What to Do With Old Bras

The fashion industry is responsible for a lot of waste:

• According to the United Nations Partnership on Sustainable Fashion and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), nearly 20% of global wastewater is produced by the fashion industry.
• The same study found that between 2000 and 2014, clothing production doubled with the average consumer buying 60% more garments compared to 15 years ago. Yet, each clothing item is now kept half as long.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 15.1 million tons of textile waste was generated in 2013, of which 12.8 million tons were discarded (via NPR).

Many of us want to eliminate fast fashion from our closets and invest in quality products that last. But considering bras last a mere 6–12 months, you might wonder what you can do with old bras other than simply tossing them. Are there better environmental and ethical options for your old bra?

Thankfully, yes there are...

You Can Donate Old (Unworn or Gently Used) Bras

Got old bras in your underwear drawer that you didn’t wear as often as you thought you would? Or that ended up being the wrong size or uncomfortable for you? Donate them.

Some thrift stores do not accept donated bras (Goodwill, for example, varies location by location). But if you have new or clean, gently worn bras, you have a number of options for donating old bras you don’t wear.

Organizations Accepting Bra Donations

• Local shelters: Help women in your immediate community in an act of local goodwill by checking if your local women's shelter and homeless shelters will accept donated bras and clothes at drop off locations.
• Free the Girls: For those of us located in the U.S. or Canada, we can donate new and gently worn bras to Free the Girls. Free the Girls uses your bra donations to empower previously enslaved and trafficked women to become entrepreneurs and find true freedom in Maputo, Mozambique;  San Salvador, El Salvador; and San Jose, Costa Rica. Learn how to donate bras and support women living free here.
• The Bra Recyclers: In partnership with companies around the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, The Bra Recyclers accepts gently worn or unworn bras and recycles, reuses, or repurposes them, while also providing substantial social benefits to women and girls escaping domestic violence, drug addiction, human trafficking, and breast cancer survivors. Learn how to donate bras and support women in need here.
• I Support the Girls: For readers in the United States, I Support the Girls collects and distributes essential items, including gently used bras and underwear, and menstrual hygiene products to women and folx experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress. Donate to help them stand tall with dignity.
• In-store trade-ins and donations: Mall stores sometimes organize bra and clothing drives or trade-ins, which are a great opportunity to donate used bras and get yourself some new bras or underwear. You might also check with your local lingerie stores to find out if they accept bra donations for women in need.

Or Try Some Creative Upcycling

Pinterest and YouTube have a few novel ideas about ways you can upcycle old bras and reduce waste. One of the most popular lessons for upcycling an old bra comes via Skunkboy blog showing how used bras can be sewn into backless dresses to give you some support and bra padding, where you might otherwise go braless.

If you're wondering what to do with old bras, other suggestions you’ll find online include everything from purses to shoe inserts using little more than a hot glue gun. Suffice to say, if you’re the creative/crafty type, you can let your imagination run free to find fresh uses for old bras!

Recycle Bras ... Or Even Compost Them!

If your old bras are truly expired and not fit to donate, telltale signs include:

• Loose or stretched out bra bands and/or bra straps
• Underwires bent or popping out of bras
• Molded bra cups losing their shape
• Stained, torn, or damaged fabric showing signs of breakdown in bras

Bra Recyclers

If this is the case, your bra isn’t in good enough shape to drop off at donation centers. But old bras can be recycled. Here are several organizations that can help make that happen if donating bras is not an option:

• Bra Recycling Agency (B.R.A.): In the U.S., B.R.A. ensures bra materials get recycled rather than end up in a landfill. All proceeds for bra underwire metal recycling are 100% donated to breast cancer research. 
• Local Recyclers: Check your neighborhood for clothing bins that specifically mention textile recycling (rather than donations for reuse). Many organizations accept worn out clothes, underwear, and bras for recycling. What happens to these items such as used underwear and lingerie? Textiles can be:
• Recycled into industrial rags
• Shredded and turned into insulation
• Recycled and turned into new textile products
• Certain stores: A good by-product of the conversation around fast fashion is that companies like H&M have stepped up their efforts to mitigate the problems they contribute to. They will often collect (any) clothing for recycling, including lingerie and underwear. If you plan on dropping off a huge haul for textile recycling, we recommend giving your local store a call in advance to make sure they’ll expect you.

Bras and underwear or clothing that’s 100% cotton can also be composted (another benefit of natural fibers versus synthetic fibers). Make sure you cut off any elastic bands and then bras can go in your compost bin!

The Absolute Last Resort: Trash it

If your old bra is beyond repair and you can’t donate it for reuse and you are unable to find a means of textile recycling, your last resort is to trash it.

Obviously this adds to the textile waste problem and given the lifespan of bras, this is an unfortunate cycle to become locked into. 

At the very least, work hard to minimize waste by buying bras you’ll actually wear, use, and love thoroughly before they end up in the trash.

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on March 1, 2022.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.