Page 12 - Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Annual Report

Unleash Potential & Embrace Collaboration:
Sustainability & Synergy with Our Sewing Dept
U In the U.S. alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste

&
ends up in landfills yearly—over 85% of all garments produced
each year. Goodwill plays a key role in disrupting this cycle by
E
providing a way for donated clothes to be reused through resale.
This year, GFL is taking this idea further, gifting apparel that isn’t
sold in our stores to local and regional nonprofits and to those
who need it most through our Good Neighbor Program.

As the post-consumer textile industry matures, GFL is on the
front lines of organizing a regional HUB of nine Goodwills across the Northeast United States.
The goal is to develop sustainable solutions beyond our resale stores. The Northeast Hub
reaches approximately 1/3 of the U.S. population, creating economies of scale around textile
circularity, making it more economical to transform worn clothing into new garments.

In addition to our regional partners, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes collaborates with universities,
research organizations, technology innovators, and corporations in the global race to solve
the textile waste crisis. Fiber blends, synthetic dyes, zippers, buttons, tape, and tags remain
obstacles to achieving textile circularity. As new technologies emerge, GFL is retooling
operations to lead the way in finding solutions.

This year, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes’ Industrial Sewing Department took steps to reduce
its fabric waste with a new cutting machine. The department, which makes uniforms for
government agencies—including Coast Guard trunks, Air Force and Space Force Physical
training pants—previously relied on outside contractors for fabric cutting, leaving textile
waste management out of our control. Now, the department is
cutting fabric in-house and collecting scraps for recycling.

The new cutting machine has improved quality, productivity, and
flexibility. It features protective sensors that prioritize safety for
vision- and hearing-impaired operators. Of the 80 Rochester-
area residents employed in GFL’s manufacturing enterprises, ReFashionED: An educational and
over 50 are legally blind. As the Sewing Department grows, the collaborative program encourages
area students to work together
new machine will help create more jobs and allow GFL to invest to curate, price and sell recycled
clothing at our Goodwill of the
more in our local communities. Finger Lakes retail stores in effort
to raise funds for their school or
community project. Sponsored by
GFL’s 2023 fundraiser, “Sustainability Under the Stars,” featured our Good Neighbor Program.
a fashion show where style met sustainability. We celebrated
fashion both chic and eco-friendly, showcasing thrifted clothing restyled for new life. The
annual event raises money for other essential community programs like Goodwill’s 211/LIFE
LINE, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Vision Enterprises, and Good Neighbor Program.