Walmart and a chain I've never head of, H&M, were caught by a university student destroying brand new, tagged clothing to make room for the new stock. The story hit the Times and The Huffington Post. The issue is that the clothing has been intentionally destroyed rather than donating to the homeless.
"'Gloves with the fingers cut off,' Ms. Magnus said, reciting the inventory of ruined items. 'Warm socks. Cute patent leather Mary Jane school shoes, maybe for fourth graders, with the instep cut up with a scissor. Men’s jackets, slashed across the body and the arms. The puffy fiber fill was coming out in big white cotton balls.' The jackets were tagged $59, $79 and $129." (Times)
H&M has vowed to stop the destruction and donate the items to charity. A Walmart spokesperson stated items are usually donated and planned to investigate. It seems the most responsible thing to do with unsold clothing would be to donate them rather than send them to a landfill. They do no one any good in the dirt.
Skinny Kitty and I are not a multi-national corporation but even we practice responsible citizenship by donating. We hold a garage sale every year; it is our attempt to recoup money for items we no longer need. The items that do not sell are given to The Salvation Army or Goodwill. The only thing thrown away is trash. To me, it seems the most responsible behavior. Sure, I have to take time out to stack the items in the car and drive them to the charitable location, but it is the right thing to do.
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