We sure do buy a lot of clothes. Fast fashion and the disposal of clothing contribute significantly to pollution and waste. But! By donating bras, we can play our part in promoting sustainability. When bras are donated and reused, it reduces the demand for new manufacturing and decreases the number of undergarments sent to landfills.
Bras are an essential item in our wardrobes, obviously, but the old bras sure do accumulate quickly! Let’s see what we can do with old bras, and all the best places for donating bras.
If you’re shopping for a new bra or two, check out our list of sustainable bra brands.
Where To Donate Old Bras
Donating bras is more than just giving away undergarments. For many women in challenging circumstances, a donated bra can mean the difference between comfort and discomfort, self-confidence and insecurity. Bras are crucial for supporting breast health and overall well-being. Unfortunately, not all women can afford to buy bras, and donated bras provide them with a basic necessity they might otherwise go without.
These are some of the awesome organizations you can donate your used-but-in-good-condition bras to:
1 // Free The Girls Bra Donation Program
Free The Girls is a really cool charity that takes clean and gently used bras as donations. They ship these bras to human trafficking survivors, and these women then sell the bras and establish their own secondhand apparel resale businesses, which becomes a long-term source of income for them.
It’s not just about the bras though, Free The Girls helps these women who have been rescued from sex trafficking to reintegrate into their communities. They do amazing work in three countries – El Salvador, Mozambique, and Costa Rica, where they team up with partners to encourage, equip, and empower girls and women to earn a safe income selling bras in the secondhand market.
You can get involved by sending in your bras as donations or dropping them off at any Aerie store (under the Aerie Bra Donation program). It’s a fantastic way to make a difference and support these brave survivors.
2 // The Bra Recyclers
The Bra Recyclers have done an amazing job donating millions of bras to nonprofit organizations worldwide. Their mission is about educating consumers on making the most out of their purchases and being mindful of what happens to our clothes after we’re done with them.
Their “BRAVOLUTION” bra recycling project was aimed at keeping bras out of landfills. Participating in this program is easy. Just wash your bra, fill out their online recycling form, and pay for a shipping label to send your bras in. When you send in your bras, they sort them out and then send them to nonprofit organizations that support women and girls all around the world. These organizations often work with survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, so your donation really helps them in their journey towards self-sufficiency.
Check out The Bra Recyclers map of drop-off locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. You might find a nearby spot where you can drop off your bras for free.
3 // Harper Wilde’s ‘Recycle, Bra’ Program
Did you know that many clothing donation centers won’t take worn bras and will simply toss them in the trash? It’s such a waste! Harper Wilde’s Recycle, Bra program is doing something amazing by accepting old bras and underwear in any size or color, and they recycle them. The best part is that they take not only their own bras but also bras from other brands.
Once they have the bras, they break them down and work some magic. The materials are upcycled or transformed into brand new fibers that can be used for all sorts of things like clothes, rugs, cleaning textiles, and even building insulation. And guess what? They’ve managed to keep about 30,000 bras out of landfills so far.
If you want to get involved and recycle your old bras, sign up here to receive bra recycling instructions.
4 // Knickey Recycling Program
Knickey is a fantastic brand that’s known for its organic cotton bralettes and underwear. But they also have this awesome recycling program called Knickey’ recycling. They accept bras, underwear, socks, and even tights in any condition.
They then upcycle these items as secondary textiles for various purposes. From insulation to mattress batting to rags, they make the most out of these materials.
How can you get in on this action? Purchase a $5 shipping label from their website, and then mail in your old bras. Knickey will add 300 rewards points to your Knickey account, which you can use to get a 15% discount on your next purchase.
5 // Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere
We love rhyming words! A heartwarming initiative called ‘Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere’ originated in the Bay Area back in 2014, as part of the SJ Women’s Club organization. Their mission is to support women in need by providing them with bras and underwear, and they accept donations in all sizes, styles, and colors. Reach out to them at BAD@sjwomansclub.org to coordinate a donation.
However, as of June 2023, the charity has temporarily paused their operations:
“The Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere Group is taking a sabbatical this quarter. Please look for local locations that will take your clean and gently used donations. In San Jose these include Sacred Heart Community Service, Santa Maria Urban Ministry and Cityteam. In San Francisco you can donate at St. Anthony’s.“
If you’re in the Bay Area, it’s worth keeping an eye out for updates on when this BADass charity will resume their work in the future.
6 // Thirdlove Bra Recycling
ThirdLove, a popular lingerie brand, has a bra recycling program. Through this ‘Bra Donation Program,’ they encourage customers to recycle their old or unwanted bras responsibly. If you have gently-worn bras that you no longer need, simply drop them off at any ThirdLove store location, and they will take care of the recycling for you.
ThirdLove has an ongoing collaboration with TEXAID, a renowned global leader in sustainable solutions for recycling used textiles, including well-loved bras.
Can’t drop them off? Visit ThirdLove’s website, where you will find information on how to recycle bras. Simply fill out a form, print a shipping label, and send in your used bras to ThirdLove for recycling.
7 // Donate Bras to the Homeless: I Support the Girls
The organization ‘I Support the Girls’ is on a mission to collect and distribute bras to women in need across the globe. Their donations reach women and girls in various vulnerable situations, including those in homeless shelters, foster care agencies, domestic violence shelters, refugee settlement homes, LGBTQ agencies, and homes for pregnant teens, among others.
If you want to support this cause, you can either send in your bras directly or drop them off at any Soma store.
8 // Local Donations
Consider reaching out to shelters in your area to inquire about the possibility of donating bras. Numerous women’s and homeless shelters actively seek gently used bras and various clothing items. Stay vigilant for other local donation drives too; some schools, for instance, may request bra donations to support clothing-insecure students.
Can You Donate Used Bras To Goodwill
In general, thrift stores like Goodwill accept gently used clothing items, including bras, as long as they are in good condition and clean. However, there might be some exceptions based on local laws, regulations, and the store’s own policies.
Before donating, it’s a good idea to contact your local Goodwill store or check their website to see if they accept used bras or if there are any specific requirements for donating them. Additionally, some organizations and women’s shelters may also accept used bras as donations, so you might consider reaching out to them as well.
If the bras are in good condition but can no longer be donated, you might consider researching textile recycling options in your area, as they can sometimes handle undergarments and clothing items that are not suitable for regular donation.
The Journey of a Donated Bra
Let’s take a look at everything that happens after you donate a bra:
This post was about what to do with old bras
Did You Know? Nearly 100% of worn or torn textiles are recyclable, but only 15% are actually donated or recycled. The remaining 85% are dumped in landfills.
– Source: SMART (Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles)
Donating old bras is not just an act of decluttering our closets; it is a powerful gesture of support, empowerment, and environmental responsibility. We hope this list of charitable organizations and recycling initiatives will help you keep your bras away from the landfill!
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