Why Methane Matters?

When we think of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is usually the first that comes to mind. It’s the one we hear about most often in discussions about climate change—from car emissions to factory pollution. But there’s another powerful greenhouse gas quietly contributing to global warming from a surprising place: our landfills. And it all starts with what we throw away—including clothes.

CO₂ vs. Methane: What’s the Difference?

While both are greenhouse gases, CO₂ and methane (CH₄) are very different in how they behave in our atmosphere.

• Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas and stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.

• Methane is much less abundant — but it traps heat over 25 times more effectively than CO₂ over a 100-year period.

In short: methane is more powerful, even if it's around for a shorter time.

Where Does Methane Come From?

When natural materials like cotton, wool, and viscose end up in landfills, they decompose without oxygen (anaerobically). This process creates methane gas. So when old clothes made from natural fibers are tossed into the trash instead of being reused or recycled, they don’t just disappear — they actively contribute to global warming.

What is CO₂e — and Why Do We Use It?

To help us compare the climate impact of different gases, scientists use a unit called CO₂e, or carbon dioxide equivalent. It’s a way of answering:

“If this methane (or any other gas) was carbon dioxide, how much would it take to cause the same warming effect?”

Using this measurement:

• 1 ton of methane = 25 tons of CO₂e (based on 100-year impact)

This makes it easier to measure and report total greenhouse gas emissions, even if they’re made up of different gases.

What Does This Mean for Clothing Waste?

Let’s say we save 25 million pieces of clothing from going to the landfill, and about 35% of those are made of natural materials (like cotton or wool). That’s roughly:

• 8.75 million biodegradable garments

• If each releases about 0.4 kg of CO₂e in methane emissions when sent to landfill…

• We’ve prevented 3,500 metric tons of CO₂e — just from methane!

And that’s on top of the emissions saved from avoiding new clothing production (an estimated 375,000 metric tons CO₂e).

Synthetic Fabrics Are a Different Story

Synthetic fabrics (like polyester and nylon) don’t release methane — but that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. They:

• Are made from fossil fuels

• Have a high production carbon footprint

• Don’t break down—they release microplastics instead

So while they don’t emit methane in landfills, they still harm the planet in other ways.

Why It All Matters

At Kids4Earth, we’ve saved over 9,000 pounds of clothing from going into landfills (as of April 2025) — and with that, we’ve avoided the hidden cost of methane emissions, microplastics, and wasted resources.

Understanding the impact of CO₂e helps us better tell the full story—and see just how powerful our everyday choices can be.

Every Item Matters

When you donate or reuse instead of toss, you’re doing more than keeping your closet clean. You're keeping potent greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere — and protecting the planet for future generations.