Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota at the State Fair

Image courtesy of the Minnesota State Fair

If you plan to be one of the 2 million people who attend the Minnesota State Fair, make sure to stop by the Eco Experience. In the building, located near The North Woods on the corner of Snelling Ave. and Randall Ave., the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has a display about the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle. One facet of the display features mannequins outfitted with great thrift store finds.

Throughout the 12 days of the fair, visitors will see mannequins outfitted with clothing from thrift stores around Minnesota with summer looks from Goodwill highlighted August 24-26.

Why is thrifting part of the Eco Experience building, and what can you do to shop greener?

The average person throws away up to 70 pounds of clothing a year. GESMN diverts over 60 million pounds from landfills annually. That’s equal to 75 Boeing 747 jumbo jets.  Donating and shopping helps keep unwanted clothing from becoming trash; plus, your trash may be another shopper’s treasure!

A garment worn 5 times will produce over 400% more carbon emissions than a garment worn 50 times. You can reduce your carbon footprint by buying gently used items and donating unwanted clothing to extend their life and lessen clothing carbon emissions.

95% of worn or torn textiles can be reused, but only 15% gets donated or recycled. If donated clothing doesn’t sell in our stores, we attempt to sell it in our three outlet and wholesale locations.  After that, we sometimes find buyers on the credentials/overseas market and/or recycle the materials.

The Eco Experience building inspires people to lead a more sustainable life with easy, everyday tips. Do the green by shopping and donating at Goodwill! We’ll help your wallet stay full and the landfills stay a little less full.

Learn more about the Eco Experience and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and stop by anytime during the Minnesota State Fair!