens to our clothes post consumption. We speak with Alex Husted the co-founder of Helpsy.

Helpsy is on a mission to keep clothing out of trash by enabling the collection, sorting and responsible distribution of secondhand clothing and shoes. They provide pick up, sorting, and distribution services across America. Once collected and sorted Helpsy sells off their second hand clothes to thrift stores and distributors around the nation, making sure that the garments have a new life through resale or go to the correct recycling initiative.

In 2023 alone Helpsy collected over 31 Million pounds of clothes and shoes. That’s 100 items of clothing every minute. Helpsy is a certified B-Corp whose for-profit, social enterprise model has saved the municipalities they work with over $1.3 million in waste disposal tipping fees.

We discuss:

• The financial impact on municipalities of post consumer textile waste
• The economic opportunities in handling post consumer products
• The web of players handling your clothes post donation

Check out their work with municipalties, thrift stores and their impact on their community: https://www.helpsy.com/

Youtube: https://youtu.be/f_CF0hpVGh0