As the founder of Circular Thrift LLC, I believe that change begins in our own communities — and that small, focused action can spark much larger transformation. One recent project that perfectly embodies this belief is Circular Thrift’s collaboration with a remarkable high school junior in Bexley, Ohio to transition her school’s graduation gown program from a single-use purchase model to a reusable rental system.
For decades students and families across the country have purchased graduation gowns they’ll only wear once. Graduation gowns are often made from petroleum-based polyester and typically tossed in the trash after the graduation ceremony. This tradition is both expensive for families and environmentally costly. In working with this Bexley student, I saw firsthand the power of youth leadership and community collaboration to challenge norms and create better options.
Together we worked with Bexley City Schools and the gown supplier. We proposed and implemented a graduation gown rental model that allows students to rent their gowns and return them to the supplier after graduation. We set up gown collection stations immediately after the ceremony, and families responded enthusiastically. Many expressed relief to avoid purchasing a graduation gown as well as pride in participating in a more sustainable tradition.
The impact of this small shift is significant. Instead of hundreds of gowns ending up in closets or landfills, we now have a “product-as-a-service” solution that Bexley students can rely on in coming years. The model not only reduces textile waste; it also results in lower costs for families who contend with countless graduation-related expenses.
This graduation gown rental program isn’t just about one school. This project is a blueprint for what’s possible nationwide. Every high school in the U.S. has a graduation ceremony, and many still rely on the purchase model. Imagine the collective environmental and social impact if even a fraction of those schools made the switch to rentals. That’s the potential of circular thinking at scale.
What makes this initiative even more meaningful is its grassroots nature. It didn’t come from a corporate policy or government mandate. It started with a student who saw a better way, and with Circular Thrift, an organization committed to supporting community-led solutions that challenge waste culture.
Too often conversations around sustainability feel overwhelming — focused on global supply chains, climate targets, and complex systems. While those are important, real change often starts much closer to home. This project proves that one student, one school, and one supportive partnership can make a measurable difference.
At Circular Thrift, we’re excited to support ideas like these that not only reduce waste but also empower young people to become changemakers in their own communities. This is exactly what Circular Thrift’s mission is all about: rethinking waste, reimagining systems, and restoring value to what we too often throw away.
We hope other schools — and other communities — take notice and follow suit. Sustainability isn’t just about the environment. It’s about the choices we make together, the traditions we rethink, and the future we build one action at a time.
