Consumption Life and Recycling(I) -Focused on Clothing-

소비생활과 재활용(I) -의생활을 중심으로-

Focusing on 'reuse' with a view to the importance of unused cloths, this paper investigates the aspects of consumers' recycling attitudes regarding the cause and treatment of unused clothes. This research examines the responsibilities for recycling from the standpoint of consumers, and shows their requirements and advice to consumers themselves, clothing companies as the subject of production and the government and society. Considering the pattern of clothing life, this research deals with housewives who live I Seoul, Sung-nam and Choong-ju. After several pretests, the content and format of this questionnaire is revised and added. This investigation is carred by individual interviews and reponders' filling-out, from 24 November 1997 to 5 January 1998. Among the total 1,200 questionnaires, 1,150 sheets are taken back, but only 1,132 are available to analysis. The results are as follows: Most of all, among the causes of unused clothes, the problem of clothes itself is stemmed from the more responsibility of clothing companies rather than consumers'. From production to sale the companies, considering environment and recycling, should choose proper cloth material and adequate design. And then they require the consumers' attention to laundry and conservation. More important, consumers' attitudes should be changed because consumers themselves, in fact, recognize their responsibilities for recycling of clothing, from the questionnaire. After all, the recycling of clothing should lead to reduction of unused clothes as a fundamental solution. When it comes to unused clothes, its elimination pays more money and needs specialization. Moreover, citizens should participate in the problem independently and more information on the policies of recycling should be well-informed.