Environmental Impact of Basketball Waste - The industry produces 40 to 50 million basketballs annually, enough to fill an auditorium 10 times over [2] - A staggering 95% of basketballs end up in landfills or are burned [2] - Discarded basketballs decompose into toxic microplastics, polluting soil, water, and air [3] Consumer Behavior and Waste Generation - A survey at YCIS indicates the average student owns almost two basketballs, with some owning six or more [4] - This consumption pattern contributes to a global waste problem [4] Proposed Solutions for Sustainability - Encourage consumers to extend the lifespan of their basketballs [6] - Promote repairing damaged basketballs instead of discarding them [6] - Support recycling or donation programs, such as Wilson's Rebound, to repurpose old basketballs [6] - Advocate for reduced consumption of new basketballs [6]

Textile Waste Problem - The fashion industry contributes 10-12% to global pollution, with textile waste accounting for 60% of fast fashion pollution [7][8] - India contributes 10-15% to global textile waste pollution [8] - Textile waste in India is classified into post-consumer, pre-consumer, and imported waste [9][10] - 17% of textile waste ends up in landfills [12][13] - A truckload of waste clothes is dumped into landfills every second in India [13] - Fiberglass mannequins are non-recyclable and contribute to landfill waste or toxic pollution through burning [16][17] Sustainable Solution: Restrict Mannequins - Restrict mannequins are 100% recycled using textile waste, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and sustainable [19] - Each Restrict mannequin uses 30-40 kilograms of waste textiles [22] - Restrict mannequins reduce carbon emissions by 70% and save 80% of usable water compared to normal mannequins [22] Call to Action - Consumers should think before purchasing clothes, support sustainable brands, and engage with recycling initiatives [24][25][26] - Spreading awareness can educate consumers about textile waste and encourage conscious purchasing decisions [26]