Earth Day 2025: Sustainable Fashion and Environmental Nonprofits

Earth Day 2025: Sustainable Fashion and Environmental Nonprofits

At Passion Lilie, we’re proud to call New Orleans our home. We draw so much inspiration from the texture of life in our city – the colors, plants, marine life, and the energy of the people around us. We’re constantly in awe of the creative ways our neighbors care for one another and our community. Over the past few years, we’ve been blown away by the problem-solving organizations New Orleanians are building. From creating sustainable Mardi Gras throws to recycling glass into disaster relief products, the folks around us are doing important, innovative work.

Every April, in honor of Earth Day, we donate 10% of our profits to a local nonprofit committed to sustainability. This year, we’re supporting Glass Half Full, a New Orleans nonprofit that recycles glass “waste” into sand and gravel to restore eroding coasts, to create new glass, and so much more. In the past, we’ve proudly partnered with The Green Project, a local organization dedicated to recycling building materials and promoting environmental education.

We know that Earth Day isn’t just about donations – none of us can throw money at a problem and wash our hands of it. This is a time to reflect on our impact, support environmental nonprofits, and take steps toward a more sustainable future. 

Your support for environmental nonprofits is critical.

Between climate change, plastic pollution, and the immense toll of the fast fashion industry, our planet is in trouble. We’re all doing our best to make a difference in whatever ways we can: recycling, reducing waste, and minimizing our carbon footprint are essential actions we can take. However, environmental nonprofits play a critical role in driving large-scale change. These organizations are taking on waste reduction, conservation, environmental justice, and education in ways we can’t do alone.

Supporting environmental nonprofits through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness is a way to join the broader movement to protect our planet for future generations. It’s also a great way to connect with like-minded people working toward a shared goal. Making friends as an adult is hard, but working together is a great way to connect with your community and amplify the work of the nonprofit you support.

The Devastating Impact of Fast Fashion:

One of the biggest threats to sustainability is the fast fashion industry, which prioritizes low-cost, high-turnover clothing production at the expense of people and the planet. The environmental impact of fast fashion includes:

• Massive textile waste: The fashion industry generates 92 million tons of waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills. Organizations like RicRack Nola work to address these issues by promoting upcycling and creative reuse.
• High Water consumption: It takes about 2,700 liters of water to make just one cotton t-shirt – enough for one person to drink for over two years.
• Microplastic pollution: Synthetic fabrics like polyester shed microplastics that enter our oceans and food supply.
• Excessive carbon emissions: The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and shipping combined.

When you choose to shop from sustainable brands like Passion Lilie, you’re prioritizing ethical production, organic materials, and long-lasting clothing designed to reduce waste.

Here’s a non-comprehensive list of some of our favorite environmental nonprofits:

Your shopping choices make a huge difference, but if you want to take more action, consider these impactful organizations:

Local New Orleans Environmental Nonprofits:

• RicRack NOLA: This nonprofit focuses on textile recycling, upcycling, and educating the community on reducing clothing waste. By rescuing fabric that would otherwise be discarded, RicRack NOLA transforms waste into creative new projects while teaching sustainable fashion practices.
• The Green Project: Dedicated to salvaging building materials and promoting recycling, The Green Project helps keep reusable materials out of landfills and encourages sustainable living through community education programs.
• Glass Half Full: An innovative concept and the first of its kind in New Orleans, Glass Half Full offers glass collection and recycling services throughout our area. Once collected and sorted, the glass is processed in a local facility that turns it into a resource that benefits our community. They allocate the sand to coastal restoration, disaster relief, flooring, new glass products and more. 

National and Global Environmental Nonprofits:

• Fashion Revolution: Fashion Revolution is a global movement advocating for transparency, ethical labor, and sustainability in the fashion industry. Passion Lilie joins their annual Fashion Revolution Week (it’s April 15-21 this year), which encourages consumers to ask brands “Who made my clothes?”  and to advocate for ethical treatment for garment workers.
• The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy works with scientists and experts to combat the crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. As a multinational organization with broad resources, they’re bringing people together around the globe to make a difference.
• Earthjustice: This organization calls themselves “the planet’s lawyer.” They’re fighting for environmental justice and policy changes to protect public lands, clean air, and water quality. Earthjustice has been especially busy lately, filing copious lawsuits against the current administration’s environmental rollbacks and damaging policies.
• 1% for the Planet: This organization offers a unique model for businesses to give back. 1% for the Planet members commit to donating at least 1% of annual sales directly to environmental organizations. 1% for the Planet certifies each donation to ensure businesses meet that commitment.

You can make a difference this Earth Day.

You don’t have to make extravagant donations or huge lifestyle changes to make a difference. Each small choice adds up to create meaningful habits and drive change. Here are a few ways you can contribute to a more sustainable future:

• Shop sustainably: Whenever you have a clothing or accessory need, just take a look and see if you can find what you need from a business that pays their employees fairly and uses eco-friendly materials. We recommend starting a list on your phone of companies you like whose values align with yours. Whenever you need something new, see what your favorite brands have to offer before turning to large companies or fast fashion stores.
• Reduce textile waste: Instead of throwing away old clothes, donate them to local environmental nonprofits like RicRack Nola, upcycle them into something new, or sell them secondhand.
• Support environmental nonprofits: Use the resources you have – money, time, or influence, for example – to help environmental nonprofits continue doing their important work.
• Vote for the planet: Support policies and people who protect the environment and hold corporations accountable for pollution and waste.
• Cut back on single-use plastics: Say no to plastic bads, straws, and bottles. Carry a reusable water bottle and tote bag wherever you go.
• Reduce your carbon footprint: Walk, bike, or use public transportation instead of driving whenever possible.

Join Passion Lilie in celebrating Earth Day.

At Passion Lilie, we believe every garment we make and every purchase you love is an opportunity to create a better world. That’s why we’re donating 10% of all April proceeds to Glass Half Full – so when you shop with us, you’re investing in sustainable fashion AND helping give new life to glass waste in New Orleans.

Shop now, give back, and make a difference this Earth Day!

Sources:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/spring-2014/articles/handle-with-care

https://earth.org/fast-fashion-and-emissions-whats-the-link/