12/05/2026
During the SIM study visit to Humana’s People to People sorting facility in Milan, we discovered the incredible human effort and environmental impact behind clothing reuse.
Here’s why it matters:
🌟 The textile sector in Europe ranks 4th highest for pressure on raw material use after food, housing and transport
🌟 It’s the 3rd highest for impact on water and land use
We met the teams responsible for collecting, sorting, and assessing donated clothing every single day. From the moment items enter collection bins to the point they are individually evaluated and priced, the process is detailed, skilled, and deeply impactful.
One fact that stood out:
💡 It takes 6 months of training to learn the 64 sorting categories used to classify garments correctly.
And the impact goes far beyond clothing.
Funds generated through clothing reuse help support Humana’s social and environmental projects worldwide.
23% of Humana’s funding comes directly from the collection, sorting, and sale of used clothing. The remaining 77% comes from international and local partners.
This is circular economy in action! It’s where sustainability, skills, social impact, and community all come together.
📍 Every donated item has a journey.
📍 Every reused garment creates impact.
